Join us for a fun evening with the Biloxi Shuckers! All clubs, Rotarians, family and friends are invited!
Great membership meeting on April 6 at the Rotary Club of Gulfport–Orange Grove! 
We were honored to hear from Major Paul Egan of The Salvation Army of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, who shared about their impactful work through the Center of Hope and Kroc Center serving our community.
We were honored to hear from Major Paul Egan of The Salvation Army of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, who shared about their impactful work through the Center of Hope and Kroc Center serving our community.We also held our Annual Green Egg raffle—thank you to all of our members and supporters who purchased tickets and made this fundraiser a success, and congratulations to our winner, Bevin Brewer!
Rotarians, Angie Crawford and Leslie Bucklar, had the privilege of delivering much-needed food and snack supplies to West Harrison High School to help support students facing food insecurity over Spring Break.
With school out, many students lose access to consistent meals, and we’re proud to step in and help bridge that gap. Thanks to the generosity and teamwork of our Rotary family, we were able to provide easy, accessible items to help ensure these students are cared for even when they’re away from the classroom.
It’s moments like these that remind us what “Service Above Self” truly means.
Monday’s guest speaker was Angelique Richardson, CEO of Anvoi Healthcare. A CPA with over 20 years of experience, she leads company operations with a focus on team development and professional growth. She is also an active Rotarian and community leader, having served as President of the Rotary Club of Ponchatoula.
Great first day at the President-Elect Learning Seminar in Natchez! 
President Angie Crawford, President-Elect Angie Crawford, and President-Nominee Heather Rowley Porter are excited to be learning, planning, and connecting with fellow Rotary leaders from across Rotary District 6840. Looking forward to bringing new ideas and inspiration back to the Rotary Club of Gulfport–Orange Grove!
Today we were proud to spotlight the PolioPlus Society, a Rotary initiative that encourages members to commit ongoing support to help eradicate polio worldwide. 
Congratulations to our very first PolioPlus Society members, Richard Kosloski and Angie Crawford, for leading by example with their dedication to this life-changing cause.
A special thank you to Keith Clayton, District Governor of Rotary District 6840, for presenting the awards and helping us celebrate this meaningful milestone.
Great meeting today at the Rotary Club of Gulfport–Orange Grove! We enjoyed hearing from Jeannine Johnston, Director of Mission Services and Fund Development for Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi, who shared how their programs break down barriers to employment through job training, literacy, and career development. Her passion for collaboration and mission-driven leadership was inspiring and a perfect reminder of how community partnerships can truly change lives.
We enjoyed hearing from Jeannine Johnston, Director of Mission Services and Fund Development for Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi, who shared how their programs break down barriers to employment through job training, literacy, and career development. Her passion for collaboration and mission-driven leadership was inspiring and a perfect reminder of how community partnerships can truly change lives.
Kevin Holland, Executive Vice President of Operations for Memorial Health Systems was our guest speaker today. Heather Rowley Porter Preisdent-elect Nominee led our meeting today and presented Kevin with our gift of appreciation! Thank you, Kevin!
A great evening of fellowship was shared between the Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove and members of our newly formed satellite club, strengthening bonds within our community and clubs.
Great meeting today at the Rotary Club of Gulfport–Orange Grove!
We were honored to hear from Dr. Jackie Graves of the Harrison County School District, who serves as the district’s Homeless and Foster Care Liaison. Her work supporting some of our most vulnerable students is truly impactful and inspiring. Thank you, Dr. Graves, for sharing your insight and dedication with us!
Join us for a fun evening with the Biloxi Shuckers! All clubs, Rotarians, family and friends are invited!
Great day at the Rotary District 6840 Midyear Check-Up in Bay St. Louis!
Santa (Janell Mallini Nolan) from Coast Electric delivered a huge Christmas present to the Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove at tonight's Annual Christmas Party in the form of a $5000 grant check from the Coast Electric Power Association Operation Round Up! Thank you so much for helping to fund our Backpack Buddy Program in the Harrison County School District MS!
The Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove signature service project is happening today with 100 children from Harrison County School District MS coming to the Gulfport Walmart Supercenter for their Christmas 2025! Thank you to ALL our sponsors!!
A huge thank you to Dr. Sarah Crisler-Ruskey Director of the Director of the Harrison Counry Library Systems for speaking to us on December 1, 2025. Sarah is also a fellow Rotarian in the Rotary Club of Gulfport, our sponsoring club! Thank you Sarah! Please come back! She is pictured here with Club President Angie Crawford!
Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove members with Interactors from West Harrison High School - Gulfport, MS and Harrison Central High School Gulfport, MS Ringing the Bell for the Salvation Army today! Huge thank you to our volunteers!! We are at Belks in Crossroads! Come out and support the Red Kettle!!
The Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove was honored today at a special community partner recognition ceremony at the Harrison County School District Central Office for our extraordinary service projects serving over 12 different schools in the Harrison County School District MS ! Thank you HCSD for this amazing honor!!!! We love to serve our schools!!
Our club was extremely busy today! Today, Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove's President Angie Crawford and Club Youth Services Chair Leslie Nagy Bucklar met with our newest revitalized West Harrison High School - Gulfport, MS Interact Club. We look forward to working with them at the Salvation Army Bell Ringing event and Christmas For Kids Shopping event! Welcome Interactors/future Rotarians!
OUR GUEST SPEAKER IS LONG TIME ROTARY CLUB MEMBER HARRY PIASCIK.
Thank you to The Honorable Melvin J. Ray, retired Harrison County Justice Court Judge, for joining our Rotary Club of Gulfport–Orange Grove meeting today! His inspirational message reminded us of the lasting impact of service, leadership, and integrity in our community.
Great day at Rotary! Huge thanks to our sister club, Rotary Club of Edgewater, for letting us join in the Cruisin’ the Coast fundraiser — and to Mayor Hugh Keating for an engaging talk about Gulfport’s growth and future.
And that's a wrap.....Thank You to Our Amazing Rotarians and Volunteers!
The Rotary Club of Gulfport Orange Grove would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to every Rotarian, volunteer, and supporter (Rotary Club of Edgewater) who helped make our Cruising the Coast fundraising event a huge success!
Your time, energy, and dedication truly make a difference. Because of your hard work, we can continue supporting projects like Backpack Buddies, Comfort Closets, Scholarships, and Christmas for Kids.
Together, we are creating lasting change in our community — one event at a time.
The Rotary Club of Gulfport Orange Grove is out at Cruisin’ the Coast this week, raising funds to support our many community service projects — including Backpack Buddies, Comfort Closets, High School Scholarships, and our Christmas for Kids program.
Stop by our booth, say hello, and help us make a difference right here on the Gulf Coast!
#RotariansInAction at Cruisin' The Coast Cruise Central in Jones Park, Gulfport. Angie can’t wait to see Bag Of Donuts tomorrow.
Today’s meeting was inspiring! We were honored to welcome Sheriff Matt Haley of Harrison County as our guest speaker. Sheriff Haley shared the many successes his team has achieved in keeping our community safe, as well as his vision and plans for the future of our county. Thank you, Sheriff Haley, for your leadership and dedication to serving Harrison County.
Big thanks to Lt. Col. Sean M. Cross, 403rd Wing Chief of Safety, for speaking at our Rotary meeting today!
He’s in his 25th storm season with the Hurricane Hunters and gave us an inside look at what it’s like to fly into hurricanes to keep us safe.
**NOTICE**
CHANGE OF LOCATION for 10/6/2025 Club Meeting:
Redd Pest Control Corporate Office
9215 Highway 49
Gulfport, Mississippi
The Rotary Club of Gulfport Orange Grove had the pleasure of hosting Bill Lavers and Collin Caranna from the Harrison County Development Commission at today’s membership meeting.They shared exciting updates on growth and opportunities shaping Harrison County’s future. Thank you for joining us and investing in our community!
Rotary Club of Gulfport Orange Grove Today’s meeting spotlighted youth leadership in action! 
We welcomed Cooper Cross, a Boy Scout from Troop 245, who shared his Eagle Scout project benefiting the Family Justice Center in Gulfport.
During the meeting, Cooper donated $300 to Lillian, the Forensic Program Coordinator for the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence, Inc. to support their work with survivors and families. 
In support of his efforts, our club proudly presented a $500 donation to the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence to help bring his vision to life.
It was a powerful reminder of what happens when generations come together to serve our community. 
Great time was had by all our Rotarians tonight! Huge trivia event by Angie Crawford . Many winners and many great prizes! Thank you for a great event tonight hosted by Heather Rowley Porter and Angie!
Leslie Bucklar at Edgewater Rotary Club of Edgewater #6840 Children's Health Fair today at Edgewater Mall.
Today was a jam packed meeting!
Happy Rotary New Year! Thank you now Past President R. Lee Flowers for your leadership in RY2024-2025! Looking forward to President Angie Crawford leading the team in RY2025-2026 to continue doing the good work for our community! Thank you also to our board members RY2024-2025: Stephen Howard, James Davis, Heather Porter, Harry Piascik, Regina Lawrence, and Richard Kosloski!
