Chartered on June 22, 1988, the Rotary Club of The Sandhills (Club #25530) is one of four Rotary Clubs in Moore County which compose Area 9 of Rotary International’s District 7690. Sponsored by the Southern Pines Rotary Club, the charter members originally met in fellowship at Mid Pines Golf Club’s dining area as the area’s only Rotary breakfast club. While the venue has changed to The Carolina Hotel, the breakfast meeting is a tradition that continues to this day. Through friendships established and strengthened at our weekly meetings, our membership strives to give service above self to our local community, to our workplaces, and to al humankind of the world.
Of the original twenty members who were part of the Sandhills Rotary Club at its 1988 chartering, currently two remain active members: Richard Dana and Mike Ritter. The Sandhills sponsored the area’s only Rotaract Club at Sandhills Community College and the West Pine Middle School Interact Club. Designed by Vince Zucchino, the club’s mini-banner depicts the rising sun over a golf course to signify our weekly breakfast meeting. The pine trees and rolling hills in the background illustrate the geographic area that our club primarily serves-Moore County’s Sandhills.
The Club’s members are actively engaged in many projects that impact the community. The Adopt A Highway service helps with area beautification. The Dictionary Project, done in collaboration with other Area 9 clubs, provides this valuable reference to every third grade student in Moore County. Books for Babies, given in honor of weekly speakers to parents of newborns, encourages the love of reading. Funding and delivery of Meals on Wheels provides homebound residents with nutritious food.
While not seeking accolades, the Sandhills Rotary Club has a distinguished reputation for being a top supporter of the Rotary Foundation and its program activities. In August 2006, the club garnered the achievement of being the world’s fourth Triple Crown Club-100% Sustaining Members, 100% Benefactors, and 100% Paul Harris Fellows. Finally, the club has been a recipient of the annual District’s Gold Club Award fifteen times since the recognition program in 1998.