Todd Bowen, 21, will be the youngest president in District 7210 history when he takes the helm of the Wappingers Falls Club on July 1.
 
While he is young, he is not inexperienced, with his Rotary involvement beginning as a high school freshman, joining Roy C Ketcham’s Interact Club as a way to get to know fellow students.
 
He rose to club secretary in his sophomore year, adding that he learned so much and made a lot of friends. Deciding that he wanted to lead the club in his junior year, he ran for and was elected president. Leading them as a junior, Interact club membership expanded from 60 to around 100 members and they participated in over 30 events within the school year. 
 
He was re-elected president as a senior, becoming the first student in RCK history to become a back-to-back president. In his final year at RCK, the club had over 130 members and they completed the year with 42 events within the school year - the most ever. 
 
“Interact gave me many opportunities, so many friendships and made me develop leadership skills. I then joined the Rotary Club of Wappingers Falls in November 2019. I was very familiar with the club since they are the sponsor of the RCK Interact Club. It didn’t take me long until I got heavily involved in Rotary,” said Bowen. 
 
Bowen is currently the Wappingers Falls Club Secretary for the second consecutive year, in addition to President Elect. He’s also their Membership Chair, Interact Liaison, RYLA Chair and Public Relations Chair. 
 
On the District Level, he is part of the Membership Committee (New Clubs, Member Engagement, Rotaract) and the Public Image Committee. 
 
“My role on the Public Image Committee is adding all of the club’s events/fundraisers to the district calendar and emailing them out to the District and the Club Presidents and President Elects to share with their club,” said Bowen, who most recently also joined the Rotary Youth Professional Action Committee. “I love community service and Rotary and I want to be District Governor in the future.”
 
In his non-Rotary time, Bowen has been working for the Town of Wappinger since May 2021. Starting in January 2023, he will be their Program Specialist and Recreation Assistant. He is also the Chairman of the Dutchess County Youth Board & Coordinating Council. Bowen currently attends Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh and will be graduating in May of 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts (Human Services).