Southtowne Rotary Stories
We hope you will love learning more about a few Southtowne Rotarians. At the bottom, find stories of a few Rotary experiences that members have submitted, as well. People of all ages and backgrounds are Rotarians. All you need is a desire to be of service and to do good in the world. Welcome!
Chris Waugh
One of her favorite Rotary memories happened while delivering Meals on Wheels. She met FVM, a gentleman who lived alone and depended on daily meal deliveries to remain in his own home. When she casually asked, “What’s your dog’s name?” his expression changed. Frustrated, he snapped, “Just throw my lunch on the floor!”
Rather than argue, she simply asked, “How about a hug?” At first he was tense and trembling, but after a few moments he relaxed, smiled, and apologized. As she helped set up his lunch, she noticed a sign that read, “Please don’t let Ruby out.”
She realized he wasn’t angry with her. He was frustrated because he couldn’t remember the name of his beloved dog.
The experience reminded her that Rotary isn’t just about service projects. It’s about seeing people, offering grace, and preserving dignity. Through programs like Meals on Wheels and the Rotarians who serve, FVM was able to remain in the home he loved. She still thinks of him often and remains grateful that Rotary gave her the opportunity to meet such a gentle soul.
Deanna Rivera
She ended up in Rotary because of a website. A friend who was serving as club president asked her to develop a new website for the club. She soon realized that creating a meaningful site required understanding Rotary from the inside, so she began attending meetings, asking questions, and getting to know the members.
Somewhere along the way, she fell in love with Rotary. She discovered a group of people genuinely committed to making their community and the world better by giving their time, talents, and resources to help others.
With a background in marketing and communications, she became involved with the club’s website and public relations, helping share the stories behind its service work. Her involvement eventually expanded to serving as district web developer and, now, Public Image Chair for Rotary District 5110.
She stays because of the impact the club makes, from supporting youth experiencing homelessness and providing scholarships to helping local families and tackling community projects. Most importantly, Rotary has given her lasting friendships, mentors, and teammates.
She may have joined to build a website, but she found a community and a purpose. The website brought her to Rotary, but the people and the service are what keep her coming back.
Glen Brigham
He joined Rotary after a friend from the Springfield club connected him with Southtowne members. Although he could not sing, he quickly discovered plenty of other ways to get involved.
He especially enjoyed the variety of service projects and working with youth programs. Reading stories to children and seeing the sparkle in their eyes became a favorite experience, with the cookies being an added bonus. He also became active in club affairs and began his memorable career as Santa Claus.
Over the years, he has enjoyed meeting new members, learning about their work with Rotary, and welcoming the energy and perspective that more women have brought to Southtowne Rotary.
Jocelyn Bonner
She first knew Rotary mainly from buying Duck Race tickets, but that changed in January 2022 while visiting relatives in Querétaro, Mexico. She noticed children at a Special Education School for the Deaf wearing UO Duck shirts and learned that the school was supported by Rotary and Southtowne. With a longstanding interest in Deaf culture and past experience studying American Sign Language, she was immediately intrigued.
A meeting with former Southtowne members Nancy and Walt Meyer helped lead to her joining Southtowne in May 2022. After retiring in 2021, she had been looking for a local, hands-on service organization. She soon discovered that Rotary’s international reach also aligned with her interest in supporting mental health organizations in Africa.
She values Rotary for its camaraderie and shared humanitarian purpose, finding meaningful opportunities to serve both locally and around the world.
Joelle Goodwin
“I went to Peru hoping to change a child’s life. I came home realizing a little boy had changed mine.”
She joined Rotary expecting to make a difference in her community, but a 2012 Rotaplast International mission to Lima, Peru, changed her perspective on service. After hearing fellow Southtowne Rotarian Kathi Hoffer speak about Rotaplast International, she volunteered as the team’s Quartermaster, helping support a medical team providing life-changing surgeries to children with congenital conditions.
