Submitted photo Rotary District 7545 District Governor Richard J. Macak, Jr., (center, behind lectern), visited the Rotary Club of Elkins last week.

ELKINS — District Governor Richard J. Macak, Jr., visited the Rotary Club of Elkins last week, giving the club an update on the Rotary District’s coming year’s goals and activities.

Macak took the reins as Rotary District 7545 District Governor on July 1 and one of his first official duties as District Governor was to attend the dedication of the Elkins Gold Star Family Memorial Monument that was held on July 5 at the Elkins Veterans Memorial Park.

Visiting each club in the district is a mandate from the Rotary International by-laws for all District Governors.

“I didn’t get enough of Elkins [on July 5] so I’m back here on the 14th,” commented Macak. “You are the first of 53 [clubs] and I’m going to do my home club tomorrow.”

Macak gave an overview of the state of membership in Rotary in the District 7545 clubs. While some clubs have lost membership in the past five years, many clubs, including the Rotary Club of Elkins, have been able to maintain or increase membership.

During a recent meeting of in-coming presidents and area governors, Macak outlined a plan and goals for membership within the district including focusing on innovative growth, expanding club visioning efforts and streamlining communication within the district.

In conclusion, Macak challenged the Rotary Club of Elkins to focus on what you want your club to look like in three years.

Rotary District 7545, which encompasses the majority of West Virginia, consists of 53 clubs with 15 areas, each with an area governor. Macak recognized Tammie Rizzio, immediate past president of the Elkins club, who will be serving as an area governor for the 2025-2026 Rotary year.

Macak also had the honor of presenting Elkins Rotary member Leesa Harris with her Paul Harris +1 award, which recognizes continued giving to the Rotary Foundation. Rotary established the Paul Harris Fellow in 1957 to acknowledge individuals who made substantial contributions to support Rotary’s global projects.

A native of Athens, Ohio, Macak earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Florida Institute of Technology and master’s degrees from the University of Southern California, the University of Kansas and the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

As a professional military officer, Macak completed a 28-year career in the United States Marine Corps serving in a variety of leadership assignments throughout the U.S. and Asia. Upon retirement from active duty, he served an additional 16 years with the Department of Defense at United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida in support of operations in Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. In addition, he completed a year-long assignment in Bagram, Afghanistan as a senior defense analyst.

After relocating to West Virginia, Macak joined the Rotary Club of Beckley 2018. He served as its president during the club’s centennial year (2021-2022) successfully linking the club’s 100th anniversary with membership growth resulting in an increase from 82 to 102 members. In addition, the Governor of West Virginia recognized the club in 2022 as the recipient of the “Volunteer West Virgina” award for its extensive community service to Beckley and Raleigh County, West Virginia. Macak has received his club’s Service Above Self award.

He is a RU graduate and a trained in-person and virtual RLI facilitator. He serves as a member of the District’s Strategic Planning Team, the Membership Committee and Finance Committee. He formed and leads the district’s inaugural Club Visioning Team.

Macak is a Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member and a Paul Harris Society Member. He and his wife Pat, also a Beckley Rotary Club Rotarian, are Bequest Society members. They have three adult children and seven grandchildren.

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International.

Those interested in the work of, or becoming a member of, the Rotary Club of Elkins can visit the club’s Facebook page – Rotary Club of Elkins – or contact 2025-2026 club president Phillips Kolsun at phillipskolsun@gmail.com for more information.