This year thus far
We are not yet at the end of this Rotary year, but I received notification this week that we are receiving a Presidential Citation. I started the year with many goals, and we have not achieved them all, but still have over three months remaining and I know that more will be fulfilled.
There are many factors included in the Citation, encompassing all areas: Membership, Foundation Giving, Public Relations, Service, Youth, District Participation and more. We still have a lot of volunteer hours to record with Rotary Central, and more achievements to report, and as I review what we have accomplished, I am deeply encouraged.
TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More is a phrase I have included weekly in power point, as it encompasses the Rotary experience for me. Especially as President, I am deeply aware of the importance of our team working in harmony. Rotary is not one person, nor even a handful, but a group working towards the same goal, that of serving our community and world.
Our achievements to date are proof of that principle as it is a team accomplishment. Among our other feats is increasing our Foundation giving as evidenced by multiple first time Paul Harris presentations in the past few weeks. We have three new/transfer member inductions this week. Our Interact Club has grown at an incredible rate and was selected for the Model UN at Rotary International Peacekeeping Conference in June. The Club website is being expanded and updated weekly to provide current information to members and interested parties. Our International Committee Co-Chairs, Art Bourgeault and Glen Hunihan, just returned from a week in Nicaragua with two Interact teens we helped fund for their first international service trip. In summary, we are making a difference.
However, there are several opportunities ahead. This week we are participating with Fast Pacs in a packing project; we are cooking pancakes and passing out water at the Big Star 5K Marathon on April 14. April 19, we are hosting a Blood Drive at Crest Infiniti. Farmers’ Market kicks off on April 21 and our first flag presentation of this season is in late May. There are many potential members with whom you come in contact each week; take advantage of the opportunity to share our club’s service and invite them to a meeting.
We have achieved a lot but there is much more available to do. Together we will achieve even more.