Who We Are
The Rotary Club of San Antonio, established in 1912, is a vibrant community of local leaders committed to “Service Above Self.” Meeting for lunch on Wednesdays, the club supports initiatives like student scholarships, projects benefitting local citizens, and international aid. Members engage in service projects and social events, fostering fellowship and community impact.
Our Mission
We strengthen our community by joining together as leaders to exchange ideas, form enduring relationships and create positive, lasting change locally and around the world through service to others.
— ROTARY CLUB OF SAN ANTONIO
Our History
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1912
The Rotary Club was chartered on November 1, 1912. The club grew to 128 members its first year led by Herbert Hayes. From its inception, the Club has been about service. One of its first projects was to erect a community Christmas tree in Alamo Plaza. As there was no government program for the poor, Rotarians banded together to provide food and gifts for the children. In those early years Rotarians sponsored the hanging of colored lights for the River Walk, supported orphans, raised money for the Boy Scouts, donated funds to fix the roof of the Alamo and acted as volunteer fireman during a strike by the local fire fighters.
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1921
The Club’s focus shifted to the youth of Bexar County and in 1921 a Student Loan Fund was established.
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1984
In time the Club decided the community would be better served by providing scholarships and the Youth Education Foundation was formed in 1984. Hundreds of students have been able to pursue their educational goals with the help of YEF.
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1991
Continuing its dedication to education, in 1991 the Club established the largest dropout prevention program in the nation, the Sam J. Riklin Rotary Diploma Plus Program. Besides providing a monetary incentive for good grades and attendance, the program provides mentors and a path to additional scholarships.
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2001
In 2001, the Rotary Club of San Antonio was the Host Club for the Rotary International Convention which registered more than 24,000 individuals from 133 countries. Its success established Rotary’s very first District Donor Advised Fund (DAF) which continues in perpetuity to benefit all qualifying District 5840 Club service projects.
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TODAY
In addition to education, our Club provides a safe haven for children through its Kingdom for Kids program. In a hands-on service project in under-served areas of the city, playgrounds are built, landscaping and soccer fields are installed. Thousands of children have benefited from these playgrounds. As a member of Rotary International our Club’s service extends throughout the world aiding in the eradication of polio, providing clean water, equipping literacy and adult education centers, providing medical equipment and much more.
Leadership · 2026–27 Board of Directors
Contact ArmenArmen Babajanian
President
Contact ChrisChris Holden
President-Elect
Contact KelleyKelley Frost
Immediate Past President
Contact DanielDaniel Peavy
Treasurer
Contact EmmaEmma Faye Rudkin
Sergeant-at-Arms
Contact AustinAustin Lane
YMB President
Contact ShelbyShelby Payne-Drayton
VP Programs
Contact BrisaBrisa Gonzales
VP Membership
Contact CindyCindy Urshan
VP Communications
Contact SherrySherry Dowlatshahi
VP International
Contact StevenSteven Silver
VP Fundraising
Contact MaryMary Young-Davis
Rotary Foundation
Contact DanDan Dailey
Youth Service
Contact LeticiaLeticia Salazar
Director
Contact DaveDave Schoepf
Director
Contact MikeMike Gilliam
Director
Rotary Rising Leaders
The only program of its kind in San Antonio—designed for young Rotary members to connect, lead, and serve together.
2026-2027 Young Members Board
The Young Members Board (YMB) is a group of young Rotarians who have participated in past Rotary Rising Leader cohorts and have assumed leadership roles within Rotary and the wider San Antono community. The YMB is responsible for developing strategies and programs to engage and recruit young professionals to become Rotarians and future leaders. The YMB president also serves on the Rotary Club’s governing board, ensuring that young professionals have a voice in shaping the future of the club.
- Contact Austin
Austin Lane
President
Contact ReedReed Clemons
Vice President
Contact BuddyBuddy Parsons
Immediate Past President
Contact AddysonAddyson Brooks
Treasurer
Contact BradyBrady Haag
Director
Contact BradyBrady Jenkins
Director
Contact ClaytonClayton Rodriguez
Director
Contact JonathanJonathan Gottsman
Director
Contact LilianaLiliana Rojas
Director
Contact AbigailAbigail Talley
Director
Contact BrisaBrisa Gonzales
Director
- Contact Cindy
Cindy Urshan
Advisor
Contact MinetteMinette Olson Hedin
Advisor
