"The Ramblings of the Mad Hatter"

 

 

 

Greetings Trenton Rotarians!

As I close out my year as the President of the Trenton Rotary Club, I am filled with many emotions - sadness, relief, regret. Sadness that the year is over. Relief that the responsibility is now off of my shoulders. Regret that I could not accomplish all that I wanted to. But the emotion I am filled with most is awe. Awe at how quickly the year went by. Awe at the strengths each of you brought to the Club. Awe at the amazing things we accomplished together. Awe at how quickly we were able to adapt to the COVID-19 environment. Awe at what an honor it has been to have served as your President. Awe at how truly special it is to be a Trenton Rotarian.

We had a lot of fun together this year - a walking tour of downtown parks, peddle pubbing downtown, having our children and grandchildren lunch with the club during the holidays, holding a "pot-luck" trivia night. We raised a lot of money together - almost $1,000 for Hurricane Dorian relief efforts, over $3,000 for the "End Polio Now" campaign, around $30,000 for the Salvation Army and close to $50,000 for our charities through "The Wild Game Dinner" and "Sham-Rockin' on the River." And we did the right thing - helping elementary students with reading, holding a bone marrow drive, making blankets and donating gifts to The Salvation Army Christmas program, packing meals, showing children that there are fun things to do besides watching video screens and playing violent games, holding a blood drive, and packing and delivering meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I want to thank all of you who helped organize the various activities, fund raisers and projects. Nothing would have been accomplished without the efforts and talents of the members of this club. I also want to thank you for standing behind me throughout this Rotary year. Your words of encouragement during the difficulties we faced as a club helped keep me going.

I would also like to thank my Board of Directors for all of their hard work - Immediate Past-President Mark Angellotti, President-Elect Kathy Kane, President-Nominee Valerie Dzagulones, Secretary Bill Jasman, Assistant Secretary Kimberly Mott, Treasurer Michael Concessi, Assistant Treasurer Ray Yee, Past-President At-Large Tom Dickman, and Directors Paulette Dillingham, Dennis Levko, Chris Sorensen and Jean Wloszek.

Finally I want to thank my wife, Jackie. Without her love and support, I would not have been able to help us accomplish all that we did.

Remember, the end of this Rotary year does not end the significance of the themes RI President Mark Maloney and District Governor John Chambers chose. They are themes to live by. "Rotary Connects the World" when we "Do the Right Thing." Live every day according to the Rotary motto "Service Above Self."

Heading into Kathy's year, I look forward to taking action, as "Rotary Opens Opportunities" for us to engage.

Yours In Rotary,

Matt Hatty
President, The Rotary Club of Trenton, Michigan

 

 

 

Please click on the link to hear President Elect Kathy Kane's weekly message