Rotary recognizes Mt. Pleasant couple for transforming communities worldwide

MT. PLEASANT — Two longtime leaders of the Mt. Pleasant Evening Rotary Club were honored with prestigious awards for their decades of global and local service during a recent Rotary district conference.

Cal Litwiller received Rotary International Foundation's Distinguished Service Award, the highest recognition given to Rotarians worldwide. Rachel Litwiller was presented with the Guardian of Integrity Award, a district honor recognizing ethical leadership and outstanding service.

Cal Litwiller sat in the audience at the conference listening to a description of the Distinguished Service Award recipient's accomplishments and tried to guess who it could possibly be. As the details unfolded — mentioning trips to Malawi and the development of new grant methods — his wife, Rachel, nudged him, realizing the honoree was none other than her husband.

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"It was a huge surprise," Cal recounted. "I sat there and they were reading that description, and I looked at my wife, and I said, 'Who are they talking about?' I was trying to think who it could possibly be. Then they started talking about specifics, and my wife looked at me and said she knew it had to be me. I just sat there and [was] just in total shock. I had no idea.”

The Distinguished Service Award is the highest individual honor bestowed by The Rotary Foundation, recognizing Rotarians whose extensive service to the Foundation exemplifies Rotary's mission of “doing good in the world.”

Candidates must have demonstrated exceptional leadership, an enduring commitment to humanitarian efforts, and impactful project development over many years. Fewer than 50 Rotarians worldwide receive the award annually, making it one of the most selective and prestigious recognitions in Rotary International.

Over many years of service with the Rotary Club, Cal Litwiller, a retired high school science teacher, has embodied the mission of “doing good in the world,” with his work locally and abroad.

He has worked tirelessly to develop and sustain international projects that address real-world needs. Reflecting on his Rotary journey, Cal emphasized the importance of sustainable projects.

"It's not just throwing money at something and walking away," he said. "It's putting money toward something that is sustainable."

He highlighted initiatives like installing solar panels on schools in Malawi, which not only provide lighting but also generate income through phone charging services, ensuring ongoing maintenance. Setting up projects with sustainability in mind gives the groups helped by Rotary a leg-up instead of a handout.

Cal's impressive Rotary career also includes serving as a frequent presenter at district and zone Foundation events, as a longtime grants committee chair, and as the project contact person for 12 Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and Global Grants. These projects, totaling over $1 million, have benefited more than 133,000 people across India, Malawi, South Africa, Italy, Nepal, and Lebanon.

His background in education proved invaluable when Rotary introduced a new method for matching grants. Cal was asked to lead the transition in his district, utilizing his skills as a former teacher to explain complex new systems in a clear and understandable manner.

"My teaching background helped a lot," he said. "I had people come up afterward and say, 'I've never understood this until now.' That's positive."

Before retiring, teaching also provided Cal the opportunity to bring the next generation into the fold by cultivating compassion for others and offering ways to exercise that compassion with action. Cal found creative ways to involve his students in Rotary's global mission.

He would challenge his classes to raise funds for causes like cataract surgeries in India. In one particularly memorable lesson, he removed all the desks from his classroom, requiring students to sit on the floor for a day — an exercise designed to help them empathize with children in India who learned under the same conditions.

"The kids walked in and said, 'What are we going to do?' I told them, 'You're going to sit on the floor, just like the students we are helping.’”

That hands-on experience helped raise money to buy desks for a school overseas.

While strong relationships with his local community help Cal make a difference worldwide, that is not where his connections end. Beyond the borders of Iowa, Cal has forged strong relationships with Rotary clubs around the world, ensuring that funds and efforts reach those who need them most.

"We are very careful who we connect with, to make sure we're working with someone who knows what they're doing," he explained.

Trust and accountability have been crucial to his many successful projects, including the construction of a village after a devastating earthquake in India and the delivery of lifesaving medical equipment to rural areas.

Cal was shocked to receive the Distinguished Service Award because “you see other people get this award, and you think, ‘That's good, they've done a lot of stuff, and they deserve it.’ But when it comes to you receiving something like this, you think, ‘wow, I'm not sure I fit into that category.’”

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Cal was not surprised when his wife Rachel Litwiller was honored at the conference with a Guardian of Integrity Award, though. In fact, he knew going into the conference that she would receive this honor.

“Before they gave the award, they gave out a little pamphlet to have description of everybody, and I didn't want her to see it, but I couldn't keep it from her,” Cal said.

As Rachel looked over the information for the conference, she saw her own face listed with those to receive the Guadian of Integrity Award and asked her very proud husband, Cal, about it.

Rachel, described as "a doer, a troubleshooter, with undeniable stamina and a true problem solver," has been a steadfast fundraiser and hands-on leader for the club's initiatives both in Iowa and internationally.

Her achievements include leading fundraising efforts for the club's major annual barbecue event, during which she sells between 200 and 300 tickets each year. The event is a cornerstone fundraiser, supporting a variety of local and international projects.

This year's event, the 75th Annual Rotary Barbecue, will be held Thursday, June 5, at the Wright Family Pavilion at McMillan Park, which is located on the grounds of Midwest Old Threshers. Meals featuring pork chops or turkey tenderloins with sides and ice cream will be available for $15, with kids' meals offered for $7. Tickets can be purchased from Rotary members or at 5 Star Community Credit Union.

The Guardian of Integrity Award recognizes Rotarians who exemplify Rotary's highest ethical standards in their professional and personal lives. Rachel's contributions to mental health initiatives, homeless outreach, and overall Rotary leadership were key factors in her recognition.

Her consistent dedication to service, even behind the scenes, has made her an indispensable member of the Mt. Pleasant Rotary community.

Cal was effusive in his praise for his wife.

"We're a team. We work together on this kind of thing. It's not just me," he said. "She's very much involved."

The couple, married for over 50 years, are also avid travelers who have attended Rotary meetings across the globe. Their travels have deepened their understanding of the diverse needs facing communities across the globe and strengthened their resolve to act.

Their humanitarian work spans projects that provide clean water, medical care, educational opportunities, and emergency relief to some of the world's most vulnerable populations. Whether installing water filtration systems in South Africa or funding cataract surgeries in India, the Litwillers have consistently chosen to make a tangible difference.

Accepting his award, Cal expressed his profound appreciation for Rotary's global impact.

Cal says when he is asked why anyone should give to the Rotary Foundation? He consistently responds by asking “why not?”

“Essentially, when you put money toward it, $1 becomes $4 as it works through there's matches,” Cal said.

As the Mt. Pleasant Evening Rotary Club celebrates these remarkable honors, the community stands proud of the Litwillers' legacy of service, integrity, and international impact — a legacy that continues to inspire Rotarians near and far.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com