Eric was born and raised in Vinita, Oklahoma. He graduated from Vinita High School in 1987. Eric married Kathy Sooter and they have 4 boys: Ben, Elijah, Gabe, and Noah.He owns and operates The Junction Internet Service. Eric started The Junction in 1996 as the area's first Internet Service Provider. And in 1999, The Junction rolled out the area's first broadband internet service. They attend church at Vineyard Christian Fellowship. Kathy is a math teacher at Vinita High School.

For this month of February, let us focus on the importance of goodwill and understanding for peace in a world that is filled with conflict and intolerance. It is a time for all of us to pause and consider how we are pursuing Rotary's Fourth Avenue of Service - International Service. It's our international service coupled with our international fellowship that will do the most good in building a more peaceful tomorrow. As humans, and as Rotarians, we were born to shine as a beacon of hope! We must let our light shine throughout the world. Rotary welcomes all men and women and invites them to get their arms around the spirit of "Service Above Self" and stand proud and live by the high ethical standards of the Four Way Test, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, religion, or political affiliation. Rotary shares the value of the entire human family and seeks to bring peace by creating world understanding.

Rotarians around the world practice tolerance and focus on the aspects of humanity that make us one. This quality is the miracle of Rotary especially in a world that is filled with spoil sports that often practice intolerance and seek to point out our differences. Rotarians throughout the world enjoy fellowship and friendship at meetings such as the Rotary International Convention and the International Assembly which create watersheds for a lifetime, flying in the face of the stereotypical stories often portrayed by the media. All of this runs parallel with the efforts of too many who aim to separate our oneness as the human family. The strength of Rotary is that we go about our role in building peace and world understanding in a quiet and confident way which is evident as we respond to human needs with projects that serve people with whom we have nothing in common other than the love and respect we have because we were born to shine and are happy to share this world with all others.

Former D6110 Governor Ron Peterson