Rotary Clubs Honor 100th Anniversary with City Drinking Fountains

Fernandina Beach, FL – The Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach, formed in 1926, is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year.  To honor this momentous occasion, the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach, along with the Rotary Clubs of Amelia Island Sunrise and Greater Nassau, and the local Rotary District, donated a standalone drinking fountain at the Amelia Island Welcome Center on Centre Street and two wall drinking fountains at the new waterfront park restrooms.  Both locations include plaques commemorating the donated fountains.

Clean drinking water is a focus of Rotary International and the local clubs.  The fountains are ADA compliant, promote water bottle re-filling and provide for pet drinking.  These fountains will serve over 1 million people and pets visiting downtown Fernandina Beach each year.  Hydration is critical, particularly to elderly, children and pets on hot humid days.  The water bottle refill will decrease the disposal of single use water bottles in landfills.  In 2025, the local Rotary Clubs also sponsored a water cart for Keep Nassau Beautiful.

Suzanne Amos, President of the Fernandina Beach Rotary Club, stated, “We are delighted for the opportunity to enhance this popular gathering place in our community. This new drinking fountain is catering to all ages and abilities and pets too! One of the many blessings that come from Rotary Club membership is recognizing the awareness of a need and being able to put a plan into action under the Rotary umbrella. This project is a perfect example of the three Rotary Clubs in our area ‘Uniting for Good’ under the global slogan for this Rotary Year. The plaques allow Rotary’s 100 years of ‘Service Above Self’ to be seen by generations ahead!”

Mary Valenta, President of Rotary Club of Amelia Island, added, “We are thrilled to support the 100^th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach with these sustainable drinking fountains and commemorative plaques.  Thanks to matching funds from our Rotary District and the work by City of Fernandina Beach staff, the fountains were installed in time for the waterfront park opening.”

Vicki Beaudry, President of Rotary Club of Greater Nassau, said, “We are all one Rotary, working together for the greater good of the community!”

Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach meets Wednesdays at noon at Story & Song (fbrotaryclub.com), Amelia Island Sunrise meets Fridays at 7:30 am at Fernandina Beach Golf Club (ameliaislandrotary.com), and Greater Nassau meets Wednesdays at 5:30 pm at Amelia National Club (portal.clubrunner.ca/1526/).