Rotary Clubs of Davis Centennial Celebration
Closing Address by President Donna Prebys
October 4, 2026
Good evening, fellow Rotarians, distinguished guests, community leaders, friends, and neighbors.
Tonight, we celebrate something truly remarkable: one hundred years of Rotary service in Davis.
For a century, Rotarians have gathered around tables, rolled up their sleeves, raised funds, built partnerships, and quietly transformed lives. We have supported young people, strengthened local organizations, responded to people in need, and joined Rotarians around the world in the fight against disease, poverty, and injustice.
As we look back on these one hundred years, we feel tremendous gratitude for the Rotarians who came before us. They gave us more than a history to celebrate. They gave us a legacy to protect—and a foundation upon which to build.
But a centennial is not only a time to look back.
It is also an invitation to look forward.
Tonight, we stand at the doorway of Rotary’s next one hundred years. We cannot know exactly what Davis—or our world—will look like in 2126. The challenges facing future generations may be very different from those we face today.
Yet one question will remain:
Who will be willing to step forward and serve?
I believe Rotary must be among those who answer, “We will.”
It will be secured by the choices we make now: whom we invite, how well we listen, where we serve, and whether we are willing to change while remaining true to our values.
Our purpose must remain constant, even as our methods evolve.
Service Above Self will always be at the heart of Rotary. Integrity, fellowship, leadership, and compassion will always guide us. But the Rotary of the future must be flexible enough to meet people where they are.
It must welcome the young professional who wants to serve but cannot attend a traditional weekly meeting. It must make room for working parents, retirees, business owners, educators, students, and community members from every background.
It must be a Rotary in which everyone feels that their voice matters, their talents are valued, and their presence makes a difference.
The future of Rotary will depend on our ability to build bridges across generations. Our longtime members carry invaluable wisdom, experience, and knowledge of our traditions. Our younger and newer members bring fresh ideas, new skills, and different ways of connecting with the world.
We must also remember that people do not join organizations merely to attend meetings. They join because they want to belong. They stay because they form friendships, discover purpose, and see that their efforts are creating meaningful change.
Therefore, the Rotary of the future must continue to be a place of genuine fellowship—a place where people know one another, care for one another, and enjoy serving together.
Our clubs must also be willing to ask difficult questions.
Are we addressing the greatest needs in our community—or simply repeating what is familiar?
Are we inviting new voices to the table—or expecting others to find their own way in?
Are our service projects creating lasting impact—or only temporary solutions?
Are we telling the story of Rotary in a way that inspires the next generation to join us?
The next century will require Rotary to be courageous.
We will need the courage to try new ideas, even when success is not guaranteed. We will need the courage to let go of traditions that no longer serve us while preserving the values that define us. We will need the courage to listen to people whose lives and experiences are different from our own.
Most importantly, we will need the courage to believe that ordinary people, working together, can still accomplish extraordinary things.
The challenges ahead are significant. Communities will continue to face hunger, homelessness, inequality, loneliness, environmental concerns, public health emergencies, and the changing needs of children and families.
Technology may change how we communicate, how we work, and even how we volunteer. But technology cannot replace human connection. It cannot sit beside a frightened child, deliver food to a struggling family, mentor a young person, comfort a neighbor, or bring a community together around a common purpose.
That is the work of people.
That is the work of Rotarians.
As we enter our second century, I envision a Rotary that is more visible, more inclusive, more connected, and more deeply engaged in the life of our community.
I envision Rotary clubs that collaborate rather than compete; that work alongside schools, nonprofits, businesses, civic leaders, and other service organizations; and that measure their success not only by the money they raise, but by the lives they improve.
I envision young people who first encounter Rotary through Interact, Rotaract, scholarships, youth exchanges, and service projects—and who later become the Rotarians who lead us into the future.
I envision a Rotary that does not wait for people to ask what we do because our service is visible throughout our community.
And I envision future Rotarians gathering here in Davis one hundred years from tonight.
I hope they will be able to say:
“They did not simply celebrate the first one hundred years. They prepared Rotary for the next one hundred.”
I hope they will say that we welcomed new generations, embraced new ideas, strengthened our community, and protected the spirit of Service Above Self.
I hope they will say that when the world changed, Rotary changed with it—but never lost its heart.
The decisions we make today will become the history they inherit.
So tonight, let us honor our past not only with memories and celebration, but with renewed commitment.
Let us commit to inviting others into service.
Let us commit to creating opportunities for every member to contribute.
Let us commit to projects that leave a lasting impact.
Let us commit to strengthening fellowship, encouraging innovation, and building a Rotary that truly reflects the community we serve.
And let us remember that the future of Rotary is not something that will simply happen to us.
One hundred years ago, a group of individuals believed that fellowship and service could make Davis a better community. We are here tonight because they acted on that belief.
Now is our turn.
May we serve with courage.
May we lead with compassion.
May we welcome new possibilities.
And may the next one hundred years of Rotary be even more impactful, inclusive, and inspiring than the first.
The future is waiting.
Let us step forward and create lasting impact.
Thank you – and happy Centennial to the Rotary Clubs of Davis