During the mission, she met Anderson, a young boy with webbed hands and feet who could not speak but communicated through his infectious smile and personality. She watched as surgeons carefully created thumbs for him, potentially giving him greater independence. Years later, she still wonders how Anderson’s life unfolded and whether those surgeries helped him do things many take for granted.
The experience taught her that service is about showing up for others and doing what you can to make someone’s life better. Rotary introduced her to a global community dedicated to service, and Anderson ultimately changed the way she sees the world.
For her, that is why she remains a Rotarian.
Read more about the Rotaplast mission to Lima and the children and volunteers who made it unforgettable on her 2012 blog.
Steve Hutchinson
He joined Southtowne Rotary while serving as president of the school board at Marist High School. Active parent and Rotarian Maurice Moore invited him to a meeting, describing Southtowne simply as “people doing good things.” He soon became deeply involved, and Mary Glass O’Leary asked him to establish a charitable foundation for the club. He became the first president of the Southtowne Foundation, serving in that role until becoming Club President.
Rotary opened doors to opportunities and experiences he never imagined, taking him to Barcelona, Uganda, Guatemala, Mexico, and Rotary International headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. He has also participated in leadership training across the Pacific Northwest as a president-elect, Assistant District Governor, and instructor.
Through Rotary, he has gained lasting friendships, countless adventures, and plenty of wonderful stories to tell.
Leslie Parker
She joined Southtowne Rotary in 2015 after a friend and neighbor introduced her to the organization and its many opportunities to volunteer in the community. As a recent retiree, she found Rotary to be an ideal way to give back while meeting people from diverse backgrounds.
She has especially enjoyed hands-on projects such as Habitat for Humanity and tiny home construction, as well as serving as an OBOB coach, helping elementary students discover a love of reading. She also values delivering Meals on Wheels, where she connects with fellow Rotarians and the people they serve.
Through Rotary, she has built lasting friendships and discovered a deeper connection to her community and the warmth that comes from helping others.
Grace Widdecombe
She joined Rotary in 2011 after meeting Rod and Betty Holst at a Eugene Gleemen fundraiser. After attending her first meeting at the Eugene Vet’s Club, she quickly became a dedicated member who rarely misses a meeting.
She remains active because of the people, purpose, and opportunity to make a difference. She values the friendships, weekly programs, community service, and international travel experiences Rotary has provided.
Rotary has also helped her grow as a leader. As Director of Resources, she has strengthened community partnerships and led the inaugural Rotary Sky Ball Classic, which raised more than $15,000 for scholarships and local service projects. Through Rotary, she has become a stronger leader, listener, and community member, inspired by the shared commitment to making a positive impact.
Patric Miller
He was introduced to Rotary through friends and a passion for service after launching an NGO that supported a village school in Buyijja, Uganda. Encouraged by Rotarians who shared information about grant opportunities, he attended Southtowne Rotary meetings and soon became an active member.
After participating in District grant projects and numerous local service initiatives, he discovered that Rotary provided a meaningful way to give back, even after his Uganda project ended during the COVID pandemic. As he took on leadership roles, he found purpose in collaborating with fellow members to make a positive impact while enjoying the camaraderie. Through fundraising, community projects, scholarships, Food Boxes, and youth programs, he came to see Southtowne Rotary as a vibrant organization powered by the compassion and dedication of its members.
Penny Klein
Our projects rely on many helping hands, and we are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers from outside our club. This month, we recognize Penny Klein, a longtime volunteer with Eugene Southtowne’s signature Food Box program. Since 2021, Penny has been a reliable part of the team, helping put the finishing touches on boxes for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. She was introduced to the program by Rotarian Camille Ronzio and describes the team as kind, welcoming, good-natured, and big-hearted.
The daughter of a Rotarian, Penny grew up in Southern California before moving to Oregon with her husband, Glenn. She earned a teaching certificate and Master’s in Education and taught elementary school in Eugene and Salem for about 14 years before she and Glenn adopted two children. Today, Penny also volunteers with the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and Bags of Love. She enjoys sewing and quilting and famously made her children’s Halloween costumes for many years!
