Bob Cochrane, of Dowagiac, is the CEO of the Cass County COA and a member of the Dowagiac Rotary Club, where he serves as treasurer.

How long have you been a member of the Rotary Club?

I have been a Dowagiac Rotarian for 12 years. Before that, I was a member of a Rotary Club in Omaha [Nebraska] for about 13 years. So all together it has been about 25 years.

How did you get first get involved?

It was when I was working in Omaha. In the city/area I was working in, most of the business leaders were part of the club there, so I decided that was where I should be in order to help with my work and to serve the community.

How did you get involved with the Dowagiac club?

I sought them out when I came here. Because I had such a good experience with Rotary back in Omaha, I wanted to maintain that because it provides such a great service to the community. I spoke with one of the members of the club at the time and got invited to become a member myself.

How long have you been club treasurer?

Since July of 2014.

As treasurer, what are your responsibilities?

Obviously the biggest one is to handle the money and the finances of the club. We have our operating expenses and we have our community service expenses. It is my job to write the checks, receive the money and keep track of the books.

What are some of the projects Rotary has worked on in recent years?

The one that reoccurs most is our scholarship. We give scholarships to Southwestern Michigan College every year. That has been going on longer than I have been with the club. We also do some things with Rotary Villa each year. The club was instrumental getting that property built and available to the community. We maintain contact with them and do projects there. We also work with the Sand Hill Crane run and Steve’s Run. We help the [Dowagiac] chamber with some of their events. We also help some of the organizations in town with gifts.

What is the biggest thing you get out volunteering with Rotary?

The biggest thing I get out of it is contributing to the community, helping Dowagiac maintain a strong community.

What is the best way for people to get involved with the club?

The best way would be to talk to a Rotarian about it, and find out what the club is all about and what the members do. If they are still interested we can start them through the process of becoming a member.

Is there anything you want to say to encourage people to get involved with Rotary?

I think it is a marvelous organization. It does a lot of good locally, but it also serves the country and internationally. One of Rotary’s biggest accomplishments is the near eradication of polio worldwide. I think anyone who can be a part of that would find it a marvelous experience.

Do you know a volunteer worthy of recognition? Nominate him or her by calling Ted Yoakum, community editor, at (269) 588-1040, or by email at ted.yoakum@leaderpub.com.