Louraiseal is excited about her term as President of Marshall Rotary Club. "I'll be the club's 98th President, sixth female President and the first African American female President,” she said "What an honor."
"This club will be 100 years old in 2019" she added. "That's a major milestone."
Sharing in the momentous occasion were Rotary dignitaries including outgoing District Governor Lee Montgomery, past District Governor Shirley Griffin and Rotary International Director Karen Wentz. Marshall Metro Rotary Club's President Charles Cornish III also witnessed the event.
A 12-year member of Rotary, McDonald first joined Rotary as an extension agent in Rusk. She joined Marshall's chapter when she transferred here in June 2008 as Harrison County's extension agent.
One of her major roles as a Rotarian has been serving as Director of the Club's service projects, Diploma Plus, which helps at-risk high school juniors. We select four each year. “We meet with them once a month," she said." I keep them encouraged, and just give them some positive reinforcement.
"I was sitting in my office back in December 2015, and Ted Huffhines, who is the past President and current District Governor, called me and asked if I'd be interested" McDonald told the News Messenger at first, I was like: What? Who me? Are you serious?"
Reflecting on her rewarding experience as a Rotarian, she willingly accepted the challenge.
"I have often (wondered) what's it like," she said, sharing other Rotarians, including Past District Governor Jim Fitzgerald and past President Daren Holden, who suggested to her, in the past, that she'd make a great club president.
"So, I'm going to just take it one step at a time," McDonald said.”
"I feel very blessed, I feel very honored, " the Shreveport, Louisiana, native said. "I am just shocked; amazed… I can't believe somebody thought enough of me to think I could be President of such a prestigious club. For somebody to see that in me, that says a lot."
Going forward, one of McDonald's goals is to increase diversity in the club. As a predominantly older, white male membership, McDonald hopes to attract more young adults, women and races. "Our club is not as diverse as it should be, so that's one of my goals for my 2017-2018 term to bring more diversity to the club, "she said.
Though a relatively new Rotarian, she will be remembered not only as the Marshall Rotary club's first black female president, but, as the hardest working president that the Rotary Club of Marshall Texas, has ever had, when we meet Saturday, August 24, 2019, in the Marshall Convention Center, where we will be “Celebrating a Century of Changing Lives in Marshall – and Beyond”.
