From Your President Elect

Posted by Ed Burckle on Jun 29, 2016
 

President Elect Message

 
Fellow Rotarians,
 
I am honored and humbled (this may be cliché but it’s true) to be taking the reins of the club as your president effective July 1st.  As we celebrate the end of our 2015/2016 Club Year, I wish to acknowledge and thank our current President, Tom Simon, for his stellar leadership and steady hand in guiding the club to new heights. 
 
Tom’s year was highlighted by some tremendous accomplishments (and here are just a few examples):
  • Raising over $100,000 for local charities and non-profits in our signature Pancakes on the Plaza fundraising event
  • Initiating a Satellite Club for the first time that will help generate new and younger members while allowing an alternative, less expensive way for Rotary to serve our community
  • Guiding the merger of the Arts Committee with our Club’s Foundation to provide seamless support of local artists while cutting red tape and duplication of effort
  • Supporting a vibrant Rotary International project to bring clean water to Guatemala—a multi-club (District) effort
  • Providing more “Fun” events than we’ve ever had
  • Being named our District’s President of the Year for large clubs
  • Supporting the club’s first-ever Membership Directory that lists the vocational and personal interests of all members
  • Encouraging service projects for our members such as: Mission of Mercy (free dental care); refurbishment of the Bataan Memorial near the State Capitol; Santa Fe Runaround; and Ramps Project (helping physically challenged individuals gain access to their homes without climbing stairs)
  • Reigniting a Fundraising Committee to help steer the club in its philanthropic pursuits
  • Staunchly supporting our Interact Club involvement with Santa Fe HS and Capital HS as well as Communities in Schools, and helping ensure our Rotary Exchange student from Taiwan had a host family at all times
  • Allowing Rotarians to find their best way to serve.
 
Our club has a rich history of excellent leaders and members and I am privileged to be associated with such an awesome group of Rotarians who truly epitomize a way of life we call “Service Above Self”.  Thank you for your support during the next twelve months; I know I will need it in abundance as all of our accomplishments are group efforts.  And, I hope we can have some fun and good cheer along the way.
 
I will outline the vision for the club for the next twelve months soon, but the purpose of this message is to merely say “Thank You Tom” for a job done exceedingly well!  I am also thankful you will remain an officer of the Board so we may all benefit from your wise counsel and expertise.
 
With Appreciation!
 
Ed Burckle