District Foundation Leadership

PDG Rich Turnbull District Rotary Foundation Chair 2023-26 Rotary Club of St. Augustine Beach
Rich Turnbull lives and works in St. Augustine Beach, and has been a resident of St. Johns County for over 30 years. He is happily married to Marie (also a Rotarian), has five adult children, and worships at Anastasia Baptist Church. Rich is President of Turnbull Environmental, Inc., an environmental consulting and construction company, and he and Marie are also owners of Harbour Island Tennis Centre, a small, high-quality tennis facility located in St. Augustine.
In 2017 Rich was honored with the Brent William’s Spirit of Rotary Award, District 6970’s highest award. Rich earned the Regional Service Award for a Polio Free World and was also recently honored with The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service Award. Rich and Marie are passionate about eradicating polio in the world, and are dedicated supporters of Rotary’s PolioPlus campaign, in large part due to Marie’s mother being a polio survivor.
Rich will serve as District Rotary Foundation Chair from July 2023 through June 2026, and will continue to rely on Marie’s support and invaluable assistance to make sure he doesn’t ‘screw things up’ 😊. Thank you District 6970 for your unwavering support and commitment to OUR Rotary Foundation, and to eradicating Polio!

The objective of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is the achievement of world understanding and peace through international humanitarian and educational programs.
The Chair of the District Rotary Foundation Committee coordinates activities of all Foundation subcommittees, the Year 2 Assistant Governors and the Club Foundation Chairs. In addition, the Chair performs the following:
- Coordinate and Design “Foundation” presentations/mini programs to be made by members of the Foundation committee to clubs promoting Foundation Giving and programs.
- Organize, promote, and present Foundation oriented materials at the District Foundation Seminar a/k/a Vibrant Club Seminar, District Team Training Seminar, District Training Assembly and District Conference.
- Track and tabulate Foundation Giving throughout the District and promote/encourage timely submission of funds to The Rotary Foundation and reports to DG and Rotary International.
Assistant Governors
Area 1 | RC of Amelia Island Sunrise | Diane Marie Robar |
Area 2 | RC of Downtown Ormond Beach | Brandon Perry |
Area 3 | RC of Orange Park Sunrise | Susan Hill |
Area 4 | RC of Amelia Island Sunrise | Theresa M. Shuster |
Area 5 | RC of Bartram Trail-Julington Creek | Scott Burgess |
Area 6 | RC of Jacksonville | Gerald P. Kelley, Jr. |
Area 7 | RC of Jacksonville Beach Rotaract | Charlie Flynn |
Area 8 | RC of Port Orange-South Daytona | Hewitt J. Dupont |
Area 9 | RC of Keystone Heights | Scott Kornegay |
Area 10 | RC of Deland | Brittany G. Gloersen |
Area 11 | RC of Ocala-Silver Springs | Stanley W. Plappert |
Area 12 | Satellite RC of St Augustine | Daniel Hilbert |
Foundation Committees
DISTRICT GRANTS
Carolyn Mudgette (cmudgette@gmail.com), Rotary Club of St. Augustine Sunrise
This subcommittee oversees the education of clubs through the Grant Management Seminars as well as overseeing the grant applications process from beginning to end. This subcommittee also assists clubs in the qualification process utilizing the (MOU) Memorandum of Understanding for both District and Global Grants
GLOBAL GRANTS
John Caulfield (caulfieldjp@yahoo.com),
Rotary Club of Jacksonville
This subcommittee oversees the education of clubs through the Grant Management Seminars as well as overseeing the Global Grant applications process from beginning to end while assisting in the communication process with The Rotary Foundation.
END POLIO NOW!
Marie Turnbull (marie.rotary6970@gmail.com), Rotary Club of St. Augustine Beach
Since the PolioPlus program’s inception in 1985, more than two billion children have received oral polio vaccine. But Rotary’s work is not done: The disease has not yet been eradicated. This subcommittee works to complete Rotary’s goal of a polio-free world.
ANNUAL GIVING FUND
PDG Horton Hickerson (hhickerson@curchin.com), Rotary Club of Palm Valley
The Annual Giving Fund subcommittee is responsible for all non-restricted fund raising efforts in the District, except those which are directed toward planned giving programs Annual Giving Fund.
MAJOR GIFTS / ENDOWMENT FUND
Hewitt Dupont (hjdupont@cfl.rr.com), Rotary Club of Port Orange-South Daytona
The Endowment Fund is the Foundation’s endowed fund, with gifts held in perpetuity. Spendable earnings from the fund supplement the Annual Fund and support Rotary’s highest priorities, including global grants and the Rotary Peace Centers. The Foundation has set a goal of $1 billion in Endowment Fund assets by 2025, ensuring its capacity to meet future needs. Donors typically support the Endowment Fund through outright and planned gifts. The opportunities in many countries include:
- Bequest commitments
- Life insurance
- Marketable securities
- Real estate
- Charitable trusts or annuities Endowment Fund recognition opportunities include:
- Benefactor
- Bequest Society
- Major Donor
- Arch C. Klumph Society
PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY
PDG Horton Hickerson (hhickerson@curchin.com), Rotary Club of Palm Valley
The Paul Harris Society is comprised of individuals and Clubs who contribute $1,000 or more each year, on a continuing basis, to The Rotary Foundation. The goals of this subcommittee are to promote the Society and to increase the number of Rotarians, Clubs and others who are Paul Harris Society members.
PEACE FELLOW SCHOLARSHIP
Rick Tryon (rick.tryon@icloud.com),
Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach
Rotary’s commitment to peace and the generosity of Rotarians around the world combine to make the Rotary Peace Centers program distinctive and successful. Clubs and districts have the power to shape the next generation of peace leaders by recruiting and nominating peace fellows, and keeping them engaged after the fellowship ends.
Rotary Peace Fellowship Chair oversees the Rotary Peace Fellowship application and endorsement process. The Chair, along with additional trained Rotary endorsers, interview candidates and submit endorsement decisions. Rotary endorsement is required before The Rotary Foundation can consider a candidate. Clubs help by recommending and coaching qualified candidates.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS LIAISON
Cynde Covington (cyndecovington@gmail.com), Liaison Chair Rotary Club of
Southpoint
The Jaguars have been a community partner with our Rotary District since almost the day the franchise located in Jacksonville in 1995. Our relationship with them has yielded well over $500,000 in our fight against polio and they have supported other charitable efforts in our NorthEast Florida Communities as well. The Liaison maintains our relationship and creates ticket, attendance and recognition opportunities each season.
AUDIT AND STEWARDSHIP
PDG Rich Cooper (coop.rotary6970@gmail.com), Rotary Club of Ormond Beach
The A&S Committee is responsible for ensuring the careful management of Rotary Grant Funds and reviewing their expenditures at the close of the Rotary Year. Additionally, they are involved with resolving any mismanagement, improper, incomplete or inaccurate reporting of grant funded projects.