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If the wait is long enough, even the most seasoned veteran of civic activism will be surprised.

Don Baldus, Past Assistant Governor and Special Advisor to the Rotary Club of Morristown, was faced with just such a situation when he prepared to induct new members on Wednesday.

“I have been doing this since 2005 – that’s 18 years – this is the first time we’ve ever inducted four Rotarians at the same time,” Baldus said.

The first new member to address the club introduced herself as Katherine Smith.

“For those of you who known me a long time, you might know me as a Katherine Strate,” she said. “I grew up here in Morristown, graduated from Morristown West and then went to the University of Georgia – ‘Go ‘Dawgs!’ – where I majored in journalism. I then moved to Atlanta and then to Seattle and had careers in consulting and public relations, working at agencies and other consulting firms.”

Smith said a significant ‘burning bush’ moment in her life made it very clear that her path was going to boomerang her back to Morristown.

“So in 2018, my husband, Kevin, and I moved back to Morristown; I was also pregnant at the time with our first child and I started working at Strate Insurance Group which is where I am now.”

Smith was named President and CEO of Strate Insurance Group in July after purchasing majority ownership in the business. She and Kevin are the parents of two daughters, Charlotte, age 5, and Caroline, who will turn 3 years old in September.

“I’m glad to be here in Morristown and glad to be a part of Rotary,” she said.

Smith was sponsored by Rotarian Doyle Wallace.

New member Chad Huntsman expressed gratitude to Smith for volunteering as the first to stand at the podium.

“As I look out here, I see lots of friends,” he said. “I grew up in Morristown, was born here. My parents have been in the same house literally my entire life.”

Huntsman graduated Morristown-Hamblen High School West, then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee Tech before returning to Morristown to work at MAHLE. He then spent 15 years in the construction field before returning to school to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and beginning a career as a pharmacist in Nashville.

Huntsman and his family moved back to Morristown several years ago.

He and his wife Marsha and their two daughters: Anna, 18, and Olivia, 14, welcomed a foster son this summer.

Huntsman owns and operates College Park Pharmacy and Howard’s Pharmacy in Morristown. He owns other pharmacy locations in Tennessee and will open Mossy Creek Pharmacy in Jefferson City in the fall.

“I’m glad to be here,” he said.

Huntsman was sponsored by Rotarian Carl Storms.

Michael Cole, President and CEO of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, told attendees that he was born and raised in Arkansas, but said about Morristown: “This is my home. This is where my family came from.”

Cole’s maternal grandfather grew up in Halls, 10 miles from his current residence.

“When I was a little kid, we came here on vacation, but it always was ‘home’ here,” he said.

Cole, who is widowed, has lived in several places, including Cleveland, Tennessee, Missouri and Oklahoma, and has worked with four United Way offices in three states. His experience with nonprofits goes back 20 years. He served as Rotary Club president in Cleveland and was a Rotary board member for several years in Oklahoma.

“Now I’m with the Chamber, which probably suits me best,” he said. “I’ve been a fundraiser, or ‘professional beggar,’ and have lived in Tennessee for nearly 20 years.”

Cole has a son who currently attends Carson-Newman University.

“I’m just glad to be here … I started out in Rotary in the Chattanooga club,” he said. “I love Rotary, I love what it’s done. I’ve been a part of some wonderful projects and I’m thrilled to be here with you all.”

Cole was sponsored by Club Past President Justin Cook.

Jimmy Millsaps, First Bank & Trust Vice President, was a longtime member and past president of the Rotary of Morristown AM Club which in 2022 merged with the Noon Club to form what is now the Rotary Club of Morristown.

“I appreciate the opportunity to be here. It’s an honor to be a part of this club,” he said.

Millsaps shared the unique story of how he and his club sponsor, Rotarian David Slack, met.

Millsaps, now a Dandridge resident, had previously lived in Morristown for seven years. He currently works with Slack, covering the Bearden area for the bank.

“Believe it or not, David bought my house,” Millsaps said, explaining that the real estate transaction was made before he joined First Bank & Trust.

“I’m certainly glad to be back here. I know a lot of folks who were in Rotary previously in the morning group and who are here.”

Baldus told the new members, “As the first new members of our 2023-2024 Rotary Class, you stand on special ground. Why? As you learn about Rotary, you will find that for the past 30 years, the Rotary Foundation has worked worldwide to eradiate Polio. And today, we are on the verge of reaching that goal. While there are 37 million Polio survivors, this year only 13 cases have occurred. We are that close.”

The first Rotary Club was established in 1905 in Chicago by attorney Paul Harris. The Morristown club was formed in 1922. Rotary International, the world’s largest civic organization, has a membership of more than 1.4 million. There are more than 37,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 220 countries worldwide.

“Rotary will change your life, as it will put you in contact with people not only in our community, but worldwide, no matter where you are. No two Rotary Clubs are alike, however we are all Rotarians,” Baldus said.

Baldus charged the new members to keep in mind Rotary’s motto: “Service Above Self.”

The Rotary Club of Morristown meets at Noon every Wednesday at the The Country Club. Those who are interested in becoming a member are welcome to attend.