The prayer will be led by Armand Vilches

The Pledge and 4-Way Test will be led by Karen Voce

Gary Benmark is a member of the Springfield Rotary Club. He has served as a District 6760 Assistant District Governor and is a member of the Executive Committee for Multi-State PETS and the District 6760 Finance Committee. He is also an alternate member of the District Nominating Committee and has served on the ad hoc Will R. Manier Scholarship Committee.

Gary is a charter member of the District 6760 Paul Harris Society and is a Rotary Foundation Major Donor. For approximately two decades, he has had an exemplary record of attendance in several Rotary Clubs and has served in most Club positions including Club President on three separate occasions. He has participated in numerous Rotary leadership courses including the Rotary Leadership Academy.

In 1963, Gary joined the Trenton, Tennessee Rotary Club and at that time was thought to be the youngest Rotarian in District 676 (as of 1991, District 6760). While a member of that Club, in 1967 he led the District's first Group Study Exchange Team (paired with New South Wales, Australia).

Gary and his wife, Leslie, participated in the Rotary Friendship Exchange program, visiting Western Australia (Perth and other areas) in 2006 and hosted the Australian Rotarians when they visited District 6760 in 2007, including a cookout at their home for approximately 100 Rotarians and spouses. They have also been actively involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange program, thus far hosting young men from Germany, Argentina, and Brazil. Gary and Leslie also participated in the District Governor's visit to Rotary International headquarters in 2005.

Gary holds the B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. degree in Public Policy Administration from Vanderbilt University. He has served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army and holds the rank of retired Colonel. He is retired from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville/Davidson County where he was Director of Criminal Justice Planning and Administrative Director of the Juvenile Court. For decades, Gary has been active in numerous community and government groups which is demonstrated by the wide variety of awards and recognitions which he has received. Gary is truly an outstanding example of the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self".