Changing of the Guard
It might not look like a tree, but the plaque, presented by incoming Putnam Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek to outgoing President Kristen Willis, represents a cherry tree to be planted in her honor in Putnam’s Rotary Park. His President’s Award honors Willis’s leadership in an almost impossibly challenging COVID-19 year.
In her remarks Willis thanked club members who did anything but sit back in a pandemic, raising money and serving the community. “We answered the call,” she said with pride, raising and then giving $38,000-plus to more than 35 non-profit groups. The club also awarded $34,000 in scholarships. “There is no challenge too great for this club,” she said. Pempek said his goals this year are to build new membership, get more involved and work on the 100th anniversary coming in Rotary year following his.
