Events

Featured Speaker for January 4th Meeting: David Gallentine Financial Advisor David is a Certified Financial Planner™ and holds business degrees from the University of South Florida. He began his career in 1984 as a banker and worked in the southwest Florida banking community for 15 years. In 1999, he began working in his present capacity as a financial advisor in Fort Myers. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers–Sunrise and believes in Rotary’s mission of helping local communities worldwide. He is a proud Ohio State Buckeye – in spirit – and has lived in Fort Myers since 1973. He has personally experienced the dramatic growth of southwest Florida. He still remembers a Thomas Edison “quote” that regularly appeared on every front page of the Fort Myers News-Press: “There is only one Fort Myers…and ninety million people are going to find it..!” WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join [...]

Featured Speaker for January 11th Meeting: Tamara Pigott Executive Director Tamara (Tam – uh – ruh) Pigott (Pie - get) is the executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau in Southwest Florida. She oversees the promotion of the islands, beaches and neighborhoods of the Fort Myers area as a travel destination to targeted domestic and international visitors, including vacationers and business travelers. She is responsible for the strategic planning of the domestic and international sales and marketing efforts, along with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization. A graduate of Florida State University, Tamara holds a bachelor of science degree in economics and political science and a master of science degree in political science. Her experience includes working as a research analyst and vice president of local research companies, analyzing the economic feasibility of local developments and business opportunities. In 2015, Tamara earned the tourism industry’s highest educational achievement, the [...]

Featured Presentation for December 20th Meeting: Rotary Club Featured Presentation This is the last meeting of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers - Sunrise for 2023. What a year it has been! Let’s celebrate as we will look back at the accomplishments and activities enjoyed during the past 6 months, as well as a glimpse into the rest of the year! We will also enjoy member Christmas and Rotary stories from the past. Come ready to share some cheer and get to know the members of the club even better! WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Doubletree Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? Join our Zoom Meeting - 2 Ways to Join ONE Click on the link to our ZOOM ROOM below. With this method [...]

Featured Speaker for April 24th Meeting: Bill Johnson Executive Director Bill Johnson, Jr. has been the Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation since January 2023. Previously, Bill was the Executive Director of the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association for eight (8) years, and prior to that worked as the membership sales director for the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral. He has 14 years private-sector experience in retail sales and management. The Horizon Foundation’s mission is to improve Lee County’s business environment and ease of doing business—in terms of the ability to source credible local disadvantaged suppliers, retain and encourage the expansion of existing businesses, attract new and diversified employers, and strengthen and sustain the public-private partnership of Lee County Government, community, and business leaders. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Doubletree Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? [...]

Featured Speakers for October 2nd Meeting: Drew Ogden & Vicki Little Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation Drew Ogden is a new Rotarian in the Bonita Naples club and is also in the Lions Club. He has spoken to our club before. Both Drew and Vicki are energetic speakers and speak passionately about Lakes Park, the importance of the Scarecrows in the Park event to them, and the different projects they have in the pipeline. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Doubletree Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? Join our Zoom Meeting - 2 Ways to Join ONE Click on the link to our ZOOM ROOM below. With this method you can join via a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet or phone. If you use a [...]

Featured Speaker for October 16th Meeting: Kevin Anderson Mayor of Fort Myers Kevin B. Anderson was sworn in as the 62nd Mayor of Fort Myers on November 16, 2020, after serving as Ward 4 councilperson for the previous two years. Mayor Anderson retired from Chico’s FAS, Inc. in June 2019 after 15 years. Prior to joining Chico’s, he had a more than 24-year career with the Fort Myers Police Department, holding the rank of Major at retirement. Anderson also served three years in the United States Army. Mayor Anderson is a graduate of Edison Community College (now Florida SouthWestern State College), Florida Gulf Coast University, and the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute. A dynamic community member with a long history of civic involvement, Anderson has been a resident of Fort Myers since 1979, serving on numerous boards and coalitions across Southwest Florida. Currently, Mayor Anderson serves as chair of the Premier Mobile [...]

Featured Speaker for November 6th Meeting: Christopher Michael Meadows MS, HAS, BC-HIS American Medical Hearing Centers Christopher Meadows is an expert hearing care provider with over 10 years in the industry who has helped thousands of souls. He is also very skilled as a play-by-play announcer with over 8 years of experience calling football and basketball games. He is a single father who raised his now-grown son, who is in the Navy, by working multiple jobs and putting himself through college, mostly by working in underground coal mines and bartending. After a couple of years working for a regional ESPN radio station and a couple as the Executive Director of a Convention and Visitors Bureau, a friend introduced Chris to the hearing industry. He took to it like a duck does to water, and through hard work and a special way of putting people at ease with their decision to receive the help [...]

Featured Speaker for November 13th Meeting: Kelsey Mitchell District Governor of District 6960 Kelsey Scoggins Mitchell grew up in Naperville, IL and originally moved to Florida in 2006. Kelsey is the loving mother of two children Audrey and Brooks. Kelsey is the proud owner of a Real Estate Team called The Classic Luxury Network brokered by Keller Williams Realty, where she and her team serve all of Florida and Georgia. Kelsey and her team have been in the top ranked teams in multiple Keller Williams offices in both Georgia and Florida. Kelsey was named the “Humanitarian of the Year” award from the Greater Rome Board of REALTORS in 2019. Kelsey received the “Eagle” award for her success from Keller Williams Naples in 2020. Her team was awarded the #3 top group for 2021 in Marco Island. Her team was awarded the #2 expansion team in 2022 with Keller Williams Elite Realty. Kelsey loves [...]

Featured Speaker for November 20th Meeting: Robin Gretz School Gardens Robin Gretz is a retired educator who taught for the School District of Lee County for 36 years. In retirement, she found a passion for gardening. She wrote grants to start a community garden in Pine Manor and a school garden at Villas Elementary. Now, with two Rotary grants, she has helped our club start gardens at Edison Park and Allen Park. Robin is also a foodie and loves to prepare what she grows. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? Join our Zoom Meeting - 2 Ways to Join ONE Click on the link to our ZOOM ROOM below. With this method you can join via a [...]

Featured Event for December 4th Meeting: LARC Choir Holiday Music Performance Back by popular demand, the LARC Choir returns to fill our meeting with the joyful sounds of the season! Join us for a delightful morning of holiday music that's sure to lift your spirits and get you into the festive mood. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? Join our Zoom Meeting - 2 Ways to Join ONE Click on the link to our ZOOM ROOM below. With this method you can join via a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet or phone. If you use a desktop or laptop you can use your regular browser or download the Zoom App for your computer. If you plan to [...]