"Thank you so
much for the honor of being your Club President in 2021-2022. Leading during a pandemic has certainly been a challenge, but I am so proud of the work we’ve accomplished together this year. I would like to highlight a few:
We are getting back to a new normal. Amber was hired a year ago. We’re in person, and we’ve made hybrid an ongoing option to give club members the most flexibility. Programs that were on hiatus are back, often with important new improvements that emphasize safety and flexibility. Youth exchange is a great example of this.
At Tuesday’s District Awards, we were recognized for hosting Research Trainees as our Signature Project. This new program modeled after Youth Exchange has been a huge success.
I’m very proud of the strategic plan and resulting action plans. We used conversations, surveys, and the Rotary District process to develop the plan. You told us what was important to you, and we developed a set of plans to take concrete actions to develop and grow as a club. Adding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Membership, and Measurement positions to the board are all important steps in holding ourselves accountable to having an impact in the community. I believe the intentionality of the club will make sure we are spending time on the most important initiatives. Tuesday our club was recognized at the District’s Awards Ceremony for our work around strategic planning. We received a 2nd place award.
A highlight of the year for me personally was traveling to the Rotary International Convention in Houston earlier this month and having the opportunity to present a break-out session with Elaine Case and Jerome Ferson about the 3 Rochester Rotary Clubs starting Cradle to Career. Yesterday we met with another club who wanted more information about our efforts.
I would like to recognize outgoing board members Fred Suhler, Bob Mueller, and Chris Colby. Each brought unique perspectives to the board and represented you well. As Past-President, Chris was my go-to person as Amber and I were both learning the ropes.
As I hand over the gavel to Allie Good, I know the club is in good hands. I’m excited for her year as the action plans get executed and the mentorship program starts."