Officer Induction Banquet and Club Awards

On June 28, the Rotary Club of New Orleans Riverbend held its annual end-of-year awards banquet and officer installation dinner at Phillips.  The meal took place in the main room, with guests PDG Greg Lier and his wife Debbie from the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish, and PDG Karen Babin from the Rotary Club of Metairie.

 

Outgoing president Jason Sanchez remarked on the clubs' dedication to service and fellowship, which saw the club awarded its second consecutive Rotary International Presidential Citation.  "The greatest gift I had as a president was my membership.  Being able to come to the meeting each week and be rewarded with their fellowship was my gift this year."

 

The club also took the opportunity to take a short video to wish its member Kristi Hebert, unable to attend due to illness, a return to good health.

 

An award for Distinguished Service was given to Anna and Chuck Simpson.  Anna and Chuck donated a significant parcel of land they owned to their former community in Gautier, Miss., to be turned into a community park.  Club Membership Chair CJ Jumonville particularly emphasized the importance of the act of selflessness: "In the despair so many went through from Hurricane Katrina, Anna and Chuck chose to make a gift that will serve that community forever.  It's the kind of people they are, and why we appreciate their leadership in our club."

 

In addition, Anna and Chuck were recognized with Certificates of Appreciation for their kind hosting of our club members for fellowship and their cooking skills, which have been shared with groups such as Raintree House and Friends Forever.

 

Club founding member Patsy Dubret was honored with a Certificate of Excellence for her ambassadorship from our Rotary Club to Rotarians in Belize as they organize to create Hope Haven, which will be the first shelter for abused women and children in Belize.  Rotarian Jodie Bowen, who spoke at our club this year, is in charge of organizing this long-term project, and our club looks forward to continued service with this project in the future.

 

Also receiving Certificates of Appreciation for ambassadorship were JoAnn Burak and David Andrews, in recognition of their many visitations of Rotary Clubs, and generous hosting of Rotarians from across the world.  This year our Rotary Club created its banner for Rotary banner exchange for the first time, and JoAnn and David visited Rotary Clubs in Europe and Australia, and hosted visitors from Ireland and Kenya this past year, to name only a few of their many banner exchanges that they participated in.

 

Club members should always remember to ask for banners if they are on travel - Rotary banner exchange is a long-established tradition, and in meeting new clubs, we create new opportunities for fellowship and ultimately service projects.

 

Our club was elevated greatly by its Rotaract at Tulane club, and this year for the first time our Rotaract Club won the Presidential Citation for Rotaract Clubs, allowing our club to complete a "double" of Presidential Citations.  Accepting the award on behalf of Rotaract President Jessica Conrad was Rotaract member Bryan Laird.

 

Club new Sustaining Member pins were given out to club members who achieved the distinction of becoming Rotary Foundation Sustaining Members for the first time.  Members who achieved the distinction on behalf of the Rotary Club of New Orleans Riverbend this year were David Andrews, JoAnn Burak, Mary Jo Devlin, Kristi Hebert, Brian Manning, Tim Paulin, Meredith Robinson, Randy Spitler and Dan Willeman.

 

In addition, club members who joined the Paul Harris Society were honored.  Mary Jo Devlin, Tim Paulin, Jason Sanchez, and Bob Vaughn received recognition for their membership in this society which donates $1,000 annually to the Rotary Foundation.

 

Club President Jason Sanchez was honored by receiving the Membership Development Award, for sponsoring new club members.

 

The Service Above Self award is one of the most coveted awards in the club, given to the member who donates the most hours of community service during a Rotary Year.  After a brief discussion of how much our members UNDERSTATE the hours of service they donate, it was announced for the first time in our club's history, a tie was achieved: Peter Alongia and Dan Willeman both were honored, having performed more than 62 hours of service on behalf of the club this past year.

 

The club's Rotarian of the Year award went to President Elect Bob Vaughn.  Bob was instrumental in many of the club's service and leadership campaigns, as well as serving as the club's Foundation Chair, and a co-chair of the District 6840 Grants Committee.  Bob laid out his hopeful vision for our clubs' leadership in District 6840, pointing out that the district can only succeed if new voices, and new leadership continues to emerge.  "Our club has won the Presidential Citation two years in a row," Vaughn said, "And I intend to make that three years in a row.  I am sure we will, because our club is awesome.  And we are awesome because the members who make our club up are awesome.  It will be the 100th year anniversary of the Rotary Foundation this year, and I am excited to be Club President during this time."

 

There was a surprise award given to Rotary Past District Governor Greg Lier and his wife Debbie, on the occasion of their 36th Wedding Anniversary, which the couple chose to celebrate by sharing the evening with us.  Our club was very flattered by Greg's kindness in performing our officer induction on such a special night.

 

PDG Greg Lier then inducted the new Board of Directors for the 2016-17 Rotary Year, charging the directors to continue the service that has made the Rotary Club of New Orleans Riverbend famous in District 6840.  "Being awarded the Presidential Citation twice in a row is an amazing accomplishment," Lier said.  "I don't know that many clubs of any size can ever claim to have received it three years in a row.  It's an awfully high goal but completely attainable for your club."

 

Inducted as the Board of Directors for the 2016-17 year were:

 

President                          Bob Vaughn

President Elect                  Daniel Willeman

Secretary                          Anna Simpson

Treasurer                         Meredith Robinson

Immediate Past President   Jason Sanchez

 

In addition, Committee Chairs were announced as:

 

Service Committee            Chuck Simson

Membership Committee     CJ Jumonville

PR Committee                   Jason Sanchez

Fellowship Committee        Randy Spitler

Foundation Committee       TBA

 

The club also thanked its host for six years, Phillips Bar, for their continued support.