HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- During the annual "Change of Gavel" dinner for Hot Springs Village Rotary Club, Villager Larry Wilson was given the prestigious honor of being named Rotarian of the Year.
Wilson said in a news release, "I was really caught off-guard by the Rotarian of the Year award," since when the award was announced, he was busy handling the audio, visual and technological duties for the event, just as he does at weekly club meetings and for special occasions.
"I was doing my thing with technology when outgoing President Linda Johnson made the announcement," Wilson said. Accepting the enthusiastic acclaim of the guests, he later said that the reaction of the membership spoke volumes. "To be recognized for doing something you love to do is very gratifying," he said.
As a former teacher, Wilson said he really did not have the time to devote to civic organizations. But when he was able, Wilson found Rotary appealing because of its mission and purpose, having an emphasis on "Service Above Self."
He said, "I have always felt the need to be an active member of any group I have associated with. Hot Springs Village Rotary appealed to me because of the people I knew who were Rotarians."
At each weekly meeting, Wilson can be found creating a slideshow that presents visual images for the members to take in. He records programs, posts them on the internet, and provides technological support for special events.
"I felt my niche with Rotary was to use my technology skills to present our club in an effective way to the members and other interested parties," he said.
Wilson also posts the weekly club bulletins on the HSV Rotary website, http://www.hsvrotary.org, making them available to all.
Membership in HSV Rotary Club is open to all, and guests are always welcome to attend weekly meetings, held at 7 a.m. Thursdays in the Fireside Dining Room of the Good Samaritan Society, 121 Cortez Road.
Local on 07/29/2016