After experiencing two virtual changeovers, due to COVID restrictions, fifty-three club members and their partners and friends were able to meet on a beautiful evening at Rebel Creek Golf Club for celebration and fellowship.  Some members enjoyed a round of golf earlier in the day, and all enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner. 

 
President Judy led her final meeting thanking her Board of Directors for their service, and wished them much success in the coming year.  She presented Past President Jack Kinch with a plaque congratulating him on his service as President of the Club and the Club’s Foundation.

She then announced the “Rotarian of the Year 2021-2022” as Mac Graham whose dedication helped to keep the club going through the difficulties presented by COVID closings and reopenings, ensuring that meeting services, including presenters, were in place both for in- person and zoom meetings.  His enthusiasm and energy helped to keep our spirits up even in the darker days of uncertainty and confusion.  Congratulations, Mac!

Judy concluded her year as President by remarking on how our club was one of the few who carried on through the ups and downs presented by the pandemic thanks to the dedication of our members.   She highlighted how a theme developed where we were fortunate to hear from various indigenous speakers about the difficulties they have experienced, and how we as a country are moving forward toward reconciliation. 

She then introduced Everton Wilmot as our new President for 2022-2023.  He presented Judy with her upgraded Paul Harris Pin, her Past President Pin and Badge, the yearly photobook and a gift from the club.  He then shared an inspiring message of hope for the future as we move forward. In summary, he encouraged all of us to ask ourselves, “What is Rotary for me?”  He also highlighted incoming President Jennifer Jones’ direction to “Imagine or reimagine” what our club, and Rotary in general, can look like in the future.  

His upcoming visioning exercise will be a great way to find those answers.   Let’s all pull together, with hope and enthusiasm, to create these new directions under the capable leadership of Everton Wilmot.  

The evening ended with much more camaraderie and lively conversation – all left feeling happy to be part of such a great Rotary Club. 
 
 

 

 

 

 

I am very honored to be here and would like to thank Jack Kinch for extending that initial invitation to see what Rotary and this club is about.

I have learned what this club is about or better yet, what makes this club so special. Friendship, kindness, and heart; both in strength and in brotherly love. This club not only cares for the local and international community, but we care for each other. In good times and bad, happy, or sad, I have found that there is always someone there from this club to celebrate, console or just give an ear.  Our Rotary club members are there for each other and that is a key ingredient to having a successful team. This is why we are able to get things done.

The one thing I still have not figured out is “What is Rotary?” I have the general idea, I understand the 4-way test, but I still cannot answer the question “What is Rotary?” I have what I think it is, but I don’t really really know. It is something that has plagued me during my eight-year journey with Rotary. This may bring concern to some of you. “If he doesn’t know what Rotary is, how can he lead the club?”
I believe that is the perfect reason for me to be the current lead of the club at this particular point of time. Why you ask? From our interactions I can see that I am not alone. There are many others within our club, who have this same question or a question awfully close to it.

This year my Rotary journey is going to have a few more people (around 62, I hope), join me in answering this question. “What is Rotary”, for some of you it is finding the answer you once had a few years ago and for others like me, it is finally having an answer to the question. How will we get our answers? We can do it by coming together, interacting, participating, sharing and continuing to support each other. Imagine what can happen when we build on our ability to care for the people and projects we take on. Imagine the difference we can once again make in the community. We have to imagine what we want our Rotary to be. What is Rotary, what is our Rotary? Imaging is what RI president Jennifer Jones has made her theme for this year. The power of imagination will take our club for where it is now to where it once was and then even further.

I am excited to be working with our incoming board of directors of John Vickery, Bill Green, Brandon Flewwelling, Jake Thomas, Mac Graham, Maria Greco, Laura Power and Michelle Burke. These individuals have agreed to collaborate with me and work for you to find our way back. Back from the COVID era, and back to a vibrant and growing service club. I have been looking forward for this journey and I hope after our celebration this evening you are looking forward for it to.

Thank you once again for this great honor.