Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Those four questions make up the moral code Rotarians all around world use as a test for what they think, do and say in their personal and business relationships, which is called the Four-Way Test.

Fifty Blanco County’s Rotarians read the test aloud for the first time Tuesday, April 30, 2019, as members of the new Blanco County Rotary Club at its Charter Gala held at the Old Blanco County Courthouse.

With special guests in attendance including South Central Rotary District 5840 officers and Mayor Dawn Capra of Johnson City to watch District 5840 obtain it’s 60th charter club.

After drinks and hors d’oeurves, District Governor Kathy Hubbard awarded Donald Van Eynde the certificate of the Blanco Charter and then swore him in as president for the 2019-22 term.

Once Van Eynde was sworn in, he and Hubbard continued to swear in the rest of the Blanco Rotarian officers: President-Elect Bob Backle; Secretary Pat Clewell; Treasurer Leta Garcia; Co-Sergeant-at-Arms Hal and Sandy Switzer; Service Projects Committee Chair Jack Twilley; and Honorary Charter Member Joe Garcia.

Blanco County has had a very active club as a satellite club of Fair Oaks, which resulted out of an idea between Hubbard and Blanco resident, Leta Garcia.

“It was in the fall of 2016 that we had an organizational meeting,” Garcia said. “And we just kept recruiting people. It has been an awesome experience and we look forward to expanding our program and service projects through the county.”

This satellite club was responsible for a long list of accomplishments and on-going projects that the new charter will continue, including the Human Trafficking Initiative, Brain Fitness for Seniors program, support of Wild Woman Weekend, elementary school “Partners Assisting Literacy Success” (PALS) program and charity Golf Tournament, to name a few.

Fair Oaks Satellite is the first Rotary Club to receive its own charter membership. Anyone can attend a Rotary Club meeting. The club’s goal is to increase its membership in both Blanco and Johnson City and invites anyone interested to visit a meeting.

The Blanco Country Rotary Club meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at 11:40 a.m. and the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m., both held at the Back 40 of Old 300 BBQ in Blanco.