President’s Message
Thomas E. Bowers
Club President
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Salem, Virginia, where we SERVE TO CHANGE LIVES. Since our initial charter in 1949, our club of committed men and women has been providing service and outreach to the communities of Salem and Roanoke, as well as providing impact on the national and international level. We strive to practice the Rotary International motto, SERVICE ABOVE SELF, while improving the lives of others and also enjoying the fun and fellowship of our Rotarian friends.
SO WHY ARE YOU NOT A MEMBER OF OUR CLUB? We sponsor Olde Salem Days, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, and the Star BBQ – our main fundraisers. But we are committed to much more than that, as we help our community and the world through projects such as Christmas for Kids, Little Free Libraries, Rotary Park, Rotary Dog Park, International Youth Exchange, and End Polio Now, just to name a few. The Rotary Club of Salem makes annual contributions to over 40 different civic and community nonprofit organizations throughout the Valley. Our reach extends internationally to joint Rotarian projects in Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Haiti, Eastern Europe, and beyond, to provide clean water, education assistance, medical care, and disaster relief. This year, despite being in a pandemic, our club in conjunction with the Glenvar Rotary club, raised over $11,500 through a matching grant, allowing us to partner with the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization to build 33 bunk beds for children in need, supporting the Sleep in Heavenly Peace motto that “no kid sleeps on the floor in my town.”
The Rotary Club of Salem also recognizes outstanding citizens and students in our community who typify the values and ethics espoused by Rotary International. Club-sponsored awards such as the Roy W. Henrickson Outstanding Citizen Award, the Service Above Self Vocational Award, the Jostens Trophy and the Salem Education Foundation Scholarships and the Rotary-sponsored Paul Harris Fellow recognition help us identify individuals who exemplify the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”
Salem Rotarians work hard every day by investing resources in community, vocational, and international projects. Our commitment to Salem, Roanoke, and the surrounding areas has inspired us to raise more than $1 million for charity and community programs throughout the Roanoke Valley, Southwest Virginia, and the world. However, most of our members will tell you it is the fellowship and lasting friendships that they cherish and find most rewarding.
Our members include business leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and government officials who make “Service Above Self” a part of their daily lives. To learn more, peruse our website and follow us on Facebook. We invite you to attend one of our meetings, which are held at noon on Thursdays at the Salem Civic Center. We are always looking for people who are interested in opening opportunities for others.
Our membership builds fellowship and from that fellowship we “Serve To Change Lives” by living our motto of “Service Above Self.” If you are interested in us, we are interested in you. If you are willing to follow the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” and enjoy the fun and fellowship that our members experience while helping others, then let me ask again: SO WHY ARE YOU NOT A MEMBER OF OUR CLUB?
I would be honored to talk to you about Rotary and the Rotary Club of Salem. Contact Us.
