Service Above Self

Bedford Rotary Club is a service club, with emphasis on service. The club engages in a wide variety of humanitarian and education programs that touch the lives of many people in our community and across the globe.

Brook Hill Farm: Bedford Rotarians step up regularly to assist Brook Hill Farm with many projects that improve the horse sanctuary grounds and the teen programs for "at risk" students. We recently painted the brand new Rotary Ring fence and also the program was featured in The Rotarian magazine.

Liberty High School Disc Golf Course: As a Rotary District Grant project, our club constructed a brand new disc golf course in 2020/21 for students at the local high school. It was perfect timing as outdoor "open space" activities became the safest form of exercise as Covid-19 hit our community. 

Education Scholarships: Since 1992 the Bedford Rotary Club has awarded scholarships to encourage talented and qualified Bedford County high school students to pursue higher education plans. Recently, our Club has started to award two high school students annually with scholarships to attend the region's XLR8 STEM Academy held at Central Virginia Community College. 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards: Our Club sponsored two students in 2022 to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards in Blacksburg.

Little Free Libraries: Our Club has built and supplied several Little Free Libraries (LFL) throughout the Bedford area. We placed our first LFL at the Peaks of Otter Lodge where thousands camp and explore each year. We assisted the Bedford Library System and Staunton River High School with more LFL's placed where young and old readers alike can grab a book and return it at their leisure (Goode Volunteer Rescue Squad, Glenwood Store Huddleston, and Edmund St. Park.)

World Causes (Polio eradication and Peace & Conflict Resolution): Bedford Club Members participate in global projects. Traci Blido traveled to India to immunize children against the crippling disease of polio in 2015 and our Club won a global grant through Rotary International to make an impact in a Rwandan village in 2017, assisting with peace resolution and teaching trades to local citizens to make an economic impact there. Four members visited Rwanda to see the grant at work and meet the people it was helping.

Highway Beautification: Rotarians remove roadside litter from a two mile stretch of highway of Fancy Farm Road each year.

Sports Scholars Awards: Until the pandemic, the Bedford Rotary Club annually honored 3 top male and female scholar athletes from the three Bedford County high schools in every sport. We present the top winner in each category with an engraved Jefferson Cup and offer an encouraging ceremony for students, coaches, and their families.

The 4-Way Test

Rotarians are concerned with promoting the highest ethical
standards in their professional lives.  Adopted in 1943, the 4-Way Test is therefore applied to all of the things we think, say, or do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?