President's Message June 30

Posted by Ron Searfoss 
on Jun 30, 2015
 
Changeover Celebration
Our regular meeting on June 25 was a celebration of Rotary at the foundational level.  We celebrated the great year of successful projects and fund raiser achievements of our club during the administration of President Tom Kolepp including the first ever attainment of EREY status for Morning Star Rotary – a EVERY active Morning Star Rotarian donated to Rotary Foundation this year! We then conducted the annual changeover ceremony with Tom most happily achieving the coveted status of immediate “Past President” and Ron Searfoss becoming President for the 2015-16 term.
A welcome tradition of the Changeover Meeting has become the “passing of the gavel” with the following Past Presidents able to participate …
 
  • Charlie Incalcaterra our first and “forever young”
  • Barb Seifert-Sigmon
  • Past District Governor Tore Hartmann-Hansen – Our Favorite Viking!
    
  • Butch Macri
  • Diane Donaher who is also Past President of the Bethlehem Rotary (aka “Downtown”)
  • Gary Hartney
  • Charlotte Hartmann-Hansen
  • Ron Helmuth
  • Dave Cincera
  • Susan Burnett
  • Jean Searfoss
  • Tom Kolepp
We were missing past Presidents due to conflicts: Geoff Wright; Claire Rij (recovering from knee surgeries); Mike Long; Stan Vasiliadis; Tom Hartzell; PDG Bill Jahn (President RC Skidaway Isle, GA); Gary Langensiepen; Dick Roberts; Gordon Sommers; Dee Elliott; Tom Mohr; Don Scanlon (sadly, passed away in 2014); Jim Santanasto and Eileen Dunn. Thanks to Past President Jean for starting this tradition!
 
Tom then thanked those members rotating off the board for their service, including:
  • Past President Jean Searfoss
  • Directors Robin Metzler, Jeff Kicska, Ellen Roberts and Barb Seifert-Sigmon
Tom then installed the new and continuing board members:
  • President Ron Searfoss
  • President Elect Sharon Fontana
  • Vice President Kristian Schafer*
  • Secretary Val Walk
  • Treasurer Sue Reeps*
  • Sergeant at Arms Russell Pacala
  • Continuing Directors Wayne Achey, Cheryl Baker, Jan Chicka and Jess Elliott
  • New Directors Dave Cincera, Jeff Kicska (recycled!), Alex Shnaydruk and Geoff Wright
*Kristian and Sue were unable to attend.  They will be installed at the next meeting.
 
Thanks to AG Janet Kolepp for great photos!
 
On June 29th Morning Star was well represented at the District Changeover held at the William Penn Inn in Gwynedd, PA.  Those in attendance were Past Presidents Jean Searfoss and Tom Kolepp, Assistant Governor Janet Kolepp, Youth Exchange Guru John St. Clair and President Ron. The event was very well attended. Based upon the reports the District is getting stronger all the time. Membership is up. Rotaract and Interact Clubs are growing. Foundation support has been exceptional. The Million Dollar Journey initiated last year with the goal to raise One Million Dollars over three years is very near Two Million Dollars with one year to go!
 
We look forward to seeing you at our July 2 meeting where Ashley Cordero, St. Luke’s RN, graduated May 16 with her BS degree, will speak to us on her participation in the Nursing Department's MaMa Mission in Honduras in March.
 
Please “Be a gift to the world”,
President Ron