Rotary District 6880 has launched a new club designed to bring more young professionals into Rotary, with 21 members inducted into YoPros during a Sept. 28 ceremony.

Sponsored by the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach Rotary Club, YoPros is the first Rotary club within the district specifically designed for professionals ages 21-45, a news release said. The club was created by Penny Hughey, Lower Alabama Rotary District 6880 governor nominee, to provide a more flexible way for younger professionals to become fully engaged Rotarians.

YoPros members pay $25 per month, with an automatic payment option, and meet in person once a month rather than weekly. Members stay connected between meetings through a texting platform.

Members remain full Rotarians with the same commitment to Rotary's values and service mission and receive the same benefits available to traditional Rotarians.

“Traditions are great, but you also need to adapt and change with the times if you want your organization to continue to grow,” Hughey said in the release. “We need young professionals at the table now, not 20 years from now, if we want Rotary's incredible legacy of service to continue for another 121 years.”

Hughey said she had heard concerns for several years about declining Rotary membership as longtime members age and fewer younger professionals join traditional clubs. The YoPros model is intended to remove some of the barriers that can make traditional membership difficult for today's young professionals.

Founded in Chicago in 1905, Rotary has spent 121 years bringing together community and business leaders committed to “Service Above Self.” The organization now has more than one million members worldwide working on humanitarian and community initiatives including polio eradication, clean water, education, health, economic development and local service.

“In every club visit this year, I've talked about opening new doors to Rotary, because the people who want to serve are already out there. Our job is to build a door they can walk through,” District Governor of Rotary District 6880 Steve Weaver said. “YoPros is exactly that kind of door. Rotary does too much good in our communities and around the world for us not to plan for its future. Penny and these 21 young professionals aren't waiting for that future. They're building it now, and I couldn't be prouder of them.”

The inaugural members are already preparing for service projects. The group has volunteered to assist two local organizations with fundraising events in the coming weeks and is developing additional hands-on service projects throughout the community.

GS/OB YoPros also is developing a Rotary Global Grant project that could benefit the area's tourism economy, environment, fishing and diving industries as well as storm-surge protection. Additional details will be announced as the project develops.

The club's plans extend beyond Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. YoPros has created a blueprint that other Rotary clubs can follow, with the goal of launching additional YoPros clubs throughout Rotary District 6880's Lower Alabama region and eventually throughout the United States.

“This isn't simply about starting one new Rotary club,” Hughey said. “It's about creating a model that can be replicated and giving the next generation an opportunity to become part of an organization that has been serving communities for more than a century.”

The founding members include JP Midkiff, chairman; Samantha Harris, secretary and chair-elect; Candice Martinez, treasurer and chair nominee; Amanda Jeppson, public relations and social media; Tara Fitzsimmons, membership chair; Captain Ty Flemming, leadership team member; Raphael Martinez, leadership team member; Aaron Jackson; Adam Creasey; Alicia Watts; Amanda Creasey; Amy Crawford; Chance Mancuso; Christopher Dickhute; Cole Walker; David Hancox; Dylan Roeck; Emily Freeman; Jared Herrell; Shelby Mancuso; and Tyler Morgan.

Young professionals interested in learning more about YoPros can contact Hughey at PennyPHughey@gmail.com.