Dear Rotarians,This has been quite a year in our Rotary Club. Transitioning from online to in person, going from box lunches back to our wonderful caterer and from masks to no masks, but we made it through together.
I need to thank the board for their support. Wein-Pen Yeh, Frank Rainey, Jerry Buchholz, Chris Ray, Rose Crispin, Raeann Larson, Laura Phillips, Andres Puky, Debbie Setlock, Sam Smith and especially Bob Parsons for stepping in to perform the Treasurer duties. It wasn’t an easy year, but everyone stepped up to make it a great year. I especially need to thank Cindy Noble, Chris McVay, Leona Stoecker and Dale Sherrod for stepping forward to assist in finding a variety of interesting and educational programs with the lack of a program chair. I could not have done it without all of you.
Additionally, there are so many people that keep the club and the meetings going that are mostly behind the scenes and usually not recognized. The entire AV team without whom we wouldn’t have our presenters’ programs and the words to the 4Way test, the Pledge of Allegiance and our songs. Sue Connelly for her list of volunteers for Rotary Moments of Inspiration (and all of you who have volunteered to do so), The Family of Rotary team led by Diane Stow for keeping us informed of good times and bad with our members, Sue Bolton and her fish bowl team, Ken Cline and his setup team for making everything look great for the meetings and certainly not least of all our beloved music team of Dale Sherrod and Don Owen. If I forgot to mention anyone, it is not because you are unimportant.
My goal when I took office was to keep membership where it was if not to grow. While we lost several members for a variety of reasons, people came through by talking Rotary to everyone they met to bring in 10 new members.
The Club did what it always does and came through with raising over $10,000 for Polio Plus, $31,000 for relief for Ukraine, $15,000 for the Salvation Army by ringing bells. We provided over 1000 coats in the Winter Warmth drive and gave out grants to A Way forward, Born to Read and Eldershare. What an achievement!
As we continue on the path to normal activities, it is going to be up to each and everyone of you to ask what you can do to help with the future of Longmont Rotary. There are one-time activities as well as full time roles. Each role is critical to the continuance of a successful club.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as your President for the past year. Everyone told me that it will be over before you know it. I certainly did not believe them last June and July! I have appreciated the support of the entire membership often telling me I was doing a good job and not telling me if I goofed. Longmont Rotary is an amazing group of men and women and I look forward to seeing where we go in the future.
Thank you,
Debby Paris
President, Longmont Rotary 2021-2022