Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Tarpley named Rotary president for 2007-08

The Gurdon Rotary Club has a new president who says he is looking forward to seeing the club become more active in local issues.

Billy Tarpley, a life-long resident of Gurdon, became president of the club on Thursday, July 12, when the gavel was passed from club president Steven Orsburn during the clubs regular weekly meeting. Tarpley thanked Orsburn for his service and presented him with a plaque commemorating his time as president before taking over the meeting.

Being a member of Rotary in Gurdon is a common sense decision for Tarpley, he said. Although he works as the director of development at Henderson State University, Tarpley drives back to Gurdon each week for the clubs meeting.

Tarpley said being a member of one of Arkadelphias two Rotary clubs might be easier on his schedule some weeks, but I think you should give it back where you live, he said.

Living in Gurdon is not the only connection Tarpley has to the club. His grandfather, Bert Lowe, was one of the clubs charter members. Two of Lowes sons were also Rotarians.

Being a member of a service club like Rotary has no economic benefit for ones self, Tarpley said, but the clubs meet many needs in the community. He noted that at one time, Gurdon had many more service clubs and organizations.

Now we have Rotary, he said. I think its important that we demonstrate what a service club should be.

The club has several annual service projects in which it participates. Those include a pancake breakfast to kick off the Gurdon Forrest Festival, a program to provide dictionaries to students at Gurdon Primary School and an academic banquet to honor the top ten student in the Gurdon High School junior and senior classes.

Were one of the few clubs that I know of to do an academic banquet, he said. This club knows thats important.

Tarpley hopes the club will focus on projects dealing with economic development in Gurdon and Clark County during his year as president. One of those projects is the creation of a secondary water source for the Gurdon area. He said the city currently receives all of its water from well, and wells run dry.

He said the addition of a secondary water source could help the community attract a new industry.

Tarpley also applauded the efforts of Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin and the Gurdon City Council in taking steps to clean up the town though the demolition of dilapidated houses. He said the adoption of an ordinance restricting the placement of mobile homes in the city is another good move.

When we see excellence, we ought to honor it, he said of the citys work.

All in all, Tarpley said he hopes to spend his year as president advancing the Rotary motto  service above self  within the local club.

That says it all. We become better people when we improve the lives of others, he said.

Tarpley his wife Sally, who have been married 25 years, have two children, ages 18 and 22.