OKC Rotary News

October 28, 2025 | Volume 114 | No. 18
In-Person and Livestreamed from Christian Life Center - St. Luke's Methodist Church | 11:55
Link to the Livestream 11:55am

Oklahoma Hospital Association

Rich Rasmussen is President of Okla. Hospital Association He is only the fifth executive to lead the organization in its 104-year history.
Rasmussen has served in executive leadership roles in the health care industry for more than 30 years. Most recently, he was president and CEO of the Montana Hospital Association. There he successfully led the association’s efforts to reauthorize Medicaid expansion, double the size of the state’s Medicaid supplemental payment program.... READ MORE

Chair of the Day:  AJ Griffin
Attendance Scanner/Greeters: Bobby Mills, Stacy Murray
Registration: James Shane, Mathew Siebert
New Rotarian Welcome Table: John Settle
Introduction of Guests: Chip Oppenheim
Invocation/Pledge Leader: Larry Wagner
Microphone/ Q & A:  Bobby Mills, Bud Oehlert
Menu:    Roasted Pumpkin Seed Salad; House Salad; Capri Vegetables; Dinner Roll; Roasted Chicken; Broccoli Chedder Soup

club 29 breakfast

October 30, 2025 | 7:00am
Quail Creek Country Club | Wingspan Room
Chairs: John D. Williams, David Hull, Aaron Collins

Speaker: Dr. John Han-Chih Chang Medical Director of Clinical Research and Education at Oklahoma Proton Center.

reflections

Is Civility Dead?

by Charlie Price

Online trolls. Road rage incidents. Public figures trading barbs. Wherever you turn, there’s another reminder of how fragile civility has become.

Defined by Merriam-Webster as “a polite act or expression,” civility is about treating others with respect, courtesy and kindness. Sound quaint? Many agree: 85% of those polled in a 2023 American Bar Association survey said civility in today’s society is worse than it was a decade ago.

So, has the modern age killed civility? I don’t think so, but it’s certainly under siege. In a culture that rewards the loudest voice in the room, choosing civility can feel like swimming against the current. Yet as Rotarians, it’s exactly what we’re called to do. When we choose to be civil with others, we’re putting our own best interests aside in favor of the greater good.

The Rotary Four-Way Test remains an ethical north star.More than something we recite at meetings, the test guides us toward civility in daily life: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Truth is more slippery than it used to be. With the rise of artificial intelligence, deepfakes and a 24-hour news cycle, it’s harder to determine what’s fact and what’s fiction, but the truth still matters. Integrity, speaking honestly and checking sources before sharing information goes a long way. READ MORE

Announcements

High School Rotarians

The 2025-26 High School Rotarians will be present. The High School Rotarians are chosen by their school counselors or principals, and represent high schools in the Oklahoma City area.

RSVP

Pledge or Donate

=>Accounting Email Change - 2nd Quarter Statements were emailed last Wed, Oct. 1!

On July 1, 2024 the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City updated our accounting software to QuickBooks Online. With this change, the email address that sends your statements has been updated to: quickbooks@notification.intuit.com

Please add the above email address to your safe senders list and check your spam/junk folders for communications from the Rotary office. Quarterly statements were emailed and we appreciate your assistance to ensure timely payment.

October Rotary Magazine - for Rotarian Subscribers

Papua New Guinea has one of the world's highest rates of death for pregnant women, new mothers, and newborns. Most of these deaths are preventable, and midwives are key. In this issue of Rotary magazine, go behind the scenes of a Rotary-backed peer support program that is helping midwives in the Pacific island nation build the confidence to lead.
Click here to read your digital copy of the October 2025 issue

World Polio Day is 24 October, and we’ve got a package of inspirational stories capturing the pride in progress toward ending the disease. In an interview, Bill Gates discusses his foundation’s legacy, the importance of his long-standing partnership with Rotary, and why he remains unshakably optimistic about the end of polio.

The fight against the disease has spurred a host of medical breakthroughs and strengthened the global public health infrastructure. In another feature story, we look at several major advancements that originated with a 1950s polio outbreak in Copenhagen, Denmark.

To honor the commitment to ending polio, Rotary invited artists specializing in miniature creations to craft tiny scenes of big moments in the global effort. A photo essay captures some highlights.

Prefer to listen? Check out the Rotary Voices podcast for audio versions of the magazine's best storytelling, along with full episodes featuring bonus interviews.

D5750 Governor Mukesh Patel

A Message from the District Governor: October 2025 - Economic & Community Development Month

Dear Rotarians,

October is Rotary International’s Economic & Community Development Month — a time to highlight one of Rotary’s most vital areas of focus: strengthening local economies, creating opportunities for decent work, and building sustainable futures.

Across District 5750, I see our clubs living out this mission in countless ways — from supporting small business owners, to mentoring youth entrepreneurs, to investing in workforce development programs that spark hope and self-reliance. These efforts are not just about economics; they are about dignity, empowerment, and the chance for every person to thrive. READ MORE

Memorials

The Rotary Club 29 Foundation accepts gifts honoring loved ones.
A contribution can be made here

In the News

If you have good news - honors, awards, new achievements - to share with the club please let us know!

Upcoming Events

November 11, 2025 - Rotary Afterhours - The Ellison Rooftop
December 5, 2025 - Salvation Army Bell Ringing
January 6, 2026 - Rotary Winter Party
January 31, 2026 - Pickleball Tournament

Rotary Club 29 Online Directory
DacDb has a new App in the App/Play Store!!

Rotary Club 29 has an online membership directory which contains current content information for all club members. The link to access the Club 29 directory can be found at the top of the home page of okcrotary.club or by clicking here.
OKC Rotary has provided this tool as a convenience to help members stay in touch with one another. The online directory, just like the printed roster, should only be used for Rotary purposes. If you need help in accessing the directory, please email the office.

FUTURE PROGRAMS

2025-2026 Program Schedule

November 4, 2025 - Marilyn Luper Hildreth, Joyce Jackson, Joyce Henderson
Clara Luper Plaza: Honoring the Katz Drug Sit-in Panel
November 11, 2025 - Admiral Greg Slavonic