Cross Timbers Rotary: Service Above Self — And a Lot of FUN

Nicole Smith Woodard’s career as a real estate broker at eXp Realty and her life as a devoted wife and mother understandably keep
her pretty busy most days, to the point where even she occasionally wonders how she can possibly squeeze another commitment onto
her packed schedule. But ask her if she has a few extra minutes to talk about Rotary, and she’s suddenly got all the time in the world.
“There’s always time to talk about Rotary,” Woodard said with a laugh.
For Woodard, the current president of the Cross Timbers Rotary Club in Flower Mound, time stands still when she’s engaged in
anything related to Rotary. It could be a simple conversation over coffee with a prospective new Rotarian, a quarterly social, an
important but fun board retreat, or a few hours of roll-up-your-sleeves work for one of their many community service projects. It could
also be gathering ducks for their yearly Duck Derby, planning a book club, or having too much fun at their Friday morning meetings.
Whatever it is, Woodard is all in — just like she has been for the past seven years.
“I joined when I was still relatively new to Flower Mound,” she said. “I knew I wanted to get involved and serve, and I had just been
through the leadership program through the Chamber. A few folks I thought were really cool were also going to this thing called Rotary,
so naturally, I invited myself along. And I’ve been there ever since.”
She added, “A lot of thought and purpose goes into everything we do.”
So what is all the buzz about Rotary? And why is Woodard and so many others like her so invested?
It all comes down to service above self. Rotary International is a global service organization and tight-knit network of 1.2 million
neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change —
across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. The world’s first Rotary club was started in 1905, and there are now 46,000
clubs worldwide. Many of them are just down the road from each other.
For example, there are 13 Rotary clubs right here in Denton County. That includes the Cross Timbers Rotary Club, which services
Flower Mound and surrounding areas such as Argyle, Lantana, Highland Village, and Bartonville.
The club was chartered in 2015 with 63 members and is now 128 members strong.
They meet at 8am every Friday at Whiskey & Smoke on the Riverwalk.
“Every Rotary club meets at different times of the day and on different days of the week. And they all have different personalities,”
Woodard said. “Our motto is service above self, and if that speaks to anyone, we encourage them to join.”
The Cross Timbers Rotary’s claim to fame in recent years has been its signature event, the Rhythms at the Riverwalk and Duck Derby.
This free family event is about to be in its sixth year and helps support over 25 Denton County charities by racing 30,000 adopted
yellow rubber ducks down the river. They currently have 91 sponsors for the event, with donations ranging from $100 to $10,000.
In terms of service projects, they do everything from fixing houses to delivering goodies to senior citizens and supporting local
nonprofits in various ways. By becoming a Cross Timbers Rotarian, you join a diverse network of leaders who share your passion for
giving back.
“It’s a dynamic, community-focused group that wants to make the world a better place, have fun on Friday mornings, and do great
things in our community,” Nicole said. “There is a lot of need in this area, and with that comes plenty of opportunities to serve. We
genuinely feel like we have created something special, and it’s a part of all of us.”
To learn more about the Cross Timbers Rotary Club, visit crosstimbersrotary.com.