We also recognized the Rotarians of the last 2 Quarters and THE Rotarian of the Year!
3rd Quarter - Harry Piascik
4th Quarter - Heather Porter
Rotarian of the Year - Angie Crawford
Todays' installation of Club Officers and Board of Directors for RY2025-2026
President Angie Crawford
Vice President Heather Porter
Immediate Past President R. Lee Flowers
Secretary Heather Porter
Executive Secretary/Director Stephen H. Howard
Treasurer Harry Piascik
Sergeant of Arms Richard Kosloski
Board of Directors: Bobby McCauley, Leslie Bucklar, James Davis, Regina Lawrence
One more thing today at our meeting - Honored R. Lee Flowers with Paul Harris Fellow recognition!
A huge Rotary thank you to our guest speaker today Starr Chapman! She is the Constituent Outreach Officer for the State of Mississippi Office of the Attorney General, Lynn Fitch. She did an amazing presentation on current on going spams targeting our youth and elderly citizens via texts, phone calls, and social media.
She is pictured here with our Club President RLee Flowers
A huge Rotary thank you to Dr. Joshua Dibble, DO and Amy Weaver from Singing River Hospital Gulfport who spoke to us today on Chronic Pain Intervention and the hospital's detox program. They are pictured here with our club President RLee Flowers.
May is Youth Services Month and we celebrated with the next generation leaders at Harrison Central High School Gulfport, MS and Interact Club leaders with Donut Appreication Day! President RLee Flowers and President-elect Angie Crawford visited the Club early this AM to take them a treat from our Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove
President RLee Flowers and President Elect Angie Crawford joined Jennifer Lott on WLOX-TV 4 o’clock Show to discuss some of the many ways our club helps in our community.
The Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove will be celebrating 40 years of service to the community. The club will host its 40th anniversary luncheon on May 19. The event will be held at the Coast Electric Auditorium in Gulfport.
During the luncheon, Rotary will showcase numerous service projects that have benefited the community over the last four decades, including its long-standing partnership with the Harrison County School District MS. That collaboration received state recognition in 2023 when the Harrison County School District was honored with the Governor’s Award from the Mississippi Association of Partners in Education.
Below are some of those Rotary service projects:
- Installed, stocked & refurbished Little Free Libraries on elementary school campuses
- Distributed free dictionaries to all 3rd graders in its service area
- Launched Backpack Buddies to pack & deliver 250 bags of non-perishable food items every month to students for weekends & holidays
- Hosted Christmas for Kids shopping event annually for about 100 students in need
- Purchased clothing & personal hygiene products for Comfort Closets at three schools in HCSD
- Sponsored Interact Clubs at Harrison Central & West Harrison High Schools
- Provided college scholarships to graduating seniors
- Offered all-expense paid RYLA leadership camps for high school students
The event will also include an awards presentation.
We were grateful to have Troopers Johnny Poulos and Kevin Barnett share about MHP’s efforts to require Drivers’ Ed in all high schools which would also include training on what drivers should do during a traffic stop. Also, MHP has a major new initiative to bolster the mental health of their officers. More law enforcement officers take their own lives due to the stresses of the job than lose their lives in the line of duty.
A huge thank you to our guest speaker Rebecca Powers! Rebecca is pictured here with Club President, RLee Flowers !
With spring break coming up soon, Rotary Club of Gulfport-Orange Grove members spent the noon hour today packing hundreds of bags of food to support students in need in HCSD! The Rotary sponsors the Backpack Buddies program at Harrison Central Elementary, Crossroads Elementary, and River Oaks Elementary. We can’t thank the Rotary members enough for caring so much for our school children!
Congratulations to this year's winner of the Green Egg, Sharon Dedeaux! This raffle provides funds for our many community projects such as Backpack Buddies, Comfort Closets, and Christmas for Kids just to name a few! Thanks to all who bought tickets! Your support for our community is greatly appreciated!!
Backpack Buddie Bag Packing today 12 Noon, Coast Electric 14082 Highway 49 North, Gulfport, Mississippi.
The entertainer and philanthropist Dolly Parton died 25 August 2026. This Q&A was originally published in the March 2010 issue of The Rotarian (now Rotary) magazine. Later that year, she spoke at the Rotary International Convention in Montreal, Canada.
A Rotary club in Kansas helps women break the cycle of incarceration and elude dangers on the outside
Service Above Self
Gulfport, MS 39503
United States of America