Meadowlands Rotary Club

With thanks to Sharon Weiss, Governor Kent's very active Secretary during his year, we have been able to prepare the following history for this Rotary year.

1997 was one of the first years that Rotary International recommended the use of Assistant Governors under a pilot plan. Governor Kent took advantage of this ruling and appointed seven Assistant Governors to work with his staff and his key staff members of Sharon, Dave Seeley as his Chief of staff, and Ken Ruskin as his Treasurer.

The International President was Glen Kinross from Australia, and the International Convention was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. President Glen's theme for the year was "Show Rotary Cares."

The activities for the year included a Regional Rotary Foundation seminar, hosted by our District at the Park Ridge Marriott in September, followed in October by the New Jersey Vocational Assembly held at Atlantic City. A Rotary Foundation Ball was held in November at the Cameo in Garfield, and an Interact Conference chaired by Honey Morgenstern was held at a School in Garfield.

The Gift of Life Annual Celebration was held on Valentine's Day at the Brownstone in Paterson to honor the fifteen clubs and host families that had participated that year in the program. The President's Ball was held in March at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany. A Walter Head Golf Outing was held in April.

With Governor Kent's desire for the District to become more involved in International programs, District members participated in a regional "R. 1. Urban Conference" held at the University of Bridgeport, at Bridgeport Connecticut in January. International projects were also held in the District during the year for "Wheel Chairs for Indonesia", "Eyeglasses for Cambodia" and "Lunch boxes for Korea." On a local District level "Operation Spring Good Turn" was a clothing drive held in cooperation with the Boy Scout Council.

It was an active year for the Rotary Foundation and the Walter Head Foundation in addition to the Gift of Life program, and it was also an active year for the District youth programs with the District Youth Exchange program hosting 10 inbound students and sending 5 outbound students.

In April Governor Kent tried to address what had been a request by some District Rotarians to have a local low cost District Conference. The Conference was held at the Fiesta in Woodbridge, followed by an added very successful alternate Caribbean Cruise on the "Celebrity Zenith" for those members wishing to take part in the social part of the Conference. This concluded a busy Rotary year and a year that Governor Kent attempted to add some interesting innovations to the normal District activities.

Questions or looking for more information please contact district7490rotary@gmail.com

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