Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club installed new officers during its annual banquet on June 28 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hot Springs and heard from KHTV Channel 11 anchor Craig O'Neill talk about his career and his commitment to literacy at its July 6 meeting.
Members of the 2022-2023 board of directors installed at the 106th Annual Installation Banquet were Community Service Director Bill Solleder, Secretary Gary McKuin, Immediate Past President Tiffany Tucker, Vice President-Growth Director Sara Brown, President-elect Chris Franklin, President Neal Gladner, Meetings and Activities Director Tim Metcalf, Administration Director Diane LaFollette, Youth Director Cheryl Stafford, Treasurer Courtney Moore and Satellite Chair Nannette Crane-Post.
"The highlight of the evening was the installation of our new President Neal Gladner. Rotarian Don Gooch had the honor of installing our new president, as well as our new board of directors," the club said in its weekly newsletter.
Gladner presented Immediate Past President Tiffany Tucker with her presidential pin, plaque and a bouquet of red roses. Tucker adjourned the evening with her final ring of the bell, it said.
On July 6, O'Neill, a well-known radio personality prior to transitioning to television, spoke to the club. During his 31 years as a DJ, he attended over 9,000 events, raising well over $40 million for various nonprofits in the state of Arkansas, the newsletter said. "In 2018, he chose to focus his talents and fundraising efforts to support childhood literacy, because according to the Rockefeller Foundation, only 40% of Arkansas students read at grade level."
Craig O'Neill is shown at the Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club meeting on July 6. - Submitted photo