A View From the Podium
Posted by Steve Landon
on May 15, 2015
President Steve's May Message
Another month is coming to a close and what an extremely busy month it has been at Niles Rotary. My term as being your Club President is
rapidly coming to an end. This is my next to last Pinion article.
As I mentioned above, April has been an extremely busy month for us all. April is the month when the District 5170 Conference is always held. This year’s conference was by far the best that I have attended in my 8 plus years of being a Rotarian. Niles Rotary played a big part in making this year’s Conference the success that it was.
Past President Sandra Young was in charge of this year’s House of Friendship (HOF) at the Conference. The HOF is where the different Areas and Clubs can showcase projects that they are doing on both the local and international levels. Niles Rotary, led by International Service Chair Manuel Franco, showcased our Water Well in Kenya Project, which by the way seems to be back on track now, as well as our on-going projects in Guatemala and at the DSET School in India. Our projects were prominently displayed and showed Niles Rotary’s commitment to
International Service. Thank you Manuel and your committee for your work at this year’s HOF, and thank you Past President Sandy for making this year’s District 5170 HOF the talk of the conference.
Past President Kimberly was in charge of Hospitality for this year’s conference. The Hospitality Suites are usually the most fun part of each year’s event. This year was no exception with the Conference theme of “Close Encounters of the Rotary Kind” which was liberally interpreted in the Suites by familiar movie themes such as Star Trek and Star Wars to show off our District Clubs’ and Area’s hospitality. There were various “Romulen” punches and Klingon Ales for all to enjoy. My favorite was the “Beam Me Up Scotty” theme where several single malt scotches were being served.
Past Niles Rotary President and this year’s Area 3 Assistant Governor Daren Young was in charge of the Area 3 Hospitality Suite and as usual worked very hard with help from Donna Smith and other Niles Rotarians making the Area 3 Suite the best of them all. As you can guess the Area 3 Suite served up the best wines and punches
this side of Saturn.
The Keynote Speaker for the Saturday Night Dinner (the conference’s main event) was Past Rotary International President and Niles Rotarian, Richard D. King. Rick did his usual terrific job of telling the Rotary Story and why we all choose to become Rotarians. We are so very fortunate to have Rick as a member of our club as he not only represents Rotary International so well, he also represents Niles Rotary.
District 5170’s Governor Nominee, Jeff Orth did a really wonderful job putting this year’s District Conference together with 2 years of planning ahead to make it such a success, and he also knew where to turn for help in the process, Niles Rotary.
If it sounds like I am bragging a little, it is because I am and I am proud to be a Niles Rotarian…
President Steve