Southtowne Leadership
A Message From President Karen
I am honored and excited to begin my year as President of Eugene Southtowne Rotary. I look forward to working with every one of our members while we expand our club’s footprint in our community.
My road to Southtowne began in 2014, as I was asked to do a presentation about the travel industry at Eugene Southtowne Rotary’s weekly Thursday noon meeting. I applied for membership soon afterward. I dove into service at Rotary headfirst, Meals on Wheels, working at Food for Lane County, and Habitat for Humanity as well as being on the Board of directors for Southtowne and co-chairing our club’s annual Wine and Salmon festival which raised tens of thousands of dollars to support scholarships for at-risk youth in our community as well as raising money for our local food box program. Eugene Southtowne Rotary turns 50 years old in 2025. I am proud to be a member of this club.
Born and raised here in Eugene, our community is my passion. I recently retired after 33 years in the travel industry. Working as a travel agent provided me with the opportunity to travel the world and experience other cultures. I was the founder of the Eugene Dive Club over 37 years ago. It is still a vibrant club with over 100 members.
I am married to my husband, Jim Fretwell. We have three wonderful daughters and two grandchildren. Come join me at one of our weekly lunch meetings at the Eugene Mission or at one of our fabulous social events. I look forward to guiding our club through the next year and into our next 50 years.
A Message From President Karen
I am honored and excited to begin my year as President of Eugene Southtowne Rotary. I look forward to working with every one of our members while we expand our club’s footprint in our community.
My road to Southtowne began in 2014, as I was asked to do a presentation about the travel industry at Eugene Southtowne Rotary’s weekly Thursday noon meeting. I applied for membership soon afterward. I dove into service at Rotary headfirst, Meals on Wheels, working at Food for Lane County, and Habitat for Humanity as well as being on the Board of directors for Southtowne and co-chairing our club’s annual Wine and Salmon festival which raised tens of thousands of dollars to support scholarships for at-risk youth in our community as well as raising money for our local food box program. Eugene Southtowne Rotary turns 50 years old in 2025. I am proud to be a member of this club.
Born and raised here in Eugene, our community is my passion. I recently retired after 33 years in the travel industry. Working as a travel agent provided me with the opportunity to travel the world and experience other cultures. I was the founder of the Eugene Dive Club over 37 years ago. It is still a vibrant club with over 100 members.
I am married to my husband, Jim Fretwell. We have three wonderful daughters and two grandchildren. Come join me at one of our weekly lunch meetings at the Eugene Mission or at one of our fabulous social events. I look forward to guiding our club through the next year and into our next 50 years.
District Governor 2025-2026 Chris Waugh
Southtowne’s own Christine (Chris) Waugh will serve 5110 as District Governor in 2025-2026. Upon selection in fall of 2022, Chris has been training, preparing, and learning all of the important facets of carrying out this role.
“District 5110 is like a big organization,” Chris said, “with 61 clubs, 3 satellites (2 are part of Southtowne Rotary Club,) 4 Rotaract Clubs and 15 Interact Clubs. Covering more than 60,000 square miles, we have almost 3,000 members.”
Her duties during her governor year will be oversight of all of the District committees – Administration, Finance, Membership, Public Relations, Training, Data Management, Youth Services, Finance, Foundation, Grants, Assistant Governors, Events, Youth Exchange, and Friendship Exchange (among others.)
The fun part, according to Chris, will be visiting every single club – from Lakeview to Lincoln City, and from Prineville to Brookings, and dipping into Northern California to visit Scott Valley (Fort Jones) to Tulelake. Big clubs and small, all with People of Action carrying out Service Above Self.
Chris joined Rotary in Newport in 1987. She was the first woman president there in 1992-93. In 2015, she moved to Cottage Grove to “retire,” but that didn’t suit her. In 2017, she joined Southtowne Club where she served as president in 2020-21 “the COVID year.”
