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.

This Year’s Theme

Each year, the Rotary Club of San Antonio embraces a theme that reflects our purpose and vision. President Kelley Frost chose ¡VIVA Rotary! as our theme for 2025-2026, a call to action that reminds us to bring energy, intention, and community spirit into everything we do. VIVA reminds us of these guiding values:

Visionary: Seek bold, meaningful ways to connect with our community.
Inviting: Prioritize growth through intentional member engagement.
Vibrant: Create multiple pathways for involvement—from service to socials.
Action: Live out Rotary’s mission by showing up, giving back, and making a difference.

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

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.

1921

The Club’s focus shifted to the youth of Bexar County and in 1921 a Student Loan Fund was established.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2025-2026 Board Of Directors

Kelley Frost

President

Armen Babajanian

President-Elect

Stephen Darling

Immediate Past President

Chris Holden

Vice President

Daniel Peavy

Treasurer

Bizzy Darling

Sergeant-at-Arms

Buddy Parsons

YMB President

Rachel Castro

VP Programs

Mary Lisa Mireles

VP Membership

Brisa Gonzales

AVP Membership

JC Clapsaddle

VP International

Mike Gilliam

Rotary International Foundation

Leticia Salazar

VP Community Service

Dan Dailey

VP Youth Service

Nick Warrington

VP Fundraising

Lia Payne-Drayton

Fundraising Development Chair

Sue Nicholas

VP Communications

Liz Avelar

Social Chair

Rotary Rising Leaders

The only program of its kind in San Antonio—designed for young Rotary members to connect, lead, and serve together.

LEARN MORE

2025-2026 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.