Betty Holst
Following a recent presentation by MK, one of our Southtowne Opportunity Scholarship recipients (for adults making a career change), Betty introduced herself and offered to do her hair for upcoming interviews! MK was thrilled! They had a wonderful “Girl’s Hair Day” and both loved it and have stayed in touch.
Betty grew up in a farming family in Iowa (ask her about detasseling corn for 35 cents/hour). She is a great-grandmother, a former hair salon owner, hairdresser, gardener, and great cook who makes “everything from scratch”. She describes herself as “compassionate, happy, and family-oriented”.
Andrea Lamanna
Andrea joined Southtowne in 2006 after a lunch meeting with a Rotarian, suggested by a mutual acquaintance. She wanted to help our community and especially enjoyed Family Days and packing school backpacks. She is a past president of Eugene Southtowne.
Andrea grew up in Portland, OR, and works in the commercial insurance industry. She describes herself as “stubborn, caring and kind”. She enjoys cooking, experiencing different restaurants, the Coast, and farmers’ markets with her husband Rocky.
Sylvia Ryan
United for Good! Sylvia Ryan recently served as the 25/26 president of Southtowne as a self-employed wife and mother. How does she do it all? She describes herself as driven, resilient, and lives by the words “Don’t give up!” She was born and raised in Uganda until the age of 28, and still has close family living there. She moved to the US 9 years ago. She earned a Common Law degree from Cavendish University in Uganda. She is currently working toward her second degree in Global Studies from LCC. No surprise, as she is a world traveler and is a travel agent and business owner in the tourism industry!
Sylvia became interested in Rotary because of her passion for community service and making a positive impact both locally and globally. She was inspired by the way Rotary connects people from all walks of life for a common cause. She was sponsored as a Rotaract to be part of RYLA as the Rotaract president at the university.
She is married to Casey (they met at the gym), and together they have 4 children and 2 wonderful stepdaughters. Outside of work and Rotary, she enjoys traveling and reading. Guess where she is in the picture!
John Pfanner
John was recently recognized as a Superstar Rotarian by our District 5110. What does this mean? John has been a stalwart member of Southtowne since 2012. He is responsible for our Hospital Supply Program, which, in partnership with Cardiostart International, sends donated supplies all over the world. John coordinates the logistics and volunteers to get this done!
He describes himself as dedicated, committed, and shy. These qualities are exemplified by 21 years in the Air Force, including 1.5 years in Vietnam. He served as a transport pilot. He then served for 21 years in retail sales at BiMart. His goal is to serve 21 years with Rotary! John does not seek accolades; it’s just who he is.
John was born in Seattle, WA on January 1, 1944, at about noon. His paternal grandfather was German, thus the name Pfanner. He and his younger brother spent most of their youth in Corvallis, OR, where his father was a business professor at Oregon State University. Volunteerism was modeled by his mother, who served with the Pan-Hellenic Council as a mentor for the sororities on campus. His mother, a former copy editor, was of Canadian heritage. John obtained a business degree from OSU, where he joined Air Force ROTC.
John’s 3rd retirement was in 2024 from sailing with the Eugene Yacht Club for 35 years. He is active in his church and leads their major annual pledge drive. He is active in the Lions Club. He and his wife Susan, enjoy spending time with their family.
Lonny King
Back in the year 2000 the company Lonny worked for, Mckenzie Commercial Contractors, built the Parish Hall for St. Johns Church. Through that experience, he met Maurice Moore, who was the business manager for the church. He invited Lonny to Rotary. The rest, as they say, is history.
Lonny says that it has been a wonderful experience through the years meeting many wonderful friends. All in all one of the best things he’s done.
Gary Brown
(Springs Satellite Club)
Gary joined The Estes Park Colorado Rotary Club in 1984 and has been a Rotarian ever since. He and his wife have hosted seven Rotary exchange students.
