When John Williams first walked into a Starke Rotary Club meeting in late 2022, he was simply there to give a presentation. As the newly appointed CEO of the Arc of Bradford County, he had been invited to speak to the club about his organization’s work with individuals with developmental disabilities. Within months, he was a Rotary member. Not long after that, he was leading the organization.
“Matt Dyal was the president of Rotary at the time, and he sponsored me to join the club,” Williams recalled. “I quickly became involved and an active member.”
That quick involvement turned into a rapid rise through the ranks. Williams was soon asked to serve as president-elect, and when then-president Brad Bishop left for a job in another county, Williams stepped into the top role early. He has served as president since January 2025.
Williams said that when Dyal invited him to join the club, he didn’t take the invitation lightly.
“When I get involved in something, I like to make sure that whatever the commitment is, that I’m able to fulfill that,” he said. “The mission of Rotary really appealed to me. Their focus of doing good in the world was very attractive. It aligned with who I was as an individual.”
Projects on the Ground
Under Williams’ leadership, the Starke Rotary Club has stayed busy with local projects, including the construction of pickleball courts at the Starke city park on Edwards Road and an ongoing effort to build a pavilion at Bradford County’s Santa Fe Lake boat ramp. Williams said he hopes the pavilion project will be completed before his presidency ends in June.
The club also continues its tradition of giving to the Rotary Foundation, which Williams described as “one of the top five charitable foundations in the world” with “a stellar record as far as giving and a really good reputation for how they use funds.”
The club’s marquee event, the Beast Feast, is set for April 25 this year — later than the usual first weekend in April due to the Easter holiday. The annual fundraiser, held at the Sportsmen’s Farm, supports the Dr. Pete Gianas Scholarship Fund. Last year, the club awarded three scholarships instead of its typical one after identifying three standout candidates.
“We felt like, in the spirit of Dr. Pete, they should receive that scholarship,” Williams said.
Bucking a National Trend
The Starke Rotary president acknowledged that civic organizations nationwide are struggling with declining membership but said the Starke club has managed to maintain a healthy mix of longtime and newer members.
“Many civic clubs are on the decline because they don’t have younger people who join and participate,” he said. “As the club ages, you just start losing more and more people.”
The Starke club, he said, has been intentional about recruiting younger business professionals in their 30s and 40s — people who may have young families but are drawn to Rotary’s mission of service. At the same time, the club benefits from senior members who have been involved for decades.
“They want to do good in the world,” Williams said of the newer members. “They want to see a better world for not only their kids, but for kids all around the world.”
Williams pointed to networking as the initial draw for most new members, including himself.
“In my role, that was kind of the catalyst for joining Rotary. I needed to network with people in the community,” he remembered. “But when you start that process, you begin to develop relationships with people who have the same goals, the same desire to see that good in the world being done, and you become a part of something bigger than yourself.”
A Unifying Force
Looking ahead, Williams said he believes civic clubs like Rotary play an important role in an increasingly divided society. He recalled a quote from Fred Rogers’ mother: “You’re always going to hear about those bad things, but in the middle of those bad things, look for the helpers, look for those who are doing good.”
“Civic clubs transcend political parties, they transcend religious beliefs, they transcend all the things that might divide us, and they bring people together to do good,” Williams said. “As we look to the future, we will be the leaders in transcending those divides to make a positive change.”
Williams will hand the gavel to president-elect Amber Shepherd when his term ends in June. “I’m really excited to see her continue as president and looking forward to what she’s going to do during her term,” he said.
In the meantime, Williams continues to juggle his Rotary duties with his work at the Arc of Bradford County, where he has been advocating in Tallahassee for continued and increased funding for programs that serve individuals with developmental disabilities — programs he says are only about 70 percent funded.
He said that groups like his in rural counties face steeper challenges in helping clients than those in urban settings.
“There’s less access to services, less access to resources, medical providers” in rural counties like Bradford, Williams said. “We have to get clients to Gainesville or Jacksonville oftentimes to see providers because those providers aren’t local.”
Whether at the Rotary Club or the state Capitol, Williams’ message is the same: community matters, and it takes people willing to show up.
