Rotary Club member Sue Carter was recently tapped by the club as the incoming president of the organization.

Installation of the new officers came Thursday at The Woodland Community Center.

Carter, who has been a member of the club for four and a half years, said the experience of serving in the organization has been rewarding. She said she’s excited to embrace new ideas for the club.

“I’m just excited to help out and do whatever I can,” said Carter, who serves as director of Human Resources and Title IX coordinator at Hampden-Sydney College.

Assistant District Rotary Gov. Tom Wilkinson led the induction ceremony, placing a pin with the club symbol on Carter. John Miller, the outgoing president, received a past president’s pin from Carter.

Carter spoke following the ceremony, and pointed to another pin she wore, which has the phrase “It’s always been done this way,” with a slash across it.

She said she used the concept when choosing the 12-member board that was inducted.

“I thought, who better to be the foundation chair then a Paul Harris Society member? Who better to be the New Generations chair then someone who has been with Hampden-Sydney for such a long time?” Carter said, referring to Greg Cole and Randy Reed, respectively.

Club members Rhonda Arnold and Marty Dorrill received the Rotarian of the Year Award and the Honorary Rotarian of the Year Award respectively. Two new members, Julia McCann and Bill Burton, were also inducted.

Carter credited the inspiration to pursue new goals and venues for the club from Miller, outgoing president of the Rotary Club and associate professor of American Literature at Longwood, who started a Happy Hour meeting for the club, which had often only met for lunches.

Miller, Carter noted, has also had to make difficult decisions in cutting some programs that were not gaining the support they had in the past.  

“John has managed this with the true grit and grace of a leader,” Carter said, noting Miller’s gentle approach in decision making for the club.

Miller, who has been a Rotary Club member for more than four years, said his experience has also been rewarding, particularly in working with a group of people who he said are generous and community oriented.

He was excited for Carter to take the helm of club president.

“(It’s) terrific that Sue is taking over,” Miller said. “She is a phenomenal woman and a superlative Rotarian. I think she will do better this year than the club last year.”

Carter is the club’s fourth female president in the past six years. She succeeds Kerry Mossler, Debbie Savage and Robyn Allen.

The club currently has 34 members, Miller said, and has raised $5,625 for area nonprofits this year. Carter said the organizations include Meals on Wheels, FACES and the Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad.

The club has also helped build a playground at Wilck’s Lake.

Miller said the Farmville Rotary Club has also raised $4,679 on the Rotary Foundation, which supports Polio eradication in addition to other projects.

The year had not come without challenges, Carter said, noting program cuts and the passing of some members.

Club member and past district governor, Dr. Bill Dorrill, who served as president of Longwood College, died in April.

Events organized by the club over the year include Taste of Farmville, which was held in January featuring cuisine made by vendors in addition to an annual Christmas party.

The Rotary Club of Farmville started in 1938.

Miller described the meeting, held Thursday, as “a celebration of all of the hard work we’ve done. (It’s the) best part of the year to recognize the diligence and generosity of so many people.”