Club Meeting – 10/3/2023

David Duncan introduced Rudy Garcia, the Lieutenant Governor of Rotary District 7600 and the owner of a tax preparation business and a financial planning business in Fluvanna County. He was born and raised in Key West, FL. He joined the Army in 1977 and served 22 years. Upon retirement from the Army, he worked for the Federal Emergency Management

Agency and Fork Union Military Academy until opening his own businesses in 2006. He and Catherine were married in 2001. Rudy Graduated from Ohio University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in Specialized Studies and in 2005 from Walden University with a Master’s Degree of Science in Education.

He joined the Rotary Club of Fluvanna County in 2011 and served as Club President from

March of 2013 until June 2016. He also has served as the Interact Club Coordinator and is currently his Club’s Executive Secretary. Rudy was recognized as Rotarian of the Year by his Club for 2012. Rudy served as the Assistant Governor for Area 2 (Short Pump, Fluvanna, Goochland and Innsbrook) during the COVID Years from 2020-2022. Previously he was the Chair of the District Foundation Development Committee and the District Grants Committee.

He and his wife Catherine, who is the current Fluvanna Rotary Club President (and a former two-time President), are both Major Donors Level Two and Bequest Society Level 3 to the Rotary Foundation. Additionally, Rudy and Catherine have both been Paul Harris Society Members since 2014 and they are Multiple Paul Harris Fellows. They have been to 3 in-person Rotary International Conventions and two virtual conventions. They plan to travel to Melbourne, Singapore, and Calgary for those conventions as well.

Rudy has been on the RLI Faculty since 2017 and has also facilitated small group sessions at Chesapeake PETS since 2016. He was also the Multi-District Breakout Sessions Facilitator Coordinator from 2018-2020. In addition to their passion for all things Rotary, Rudy and Catherine are both International Referees in two different Powerlifting Organizations, and they travel to various meets around the country.

Rudy gave an inspiring talk that emphasized the Power of Four that reminds us that many good Rotarians are not yet Rotarians.  He and Catherine are strong proponents of couples in Rotary.  Among the fours were the Four-Way Test; the four focus areas of the current Rotary Year (Promote Peace, End Polio, Empower Girls, and Destigmatize Mental Health); the four impact areas (Impact, Reach, Engage and Adapt) and the four focus areas for clubs (Public Image, Membership, Foundation and Service). He reminded us not to be afraid to change and not be afraid to fail. 

Club Business 

• We need 20 volunteers to sign up for one-hour shifts on 10/4 to label books at MacArthur Mall for the ADR (All District Reads) Literacy Project.
• Please remember to pay your dues. If you haven't, you'll be getting a call. Please let Karen know if you need an invoice.
• Laurie Harrison will be bringing back the raffle once a month. On 10/17, the raffle prize will be 2 tickets to the Virginia Stage Company 

In addition to Rudy Garcia, club visitors for today were Paul Peter, the assistant district governor and David Charney, a potential member.

Bill Jonak was with us and was recognized for his Rotary service by Ben Mason

Fines/Happy Bucks:

• Fine for anyone not wearing a Rotary pin. 
• Happy bucks from Jeff Wells for the Tides win. 
• Happy bucks from Marty Raiss for George’s medical improvement.
• Happy bucks from Barbara Lifland for her trip to Japan and South Korea. 
• Happy bucks from Jeff for being appointed the HR Pride President. 
• Happy bucks from Sharon for becoming a Grandmother-to-be, her son is out of the hospital and her daughter is moving back from the Carribbean. 
• Happy bucks from Bruce Willcox for a trip to Italy, Turkey and Greece; and a new grandchild
• Happy bucks from George Compo for his new Lexus