The Sun Lakes Rotary Club was chartered on April 22, 1986 and on July 1, 2018 is starting its 32nd year. The club was conceived in 1985 when Chandler Rotarian, Andre Felix put an advertisement on the Sun Lakes Club House Bulletin Board to see if anyone was interested in attending Rotary at the Palo Verde Club House. Rotarian, Wayne Johnson had just moved to Sun Lakes from Moline, Illinois to enjoy retirement, noted the advertisement and responded. The next week, Wayne and seven Sun Lakes retires met around a lunch table with Andre and decided there was a need for a Rotary club in this fast-growing Sun Lakes Active Adult Community...
After working with the Arizona Rotary District 5510 and Rotary International, final approval was granted and the Sun Lakes Rotary Club was charted as a Tuesday morning club with 15 members, not the required 25. Allan Gustafson was elected the Charter Club President. And over the years has become known as the “Education Club” because of all the youth projects and programs provided for K-12 education, vocational education and higher education.
The club grew to 140 members in 2000-2001 and then helped charter on November 29, 2001, a Sun Lakes CrownThursday noon club with some members transferring to the new club. From a low of 15 members to a high of 140 members, the club now balances between 90 to 100 members. In Rotary year 2000-2001 the club was recognized by Rotary International as one of the top 50 largest clubs in the Rotary world with the 21st Century Challenge Award. Rotary celebrated its 100th year in 2004-2005 and Sun Lakes Past Club President, Gary Whiting was selected as Arizona District 5510 Centennial Governor overseeing 46 Rotary clubs and 1,648 club members in the Northeastern part of Arizona, USA.
Wayne Johnson is still an active member and the only Charter Member left in the club. During his membership, he has served as Club President, Board of Directors, and several Committee Chairmanships and is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in support of the Rotary Foundation. Wayne just turned 90 and in total has been a Rotarian for 62 years. Unless ill or a family situation he hasn’t missed a meeting in all these many years. As Wayne says, if you want to stay young get involved with your passion and for him that’s about contributing to your own community through Rotary. So, don’t let age get in your way to stay young!
