The Plano Rotary Club was formed on May 14, 1945, and was sponsored by the Richardson Rotary Club. From that rousing beginning to the present, the Plano Rotary Club has raised and distributed funds each year to local charities, scholarships, and nonprofit community organizations.
Today, there are several Rotary Clubs in Plano that a service-minded person can join. The Plano West Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at noon, Plano Metro Rotary meets every Wednesday at noon, Plano Sunrise Rotary meets every Friday morning, the North Texas Pioneer Rotary meets every Wednesday evening, and the Plano Rotary Club meets every Thursday afternoon at Gleneagles Country Club.
Besides fundraising for local charities and various nonprofits in the Plano and DFW area, the Rotarians of the Plano Rotary Club volunteer at local events like the Angel Tree Project at Samaritan Inn, Plano Cops Coat Drive, and the Plano Balloon Festival; put together Welcome Boxes for Children's Hospital Plano; recognize outstanding students at local Plano elementary schools for Citizens of the Month; and support veterans and first responders at the annual Plano Flags of Honor at Oak Point Park.
The Plano Rotary Club also develops young leaders through the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program. Every year juniors from high schools throughout Plano are eligible to compete and get nominated by each club from the area. The winners are given the opportunity to attend a weeklong camp that offers a more immersive and intensive leadership and team building experience.
Each week, we gather to hear from guest speakers about how to improve our lives and the community, learn about history, see art, and hear music from local orchestras. We get together to plan upcoming events and network to support our members and their endeavors. People join Rotary to make a difference in their community and the world.
The community is encouraged to join a club and can do so by visiting the local Rotary District website at www.rotary5810.org, or contact Ramil Paredes for more direction to the local Rotary Clubs in the Dallas area.