Wheels for June 30, 2016 (Jul 05, 2016)

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

We had a packed house at the Amarillo Club to take part in the annual Rotary rite of passage: the installation of new club officers as we begin the new Rotary year.

David O’Dell has taken over as president of the Rotary Club of Amarillo, succeeding Jeff Lester, who presided over another successful year for our club. (Lea Ann Fulton 354-8288 x226) Many thanks, Jeff, for all you did.

But David wasn’t the only officer to take over, as we played host to all four Amarillo clubs, as Rotary East, South and West joined us for the event.

Ira Purdy is the new president of Rotary West; Leslie David takes the gavel as president of Rotary South; and Clayton Scales becomes the new president of Rotary East. Congratulations to you all.

Our joint meeting was emceed by Past District Governor David Norris, who called his tenure as a past club president and district governor and the time he spent at the Presidents Elect Training Seminar -- aka PETS – as “the best leadership training around.”

David also noted that Rotary International’s progress is evident in its ongoing battle to eradicate polio from the planet. He said that Rotary International’s Polio Plus efforts have helped save 15 million children worldwide from the crippling scourge.

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HER

Jeff Lester also took a moment to recognize our wonderful club administrative assistant Gina Rodriguez for her 20 years of service to the Rotary Club of Amarillo. (Xavier Candelaria 373-2592) We all know that Gina is our not-so-secret reason for the success we’ve enjoyed.

Thank you, Gina, for all you do to keep us moving forward.

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Joining President O’Dell on our club’s leadership team this year will be President-elect Rocky Gafford, Immediate Past President Jeff Lester, Secretary Tom Higley, Treasurer Gary Mitchell and directors Shelley Cunningham, Mel Darnell, Mary Stephens and Martin Birkenfeld.

Many thanks and appreciation go to outgoing directors David Elizalde, Cal Harriman and Bob Murray, as well as to directors at large Daniel Martinez and Teresa Clemons.

Congratulations to you all.

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A note about the pot. We did not have a drawing at the joint meeting and our club now faces the monumental task, nail biting moment, big time donation to Polio Plus and gamblers delight of drawing the Ace of Spades. Only $5320.00 to fuss over. And also of note.....check out the Five Things you may not know about Dale Bippus on the home page.

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Thanks as always go to:

David Norris for acting as master of ceremonies

Lyndon Latham of the West Club for his invocation

Doyle Moore for leading us in singing “God Bless America”

William Boyce of the West Club for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance

Victor Glenn of the South Club for leading us in his unique way of reciting the Four Way Test