Rotary Club of McMinnville, TN

09/11/2026

The McMinnville Rotary Club recently heard from Dr. Mark Spencer Green, Special Projects Director at the Motlow Field Institute.

Dr. Green leads the Institute’s work connecting academics and research in biology and environmental sciences with outdoor recreation, environmental protection, sustainability, and conservation. The Institute is also building partnerships with schools, public service agencies, and industries throughout Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland.

Dr. Green brings more than 25 years of teaching experience and is a National Science Foundation-funded researcher. He also serves in the Sunset Rotary Club of Cookeville, where he is a Past President.

Thank you, Dr. Green, for sharing the exciting work happening through the Motlow Field Institute and its impact on education, conservation, and our region! We can’t wait to see this initiative come together and grow! 🌎🌱

09/10/2026

⭐️ ⭐️ Can’t make lunch? You can still make a difference. Join us After Hours!
💡Join us to learn more about our satellite club opportunities!
October 1st @ 6pm Main Street Media

09/03/2026

🌟Today at McMinnville Rotary ✨ 🔭☄️

The Rotary Club of McMinnville was honored to welcome Dr. Keivan Stassun of Vanderbilt University for a fascinating presentation connecting two areas of his life’s work — astronomy and autism innovation.

Dr. Stassun is an internationally recognized astrophysicist whose research focuses on stars, exoplanets, and worlds beyond our solar system. His work has included research with NASA missions and the enormous amounts of data scientists use to better understand our universe.

But some of his most meaningful work is focused much closer to home.

As the founding director of Vanderbilt’s Frist Center for Autism & Innovation, Dr. Stassun has helped change the conversation surrounding autism and neurodiversity. Rather than focusing only on challenges, his work looks at the unique strengths and abilities neurodivergent individuals can bring to science, engineering, technology, and the workplace.

Today’s presentation showed how those two worlds can come together — how different ways of thinking, recognizing patterns, interpreting information, and even experiencing scientific data can help us better understand the universe around us.

Dr. Stassun is a recipient of the National Medal of Science and was named a 2024 MacArthur Fellow, but perhaps just as impressive is his commitment to creating opportunities for people whose talents may otherwise be overlooked.

Thank you, Dr. Stassun, for joining us today and sharing such an interesting and thought-provoking program with our club!

Service Above Self

08/27/2026

08/20/2026

♻️ Recycling the Right Way, it’s not as hard or confusing as we think ♻️

Today, the Rotary Club of McMinnville welcomed Donna Barrett with RecycleRightTN for an informative program on responsible recycling.

Donna shared helpful information about what those numbers on plastics really mean, what can actually be recycled, and how making smart recycling choices can conserve natural resources and reduce waste going into our landfills.

📱 Wondering “Where do I recycle?” or “What can I recycle?”
Simply scan the QR code in the photo to learn more!

https://recyclerighttn.com

Thank you, Donna, for joining us and helping us learn how to Recycle Right! ♻️

08/16/2026

Great program at the Rotary Club of McMinnville this week!

We welcomed Elise Karpinski, Esq. and Dr. Ryan Jackwood, Ph.D. with the Harpeth Conservancy to discuss the state of our local waters in Warren County and the work being done to protect Tennessee’s water resources.

They also shared information about the Tennessee Water Watch, a tool used to monitor and better understand water quality across our communities.

Thank you, Elise and Ryan, for an informative presentation and for the important work you’re doing across Tennessee! 💧🌿

08/07/2026

Today we had the opportunity to learn more about the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) from Executive Director Jeff Gray,our statewide public safety radio system that allows law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and other first responders to communicate seamlessly across Tennessee.

TACN was developed in response to lessons learned from tragedies like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, where communication failures highlighted the need for a reliable, interoperable statewide system.

It’s encouraging to see Tennessee continuing to invest in technology that improves coordination, enhances responder safety, and ultimately helps protect our communities. Thank you to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security for the informative presentation.

08/01/2026

James Gaddis,Eastern Service Area Field Director of Middle Tennessee Council, discussed how the Boy Scouts of America (now Scouting America) has survived more than a century of social, political, and cultural challenges, including racial segregation, religious conflicts, civil rights issues, and financial pressures. Despite these obstacles, the organization has remained resilient by staying committed to its mission of developing young people through leadership and outdoor education. He also highlighted current efforts to grow membership, strengthen school outreach, and ensure all youth can participate regardless of their financial circumstances.

Dr. Wallace Bigbee was on hand and was recognized for his over 60 years of service and volunteerism with the BSA

07/31/2026

We’re thankful for our officers and directors.

07/25/2026

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors and teams! Can’t wait to see you Saturday morning ⛳️