Otis Sanford, Hardin Chair of Excellence in Journalism professor and columnist for The Commercial Appeal, has been elected assistant treasurer of the Memphis Rotary Club. 

A member since June 2007, Sanford was elected to the position in spring of this year. His duties as treasurer began this month. As assistant treasurer, he will help the treasurer manage club finances and sit on the executive committee.  

“I was honored when I was nominated for an office in Rotary,” Sanford said. “The club does outstanding work in the community and is a significant contributor to the public affairs of Greater Memphis through the speakers who come to our Tuesday meetings and through outreach.” 

The Memphis Rotary Club was chartered on Feb. 1, 1914, making it the 96^th club in Rotary International. With about 200 members, the club is among the 75 largest clubs worldwide. The membership consists of local business professionals, including attorneys, physicians, educators, CEOs and government officials. 

The club’s focus over the past 35 years has been Memphis City Schools and has given more than $2 million for education-related projects and more than 50,000 hours of volunteer service. 

In recent years, the club has diversified it’s focus, including international efforts by partnering with Stop Hunger Now to package almost 200,000 meals for hunger relief and Clean Water U to install clean water systems in developing countries.