During a visit to Newport in 2019, she heard about satellite clubs, so she worked with some Southtowne members who moved to the Springs At Greer Gardens and started a satellite there. After COVID ran its course, she identified a number of community members who were interested in service but couldn’t make Southtowne’s regular weekly meetings, so the Southtowne Service Network satellite was formed.
Kathi Hoffer to Serve as Assistant Governor
Past President Kathi Hoffer has been elected to serve as Assistant Governor for the five Eugene area Rotary clubs. Starting July 2025 she will serve in this capacity for Eugene, Eugene Delta, Eugene Emerald Valley, Eugene Metropolitan, and Eugene Southtowne Rotary clubs.
As Assistant Governor, Kathi will support, inform and strengthen the clubs, as well as serve as a liaison to the District Governor Line. She will meet regularly with the clubs, and with the 5 surrounding clubs with their AG, Gary Manly of Cottage Grove.
“District 5110 is lucky to have Kathi serve in this capacity,” District Governor-Elect Chris Waugh said, ” and since I know her well, I was very happy that she agreed to take on this important role.”
Kathi Hoffer to Serve as Assistant Governor
Past President Kathi Hoffer has been elected to serve as Assistant Governor for the five Eugene area Rotary clubs. Starting July 2025 she will serve in this capacity for Eugene, Eugene Delta, Eugene Emerald Valley, Eugene Metropolitan, and Eugene Southtowne Rotary clubs.
As Assistant Governor, Kathi will support, inform and strengthen the clubs, as well as serve as a liaison to the District Governor Line. She will meet regularly with the clubs, and with the 5 surrounding clubs with their AG, Gary Manly of Cottage Grove.
“District 5110 is lucky to have Kathi serve in this capacity,” District Governor-Elect Chris Waugh said, ” and since I know her well, I was very happy that she agreed to take on this important role.”
Southtowne Rotary Club
Southtowne Rotary isn’t just one of Eugene’s largest clubs—it’s the one known for having the most fun and serving the best food! We meet every Thursday at noon at the Eugene Mission, where 90+ passionate members come together to make a difference both locally and globally, embodying Rotary’s motto: “Service Above Self.”
At Southtowne, every member has a chance to lead and grow. With yearly elections for president and board positions, plus opportunities to serve on committees or explore district-wide leadership roles, there’s a place for everyone to get involved and make an impact. For more information on Southtowne leaders and committees, click here.
Founded in 1975 as the 15th club in our district, Southtowne has evolved from its original neighborhood focus to welcome anyone eager to serve. For more information on the history of Southtowne, click here.
Interested in Membership? Learn more.
What is Rotary?
Rotary is a vibrant global network of over 1.2 million volunteers, uniting community-minded individuals across more than 200 countries. Rotary members are business professionals, community leaders, and service-driven people in Eugene and beyond, coming together to make a difference locally and globally.
Our members meet regularly to plan impactful service projects, build connections, and collaborate on innovative ways to improve lives. Whether it’s addressing needs in our local community or contributing to international humanitarian efforts, Rotary creates opportunities for meaningful action.
How Does Rotary Make a Difference?
Rotary transforms lives by fostering global understanding through:
- Scholarships for education and leadership development.
- Cultural exchange programs that promote unity across borders.
- Humanitarian grants that empower communities to tackle challenges such as clean water, health care, and education.
From hosting youth leadership events to spearheading life-changing projects, Rotary clubs engage in a wide variety of efforts to build a brighter, more connected world.
Who Can Join Rotary?
Anyone with a passion for service and a commitment to building goodwill is welcome! While Rotary was once associated with older, wealthy men due to its origins, today’s clubs are diverse, dynamic, and inclusive. All you need is a heart for helping others and a desire to contribute to positive change—locally and globally.
If you’d like to become a Rotarian, click here to learn about membership and join us at one of our weekly Zoom meetings!
Ready to Make an Impact?
We’d love for you to join us! Explore Rotary membership and experience the power of service by attending one of our weekly Zoom meetings.