Events

Trudy Marshall was a teacher in Pflugerville for eighteen years and a librarian in a Round Rock school for ten years. After traveling to thirty-nine countries, someone suggested she go to Uganda. There she found schools with no books. The first school library was provided in 2005. At present in Uganda, Libraries of Love has provided forty-six school libraries and three in prisons. Seven school libraries have also been provided in Kenya. 

In their sponsorship program, there are now twenty-five college graduates and fifty-four sponsored students with fourteen of those in college. 

Libraries of Love also meets endless humanitarian needs. 

Trudy lives in small villages with the people she serves in both Uganda and Kenya six to seven months a year. She is a Rotarian in Rotary Club of Pflugerville.

     Scott was born in Coshocton, Ohio, but has lived his entire life in Northern Virginia prior to moving to Georgetown, Texas in June 2023.  He has been affiliated with The Salvation Army his whole life attending church in Alexandria, Virginia.  It was there in 1987 that Scott met Sandra Smith who, being raised as a Salvation Army Officer’s child, grew up on the ministry field that led her to Alexandria, Virginia where she met Scott.  Scott and Sandy were married in March 1996.

     Scott graduated from George Mason University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.  Following university studies, Scott began his professional career with The Salvation Army National Headquarters in 1995 in the Archives Department.  It was during this time that he obtained his Masters in Applied History degree in 2007.   In 2011, Scott became the National Headquarters Resource Center Director and continued in that position until June of 2023.

     Scott’s hobbies include playing the B flat tuba, watching Star Wars with his son Ben, and reading presidential biographies.  He is a loyal follower of all Washington, DC professional sports teams and everything Ohio (Go Buckeyes)!

     The greatest accomplishment that Scott and Sandra have took place in 2007 when God blessed them with their son, Benjamin Luke Bedio!  Scott, Sandy, and Ben reside in Round Rock and have fallen in love with serving in Williamson County!

Carla Young, Executive Director, has been with DASNW for over 20 years, first as a volunteer driver from 2004-2007, and in the director role from 2008 to present.  A graduate of Texas A&M, Carla and her family moved to Cedar Park in 2002.  With 3 kids and 2 grandkids (and many grandcats and a granddog) living very far away (Japan, Canada, and Minnesota) Carla and husband Steve have no plans to move, just travel when they can to visit everyone! 

Drive a Senior Northwest is a non-profit serving seniors in Cedar Park, Leander, and northwest Austin with free transportation and support services to help those seniors age in place, live independently longer and stay connected to their community.  With just 150 volunteer drivers, DASNW serves over 500 seniors with over 7000 rides a year, funded completely from the community we serve (no federal, state, or insurance support).  Save the date! October 3, 2026 will be the 40th anniversary of this vital non-profit, and we hope you can join us for the big celebration!

Bilingual Librarian, Reed Elementary, Leander ISD

Carolyn taught dual language 1st grade in Round Rock ISD and has spent the past 7 years in the Reed Elementary Library as the K-5 Bilingual Librarian. She is passionate about education and literacy, as well as running a modern library where students are interacting, building, experimenting, and learning from both the librarian/teacher and each other. This will be her 15th year in education.

Jared Fields has worked for six years to build strong relationships with elected officials, chambers of commerce, businesses, and other community organizations within the Pedernales Electric Cooperative service territory. His area of focus is the northern cities and communities served by PEC, mostly in western Williamson County. Previously, he worked for media companies and has a degree in journalism. He is a Rotarian, director on the board of the Kingsland MUD where he lives, and a proud board member of CASA for the Highland Lakes.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative was incorporated in 1938 with a loan to build 1,800 miles of electric line. Today, PEC operates more than 25,000 miles of line in 45 franchise cities and all or parts of 24 counties, serving more than 436,000 meters with about 1,100 employees. 

Valeria Rios is a Program Specialist at the Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area, where she leads outreach and program initiatives that enhance the quality of life for older adults and caregivers across Central Texas. With a strong foundation in social services and healthcare, she brings a strategic, person-centered approach to community engagement and support services. Valeria holds a BSA in Biology, a Business of Healthcare certificate, and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to advancing inclusive, culturally responsive services that empower older adults to age with dignity, health, and independence.

Michelle Johnson is a dedicated advocate for her community, serving as a Board Member for the Reveal Resource Center, Diaper Diva for Baby Blessings, and the Executive Director of the Christian Resource Center. A proud mother of three boys and grandmother to three, Michelle’s life is filled with family celebrations and BBQs. Her passion extends beyond her family to non-profits and small businesses, with a focus on connecting, nurturing, and inspiring others to grow. In 2019, Michelle’s journey with Baby Blessings began after a mother’s request for diapers sparked her determination to help families in need. Partnering with the Austin Diaper Bank, she launched the diaper ministry in January 2020, initially serving 109 babies with 2,000 diapers. Today, Baby Blessings distributes 16,000 diapers monthly, supporting over 640 babies at Reveal. Michelle’s dedication to her community reflects her mission to foster relationships and enrich lives, one act of kindness at a time.

Rotary is known worldwide for its impact to make the world a better place.  Slogans like “doing good in the world” or “service above self” are often used to describe Rotarians and their efforts.  The Rotary Foundation provides the fuel that enables Rotarians to be impactful.  ARRFC Jerry Chapman and Club Foundation Chair Joe Dahlstrom will open the doors to how our Foundation functions and impacts us locally.

For the past two years, Katelyn has been a Rotary Global Grant Scholar sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cedar Park-Leander.  She has been enrolled in a master’s degree program in Environment, Development, and Peace at the University of Peace in San Jose, Costa Rica.  Her interests are environmental sciences, sustainable farming practices, and community-driven development.  Katelyn has finished all of her degree requirements and should be receiving her diploma within the month.  Katelyn has returned to the United States and will be at our meeting to inform us about her experiences in Costa Rica, her studies at the University of Peace, and her plans for the future.

Christopher Garza will share ways to keep your business and personal information secure online and other general web topics.

Chris Garza is originally from the small town of Dublin, Texas.  He got his start in technology at a young age by tinkering with his family's business computers, which ran on MS-DOS.  Being immersed in the technology of that time introduced him to the world of computers and their potential.

Because of his years of experience in computer systems and specialization in web technologies, Chris began freelancing in the computer services field in the early 2010's. In 2015, he founded his company, Cobalt Web Technologies, which he kept as a side business while maintaining a full-time career.

During 2020 and the chaotic times of the pandemic, a huge number of new people went online and needed web services. The demand for Chris's expertise grew immensely, so he decided to dedicate his time fully to Cobalt Web Technologies, beginning in a new chapter for his growing company.

Today, Christopher lives in Leander with his dog Gryffie.

Tara Yukawa is a Certified Executor Advisor and founder of SageVault, a consulting practice that helps families navigate legacy planning and estate preparation with clarity and care. With more than 20 years of experience in operations and communications leadership, she brings both structure and empathy to work that supports families before and after loss.

Tara is deeply involved in the local community. She serves on the City of Leander Board of Adjustments and is the Secretary of the Leander Youth Baseball and Softball Association. She is also a board member and co-founder of Sliders Athletic Club, a 501(c)(3) youth baseball organization that provides club-level opportunities for talented children ages 8 to 12 without financial barriers.

Through her professional work and civic involvement, Tara is passionate about helping people feel prepared, supported, and connected as they plan for the future and invest in their community.