Rotary District 5810
Zone 21B
Sandra Forster
Governor 2012-2013
16 Winding Creek Trail
Garland, Texas 75043
Phone: +1.972.896.8075
Fax: +1.469.366.8862
Email: governor1213@rotary5810.org
SKYPE: roamingrotarian
Sandra (Sandy) Forster, currently retired, is the former owner of
SunWest Activewear, a commercial embroidery and promotional
products company that operated for more than 14 years. SunWest
specialized in safety award programs to the trucking and transportation
industry.
In 1999, Forster married Bud Carmichael, and together they share the
joys of 12 grandchildren, a great grandchild, and five grown children
and their spouses. Their grandchildren have participated with them in
various Rotary events and humanitarian projects. Forster is active as a
member of the Unity Church of Christianity – Dallas and serves on the
Spiritual Social Action Committee and as a worship assistant.
In 1992, Forster joined the Garland Rotary club and served as its first female president. The Garland
Rotary club was established in 1927 and has been active in the city of Garland, serving many aspects of
the community from scholarships to deserving high school seniors, the Rotary Youth Leadership Award
(RYLA), Interact, English as a Second Language tutoring, and an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children in the Garland Independent School District. Under Forster’s leadership the club has
participated in Matching Grants, Group Study Exchange, Youth Exchange, and the RI Teacher Exchange
program.
During Forster’s service in Rotary she has been privileged to serve as a counselor to RYLA for six years,
helps with the Garland Rotary’s Interact club, served as an Assistant District Governor, District Secretary,
District Chair for Water Projects, District International Service Co-Chair, District Grants Sub-Committee
Chair, and World Community Service Chair. Forster and her husband have traveled to Europe, Africa,
India, Mexico, and South America on various Rotary humanitarian projects, including polio
immunizations, water and sanitation projects, and wheelchair distributions.
In 2009, then R.I. President, D. K. Lee, and the R.I. Board of Directors honored her with the highest
award that can be given to an individual Rotarian: the Rotary International Service Above Self. This
award is given to Rotarians who embody Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self” as a way of life. District
5810 has honored Forster with Rotarian of the Year – 2008-2009, The Rotary Foundation Advocacy
Award – 2008-2009, and the Service Above Self Award for 2007-2008. In 2007-2008, 2005-2006, and
2004-2005 District 5810 awarded her The Rotary Foundation District Service Award for promoting The
Rotary Foundation and its goal of world understanding and peace. The Garland Rotary Club has honored
Forster with Rotarian of the Year, Distinguished Service Above Self, The Pioneer Award, and
Humanitarian of the Year.
She is a member of the Paul Harris Society and is a Major Donor and Major Benefactor to The Rotary
Foundation. Forster has established the Forster New Generation Donor Advised Fund with The Rotary
Foundation to award college scholarships to deserving students within District 5810. A believer in what
Rotarians can do for others worldwide, she is a lifetime member of Water And Sanitation Rotary Action
Group (WASRAG), Rotarians For Fighting AIDS, Rotarians Eliminating Malaria, Rotarian Action Group
for Microcredit, the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship, and Rotary Travel & Host Fellowship. She
currently serves on the Business Operations Committee for WASRAG.