Rick is a past member of many professional organizations including the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, Georgia School Superintendents Association, and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

He was selected for the Georgia Leadership Academy's Institute for New Leaders and the Superintendent Professional Development Program, a two-year executive level program. He has also participated in the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement, the Georgia School Superintendents Association Human Resources Institute, and was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa educational honor society. He also represented Glynn County as a participant in Leadership Southeast Georgia.

Rick's wife Carolyn is a retired elementary and math teacher. Rick and Carolyn have three daughters, Haley, Emily, and Molly. Rick Townsend has served his community through Kiwanis since 2008.

He is currently a member of the Brunswick Kiwanis Club. He is also serving as the Club Coach for the newly formed Liberty Kiwanis in Hinesville, GA. Rick's first introduction to Kiwanis was as a Circle K member while he attended Reinhardt College (now known as Reinhardt University).

He joined the Baxley club in 2008 and transferred his membership to Brunswick when he moved to the coast in 2010. Rick was also a club coach for the Richmond Hill Kiwanis club and has participated in club openings in Georgia and in Michigan.

He is a past Distinguished Lt. Governor and previously was Chair for Young Children Priority One and helped plan and organize Kiwanis Read Across GA Day. He currently serves as Chair of Club Growth for Georgia Kiwanis and is a member of the Kiwanis International Committee for Club Excellence, USA 2. Rick has served, been a member of, or volunteered for community organizations such as Rotary, Lions Club, Boy Scouts, United Way, Morningstar, and the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce.