Members of the Austin Cosmopolitan Rotary Club gathered July 11th to celebrate the end of one Rotary year and the beginning of Rotary Year 2026-27, install the new board of directors, and recognize individual members for their contributions to the club’s success over the past year.
Club member Patrick Harrison hosted the gathering, and member/chef Heidi Wittenborn fed everyone. Cyril Bernier, RY 2025-26 president, gave a recap of club successes achieved under his leadership. Read more about that work in this article. Much of that success he credited to the club’s spirit and members—and years of tireless efforts to improve our club.
ACRC recognized the following Rotarians for their work in the last year:
- New Rotarian of the Year Award: Aditya Goyal
- After joining the club last summer, Aditya immediately jumped in, volunteering for Adoption Fest and other service projects and leading and emceeing the club’s Pints for Polio event. He decided to join the board of directors for RY 2026-27 while maintaining a constant presence at club meetings and preparing a proposal and his own wedding.
- Miles of Services Award: Patrick Harrison
- Everyone in the club knows Patrick as someone always here to cheer us up. He asks us to dream big. Beyond our club, he has been busy all across North America, not only in our district but with his involvement in numerous zone institutes, leadership trainings, webinars, President-Elect Training Seminars, and as Region 36 Public Image Chair, leading a team of nine.
- Service Above Self Award: Patrick Hanrahan
- This award comes as no surprise as Patrick has been tirelessly giving his time in service of our club and for the community in general. At any moment, you can count on him to lend a hand, and that is the mark of a true Rotarian.
- Rotarian of the Year: Heidi Wittenborn
- We all agree: It couldn’t be anyone else. Heidi has won the honor three times in the past four years because she’s everywhere all the time: Adoption Fest, DAP Grant, cooking classes, social activities, fundraising efforts—all year long. It’s not an ACRC event if Chef Heidi isn’t involved. She’s a Paul Harris Fellow Society Member and as good with a whisk as she is with a hammer and circular saw. She was inducted into the District 5870 Roll of Fame in 2025, recognized across the district for her work. Beyond that, she has a heart of gold and is an amazing friend.
Our club also recognized four members for their passion for Rotary beyond this year:
- Distinguished Service: Terry Foor
- Under Terry’s leadership and invaluable contributions over the last six years as a board member and president, he paved the way for our for success of the leaders who succeeded him.
- Certificate of Recognition – Youth Advocate: Patrick Hanrahan
- For his your leadership and invaluable contribution to growing Rotaract in our district and in North America. For years, Patrick has advocated for Rotaract, fostering clubs across the district, supporting Rotaract conferences, creating the Ascension Rotaract Network, and being treasurer and organizers of the AscenCon 2025 and 2026 in Chicago. He is also our District 5870 Rotaract Coordinator.
- International Cooperation Award: Lalaina Rabary and Chris Essig
- Lalaina and Chris were recognized for unfailing dedication to ACRC’s Global Grant project in Madagascar and in supporting the advancement of literacy in that country through the Bibliobus.
- Encore President Award: Cyril Bernier
- Recognized for a year of marked successes as club president, leading ACRC twice during the last three Rotary years and fostering new leaders for the successful future of the club.
New club President Carlos Henderson set his sights on the future, expanding on his vision for the year ahead and leading the swearing-in of the RY 2026-26 Board of Directors
ACRC’s leadership for RY 2026-27:
- President Carlos Henderson has supported Past President Bernier while preparing for this role for the last year. He brings new ideas and the desire to create lasting impact.
- Past President Cyril Bernier got the boot! After numerous years at the helm, Cyril takes a backseat. In the meantime, he takes on a new role as District 5870 Assistant Governor. Thanks for all your service, our dear Encore President!
- Treasurer Aditya Goyal takes over after years of service from Heidi Wittenborn, who has passed the baton.
- Secretary Chris Burrows resumed a role he took on in RY 2025-26.
- Club Administration Michael Park is essential to maintaining exciting and engaging programs for our members, and there’s no one better for that job than one of our most recent addition to the club. Michael is powered by human connections and we can’t wait to see what he has in stock for us.
- Service Chair Heidi Wittenborn moves into a new role that she has already be tapping into as leader of our signature event, Adoption Fest. We are confident she will be like a fish in the sea in that new role.
- Foundation Chair Charles Stevens steps up to the plate after a year of membership, bringing with him valuable management and organizational skills in addition to a deep care for others.
- Membership Chair Laura Liem returns to the board after a break, to help our club thrive. Laura ensures our current members are engaged while she fosters recruitment efforts.
- Public Image and Global Grants Chair Lindsey Hagen ensures the community knows about ACRC’s work and that of Rotary International.
- Directors at large Patrick Harrison and Patrick Hanrahan bring valuable experience from various levels of Rotary’s ladder. Harrison is currently RI Region 36 Rotary Public Image Team Adviser. Hanrahan is the current District 5870 Rotaract Coordinator.
Go luck to the new board in the year ahead! May RY 2026-27 be as exciting and fruitful as the Rotary Year that just ended!
