OUR CLUB’S MISSION

The purpose of the Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club
is to be a service club that focuses
on caring for the youth of our community while
participating in Rotary’s global efforts.

Scroll down to view the following projects: Flaming Arrow Boy Scout Camp, Tree Planting, Dictionary Distribution, Seminar for Tomorrow's Leaders (S4TL), Sparks-Seamans Music Scholarship, Rotary Speech Contest, Rotary International District 6890, Caribbean Partners, Polio Plus, Gift of Life, and Project C.U.R.E.

Flaming Arrow Boy Scout Camp

Tree Planting Project

In 2018 an international tree planting initiative was proposed and endorsed by Rotary International President Ian H.S. Riseley to plant 1.2 million trees, one tree for each of the 1.2 million Rotarians in the world. President Riseley encouraged every Rotary club in the world to participate, and our Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club took his challenge to heart.

A four-year project plan was developed by the Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club, requesting all three clubs in the city to help in this endeavor. The plan was submitted to, and subsequently approved by, the City of Lake Wales.

Beginning on April 28, 2018 and concluding in the spring of 2021, the plan came to fruition. During that time, one hundred (100) Southern Live Oak trees were planted along the bike/walk path around Lake Wailes Lake, twenty (20) trees of the same species were planted at the Lake Wales Youth Soccer Complex, and fifteen (15) more of the same were planted at the Lake Wales Kiwanis Park.

All one hundred thirty-five (135) six feet tall Southern Live Oak trees were purchased by the members of the three local Rotary clubs and were planted by the members and friends of the Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club, under the direction of one of its members, Preston Troutman.

Mr. Troutman’s wish is for this project to serve as a living legacy of Rotary for the current and future generations of the citizens of the City of Lake Wales.

Dictionary Distribution

The Dictionary Project began in Charleston, SC in 1995. To date over 31 million dictionaries have been donated to children in the United States and internationally. The Rotary Clubs in District 6890, including Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary, have participated in this project.

Below are pictures of Lake Wales children who received dictionaries. They are fifth graders at Spook Hill Elementary and Janie Howard Wilson Elementary. Rotarian Beverly Lynne is shown in one picture after delivering the dictionaries and taking the students through a “tour” of their new dictionary.

Seminar for Tomorrow's Leaders (S4TL)

Three Rotary Districts representing more than 150 Rotary Clubs in West-Central and Southwest Florida host this unique week-long leadership seminar for inbound high school seniors. The program is directed largely by previous program graduates, and includes "rap sessions," in which Rotarians participate in group discussions on a variety student chosen of subjects. Each year Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary sponsors one coming senior to participate in S4TL.

The Farley Sparks-Ruby Seamans Music Scholarship

The Farley Sparks-Ruby Seamans Music Scholarship Award is named in honor and memory of long-time Rotarians Farley Sparks and Ruby Seamans of the Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club. It is a one-time $500.00 scholarship for a graduating high school senior living in the Greater Lake Wales area. The main criteria for this award is, that it be given to an individual that has shown musical talent and wishes to continue to develop those skills in some manner. Other criteria that will be considered include: active community involvement including Rotary functions and fundraisers, and the need for financial assistance to further their musical endeavors and/or education.

Rotary Speech Contest

The Rotary Speech Contest is an opportunity for any high school age student in public, private or home school, to compose and orally deliver a 5-7 minute original speech based on the annual theme of Rotary International. The students are judged at the local Club level with the winner moving to the Group level and the winner from Group level moving on to the District level. At total of over $1000.00 can be won if the student wins at all the levels. The contest is held during the months of March and April of each year.

Rotary International District 6890

Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club is part of District 6890. It is located in west central Florida and home to more than 2,000 Rotarians in 46 clubs throughout Hillsborough, Highlands, Hardee and Polk Counties. Rotary unites leaders from around the world for fun, fellowship, business networking, community projects and international goodwill. The Rotary motto is "Service Above Self."

Caribbean Partners

Our Rotary Zone 34, comprising Georgia, Florida and the Caribbean is charged with forming alliances between island and mainland Rotary clubs. Partner clubs participate in activities such as friendship exchange, satellite phone provisions, and other international projects

Polio Plus

In the 1980's, The Rotary Foundation initiated partnerships with the World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control to eradicate polio from the face of the earth. In 2008, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded The Rotary Foundation $355 million in "challenge grants," asking that Rotarians raise a matching $200 million by 2011. Tremendous progress has been made in this global quest to protect children from this crippling disease. In 2021 only a handful of cases remain, those being in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Below is the 2021 Rotary International Proclamation for World Polio Day in Lake Wales.

Gift of Life

Rotary District 6890 partners with with St. Joseph's Children's Hospital to provide lifesaving heart surgery to children from developing nations. Physicians provide their services for free. Rotary coordinates transportation and home hosting for parents during their child's treatment and recovery. Additionally, Rotary donates $5,000 to the hospital for each surgery.

Project C.U.R.E.

Rotary clubs around our district participate in a national program called Project C.U.R.E., in which used and discarded medical supplies are collected for distribution in developing nations. Rotarians pick up equipment and supplies from local healthcare providers, and deliver to a central distribution point in East Tampa.