At its annual picnic meeting at the lake home of Tom Harris, members of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) observed its traditional “passing of the gavel” and reviewed the club’s achievements in the past year.  Out-going President, George Thomson, passed the gavel to Kevin Barnes, the new LRC President and led the Ludlow Rotarians in an analysis of what the club had achieved during the past year.

 

In summarizing the achievements of the past year, Thomson noted, “We have more than doubled the basic goals set forward by Rotary International (RI), earning its Presidential Citation.  I want to thank the board members of LRC along with all the other members of the club for the great effort and dedication to meeting these goals”.

 

He listed some the goals achieved during his tenure which included:

 

·         Working on a global grant from RI for Okemo Valley Technical Rescue

·         Agreeing to be an international partner with a Rotary club in India to setup a kidney dialysis facility in rural India

·         Working hard to support the incoming student exchange program, with Jim Rumrill becoming the chair of the Essex Eastern United States Student Exchange program             next year.  This program, curtailed by Covid for several years, is an important avenue in learning about other nations through their students.  Jim also led the effort to               charter the Interact Club at Green Mountain High School.

·         Awarded $14,000 in scholarships to seven area graduates.  This program has resulted in over $285,000 in scholarships since its creation

·         Raising the funds necessary to support scholarship awards and programs for local and regional groups through the Penny Sale, Duck Race, and Chili Cook-off

·         Distributed books to schools in our district, including personalized books for elementary school youngsters

·         Seeking partnership with area Rotary clubs for LRC’s global grant proposals

·         Continuing to ensure that LRC members still had fun doing all it could to help local, regional, and international groups in need of our assistance

 

Thomson indicated that he will become an Assistant Governor in the District, which covers New Hampshire and Vermont.

 

On accepting the gavel from Thomson, Kevin Barnes said he would continue to support efforts to address our goals.  “I believe we have achieved a great deal and it is my intention to see that we continue to work on these goals and the new ones that will develop.  This club may be small when measured in numbers against large Rotary clubs but it is huge in terms of what it can do and will do.”

 

Information on the LRC and membership may be obtained from any Rotarian or by a call to Kevin Barnes at 802- 802-321-8720.

 

The highlight of the annual “Changing of the Gavel” for the Ludlow Rotary Club was the actual passing of the gavel from the retiring President to the new club President.  This occurred at Lake Rescue home of Rotarian Tom Harris, where the LRC witnessed out-going President George Thomson (Left) handing the gavel to Kevin Barnes (right), the new President for 2025-26.  This is a tradition started at the ‘Little Red School House’ in Wallingford, VT.   Paul Harris, Founder of Rotary International, built “The Old Chapel Building.” In 1928 District 37 bought this historic building. In 1933 it was dedicated as “The Little Red Schoolhouse.” Paul Harris returned to Wallingford for the dedication ceremony.