East Chapel Hill Rotary Names New President

COMMUNITY NEWS

By Tyria Bourda
Correspondent

Chapel Hill, N.C- The East Chapel Hill Rotary (ECHR) has appointed Felix Muriithi as its new president. A native of Kenya and the first African American to head the local chapter, Muriithi brings a wealth of experience as the chief financial officer at Participate Learning in Chapel Hill, which enables him to further the organization’s goal of introducing international teachers into American classrooms.

As the new president, Muriithi aims to strengthen community connections through inclusive, sustainable initiatives. He will also focus on recruiting new members and maintaining the environmental priorities championed by the ECHR Green Team.

Muriithi arrived in the U.S. from Kenya in 2004 and became a Rotary member in 2017 after a friend introduced him to the organization. He attended three consecutive meetings before being inducted at the fourth, as he recounted to TLR.

Muriithi referred to his home motto and culture as guiding principles for his community involvement and his attraction to ECHR. He noted that a key aspect of Rotary is ‘service above self,’ while in Kenya, their motto is ‘Harambee,’ which translates to ‘all pull together.’ “This philosophy of collective effort is what attracted me to Rotary and what I aspire to bring to our club’s leadership.”

TLR had a conversation with Felix Muriithi about his journey and plans:

Q.  What inspired you to accept the position of president?

I was inspired to accept the position of president because I believe deeply in the Rotary’s mission of service above self. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how collective action within the Rotary can transform communities. Leading the club offers an opportunity to strengthen that impact, empower members, and ensure our initiatives continue to bring meaningful change.

Q.  As president, what are your primary objectives and priorities for the Rotary?

Deepen Local Impact by identifying real, evolving needs in Chapel Hill and Orange County and strengthen partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and civic leaders.      

Grow and Diversify Membership by actively recruiting young professionals, educators, organizers, and entrepreneurs. Lastly, reignite fellowship and connection by hosting informal gatherings and social events to foster deeper bonds, curating engaging speaker sessions around shared interests and values, celebrating milestones and member stories to build pride and unity, and support mentorship and peer learning across generations of members.

Q.  What strategies do you have in mind to enhance the ECHR’s connection with the community?

We’ll focus on visibility and collaboration by hosting open community forums, expanding partnerships with local schools and nonprofits, and staying present at community events. I’ll also strengthen our digital engagement to better share our story and invite more people to be part of our mission.

Q.  When it comes to attracting new members, what qualities do you seek that embody the values of the Rotary?

When attracting new members, we look for individuals who demonstrate integrity, empathy, and a genuine commitment to service — qualities that define both Rotary and the ECHR club. While many service organizations have experienced declining membership in recent years, ECHR has continued to grow — a reflection of the fact that the idea of giving back to the community appeals to people of all ages. We see this in our diverse membership, where seasoned professionals, young leaders, and new residents come together under a shared purpose of service.

To ensure the continued vitality of the club, we are actively recruiting younger members who bring fresh perspectives, energy, and innovative ideas. By fostering inclusivity, mentorship, and engagement across generations, we’re not just sustaining membership — we’re building a stronger, future-focused Rotary community.

Q.  How does your club guarantee that its membership is diverse and reflects the community it serves?

Diversity is foundational to our strength and impact. We engage intentionally across professions, generations, and cultures to ensure our team and partnerships reflect the communities we serve. Through inclusive recruitment and mentorship, we build an environment where every perspective is valued and contributes to our shared goals.

Q.  In what ways do the values of ECHR align with your own cultural heritage?

My Kenyan heritage places a strong emphasis on community, service, and unity values that deeply resonate with the mission of the ECHR Rotary Club. In Kenya, the spirit of “Harambee,” meaning “pulling together,” is a cornerstone of our culture and reflects the same collective drive that Rotary embodies. Both my heritage and Rotary share a belief in uplifting others, fostering collaboration, and creating sustainable solutions that benefit the wider community. These shared principles guide my leadership approach and reinforce my commitment to ensuring that every project we undertake at ECHR leaves a lasting, positive impact.

Q. What strategies do you plan to implement to enhance sustainability efforts within the club?

At the ECHR Rotary Club, sustainability is central to how we plan, execute, and grow our service projects. Our approach builds on the club’s structured Community Service Program, which emphasizes both environmental responsibility and long-term community engagement. We’ll continue to integrate sustainability across all service categories — from hands-on local projects like litter pickups and Habitat for Humanity builds, to technology recycling initiatives led by our Green Team. By embedding eco-friendly practices into our projects and operations, we ensure that our impact endures well beyond individual events. The Green Team, in particular, will play a key role in advancing initiatives such as solar installations on Habitat homes and tech recycling programs, helping us align with Rotary’s global environmental focus.

“Finally, by tracking volunteer hours, participation rates, and community partnerships, we’ll continue to measure our progress and refine our efforts each year. Sustainability for ECHR means not only caring for the environment but also ensuring the continued vitality, inclusivity, and relevance of our club’s service in the years ahead,” stated Muriithi.

About the East Chapel Hill Rotary

The East Chapel Rotary Club has 150 members and is affiliated with Rotary International, which comprises over 34,000 clubs worldwide. Established over 50 years ago, this club is founded on the motto of “service above self,” demonstrated through our commitment to numerous local, national, and international initiatives.

Tyria McCray-Bourda is a story-driven journalist whose work has previously appeared in The Carolinian newspaper in Raleigh. Attaining a bachelor’s degree in communication from Southern New Hampshire University, she has the distinction of having interviewed President Joe Biden when he was a candidate on the campaign trail, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris. This reporter can be reached at: Information@TheLocalReporter.press