Gary is a past president and past District Governor Assistant. His real love for Rotary stems from the incredible Polio Plus program, eradicating so much of the disease around the globe. What a humanitarian effort!
Gary is a founder of the Springs Satellite Club under Southtowne, and serves on Southtowne’s Foundation board. He lives with is wife, Kelly, at the Springs, and they have a daughter in Eugene with two grandkids, and a son in Bend also with two grandkids. Lucky grandparents!
Flash Flood
Our Rotary group in Uganda was doing follow-up visits to villages that had borehole water pumps installed previously by other Rotary groups. We checked to see if the pumps were working properly and we sometimes inaugurated a new pump or reviewed other possible projects like shallow ponds to raise tilapia fish.
One time we had been out in the jungle all day and returned to stay at a much nicer place than we normally got, called “Mountains of the Moon” motel. It had hot water. We got cleaned up and had a nice dinner. Our fearless leader said, tomorrow is a rest day, we’ll just go visit a village, show the Rotary flag for an hour and then come back here.
It’s a rest day, we can just wear sandals, we’re not hiking anywhere. Off we go. Our safari bus goes into the jungle on dry creek beds and game trails. As we come to the top of a rise the local driver says: “looks like big rain over the Rensori mountains, we need to go back”. Nope, says fearless leader, we can make it into the village, short stay and get out before rain. He was wrong. At the village, torrential rain, flash flood and our safari bus sinks axle deep in mud.
After about a half hour of steady downpour the rain lets up, but the bus won’t move. So, the solution is, we will follow some village people and hike out of the jungle through the mud (did I mention we were in sandals?) to a higher elevation. Meanwhile the 80 men of the village would pick the bus up and carry it to meet us. We did, they did, and we made it back muddy but unbowed to the hot water at Mountains of the Moon.
Project Amigo
Project Amigo is a Rotary project in Cofradia, Mexico which is co-sponsored by Southtowne Rotary and several other Rotary clubs around the US and Canada. This project is designed to lift this small Mexican village out of poverty by educating its children. It has been an ongoing project for more that 30 years and has been a tremendous success.
Many of the children sponsored by Rotary from grade school through college have now graduated and some have returned to their village and are now in charge of the city government. They have made huge improvements.
Rotary has a permanent main hacienda there with housing for Rotary work groups , administrative office, kitchen and eating facilities along with classrooms for the children’s “homework club”. Over the years so many Rotary clubs have wanted to do a work week in Cofradia (particularly in the winter) that more hacienda’s have been added around town to provide housing.
The last time we were there in early 2020 was just before the world shut down from the covid pandemic. Our Rotary group in Cofradia wondered what was going on when American Airlines sent us a message that our scheduled flight home was canceled. They said: “The last flight out of Manzanillo is Saturday, be there or you’re on your own.” No more international flights into the US after that date. That’s when we found out about Covid.
The Amigo people arranged alternate transport and we made it to a mostly deserted airport to catch that last American flight home. Adventures on a Rotary project!
Uganda Birth
Some members of Southtowne Rotary club, the Briggs and Hutchinsons, joined some members of the Rotary club of Petaluma California and went to work on a water project in Uganda, Africa. In Kampala, at a Rotary meeting our group met a doctor named Connie who had just finished some time with the Doctors without Borders. She asked if she could join us. Anytime you can get a doctor in a project group you take them and we did.
In the years when crazy Idi Amin ruled Uganda, he had many concrete buildings erected in the jungle to be used as medical clinics. The buildings were built but never equipped, no beds , no medicines, no blankets, no bandages , no nothing, just bare concrete walls, cots with bare coils and openings for doorways and windows.
Our group stopped at one of these in the jungle outside of Tororo as a place where we could distribute some mosquito netting. As we went thru the building we heard a woman crying. We found her in the back room where she was on a cot ready to deliver a baby. Connie delivered the baby and there is now a Uganda child named Connie living in the jungle.
