July 19, 2019 Meeting
Our Scheduled speaker for today was Jim Foster with Magellan’s around the world voyage, Part 2. Unfortunately Jim had to cancel at the last minute due to an unforeseen event in Portugal. He is rescheduled for Aug 2.
Today we will conduct a fun and interactive review of our club. Where we have been, where we are and where we are headed. We will have a Super Happy Bucks session, plans for the year and visions how we can all get more out of the Rotary Experience.
Come armed with your own personal history with Rotary and AIRC, fun stories and adventures.
Let’s get the 2019-20 year started off right!!
Celebration of life for Betty Cronin.
Many people knew Betty Cronin as a conscientious and detail-oriented CPA, a loving family member, or as an avid runner. I’m sure those are all true, but many of us knew Betty as a Rotarian—an engaged, active, and committed Rotarian. Betty joined Anchorage International Rotary Club in June, 1993 and instantly became a very active member.
Rotarians follow a four way test that helps direct the things that Rotarians think, do, and say.…
Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? and
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
That’s a nice charge, but what really makes a good Rotarian?
Being a good Rotarian takes energy, time, and money. And Betty was very generous with all three!
She was a regular meeting attendee (except when tax season became pressing.) She had a ready smile, a great sense of style, and she always had her lipstick handy!
She was an integral member of the Anchorage International Rotary Club Memorial Scholarship Committee serving as a board member. She went above and beyond the call of duty, providing extreme detail and review of the product development. She was always down to earth and supported doing what was right every time. She spent countless hours compiling information and completing the tax returns and never once would she charge for her services. Even after being asked to provide an invoice, she plain and simply wouldn’t do it. Every year she encouraged members to attend the pie auction to help fund scholarships for King Career Center students. Yes to bid on some of the desserts, but also to witness the spectacle which she thought was great fun! And she supported the fundraising efforts by purchasing countless desserts which she then shared with her friends. She wasn’t going to be the only one enjoying the treats prepared by the students at KCC!
She was active in distributing dictionaries to 3rd graders in local schools---distributing some herself, and organizing other AIRC members to help with distribution. When members were hesitant to take on this duty she got them a partner! She gave “tips” on how to interact with the kids. The best tip – don’t give the kids the dictionaries until you are done with your presentation. She loved interacting with children and was also very active with a reading program at Northstar Elementary School for many years. Some of the kids would come to a Rotary meeting in December as part of a Christmas program, and you would see them greeting her with huge smiles. She had such a positive impact on so many young lives.
She was a longtime supporter of the Rotary Foundation both with her financial donations and her contributions to the AIRC Foundation auction. As a Foundation chair one of the nicest things she would say is “I have a few items for the auction, can you pick them up” and then you drove away with a carload of great donations! Over the years, Betty became a Major Donor to the Foundation, which meant personal contributions of $10,000 or greater. She was quiet, yet consistent with her support.
And she had a cute sense of humor which was evident when she won a few dollars in the Club football mania program--so tickled and generous that she gave “happy bucks” to celebrate!
Betty’s obvious respect and affection for AIRC and its members made the Club a fun, more vibrant community! She was a true Rotarian always giving of her time, and financial resources with kindness and grace.
She worked tirelessly in everything that she did. She shared her kindness and love with everyone she came in contact with. Everyone was treated with dignity and respect. Betty eschewed retirement even though she more than had earned the right to enter and enjoy that part of her life. She remains in hearts and minds a figure of what a true Rotarian really is. And she will be forever missed!
