Annual Changeover Dinner - 2013
What a great time last night at the Evan’s Street Station in Tecumseh as members from the Adrian Noon, Adrian AM, Blissfield and Tecumseh Rotary clubs gathered together for the annual changeover dinner. Assistant District Governor, Angie Wingerd, emceed the event. Tecumseh club president, Roland Von Kaler, led singing of “America” following the invocation.
REMARKS BY OUTGOING DISTRICT GOVERNOR MARY KEHOE
6400 DG Mary Kehoe took the podium and thanked each club for their efforts this past year saying that “you all made amazing accomplishments this year”. Among the programs cited were: the district’s Literacy Project which had 100% club participation, the groups that went to Honduras to help out at their orphanages and the other group that traveled to Mexico.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUTGOING CLUB PRESIDENTS
Angie then called on each of the local presidents gave a brief report on the highlights of their past year. First up was Maher Mualla, outgoing president of the Adrian AM club, who cited the Peace Walk in Windsor, Peace Pond at Hospice of Lenawee, the Celebrity Wait which raised $25,000, the Snack Packs, and the continued support of the Boys and Girls Club. Maher concluded by emphasizing that none of these nor the many other projects would have been accomplished had it not been for the help and support of his club members. He also thanked his wife, Wafa, also a club member for her support and encouragement while serving as president.
Carol Souchock, Adrian Noon club president recapped her year as president beginning with the Art-A-Licious Project held the 3rd week of September last year. It is a fundraising event, she said, that lets people know about Rotary. Among the other big events she cited were the annual Egg-Stravaganza, Leaping in Lenawee, the Indian Dinner whose proceeds went to the Hospice Peace Pond Project, and support of our Japanese Sister City Art and Youth Program. Carol thanked her board for their leadership this past year and particularly for helping her “enforce Roberts Rules of Order” and especially Kathye Herrera who always stepped up when Carol needed help. She also thanked Rhonda Gage and Allen Slater for their “institutional knowledge” were of much value. Carol then announced the Adrian Noon Club’s Rotarian of the Year - past president Kathye Herrera who was unanimously nominated by club members and presented the award for finding weekly meeting speakers, driving a tram at the MIS races, heading up this year’s Onion Sales, regularly attending all board meetings and always making everyone feel welcome! Congrats, Kathye!
Jeff Yeutter, Blissfield Club president, spoke next and began by mentioning that he would have attended the District Conference this year had his daughter not delivered her baby (girl) that same weekend! And, at 5:40am this morning, his other daughter delivered her baby (another girl)! Jeff categorized his past year as president as a “very good year” which would not have been had it not been for his board and good club participation which was at 90% throughout the year at all meetings and fund raising events. The club lost some members this year due to relocation but gained four new ones. Among the specific projects Jeff mentioned were the Collaborative Project in addition to a new project where the club will partner with a relief agency (Health and Encouragement for Humanity) who also owns a trucking firm to support financially one of their semi-trailers who will ship aid to areas like Oklahoma when a disaster occurs. The club’s major fundraiser this year, Jeff said, was by far the most successful the club has ever sponsored – the Charity Auction which raised $43,000 which was co-chaired by incoming club president Andy Borchardt. Jeff has paid tribute to his Treasurer, Paula Saxton, for her efforts this past year and to Assistant DG, Angie Wingerd, for winning the COG Award and to DG Mary for her leadership.
Roland VonKaler, Tecumseh Club president, said that this was his fourth stint as president of the club but that he has really enjoyed the time. He said that even though membership in the club is small and fundraising is difficult, the club really knows how to spend money! In June of 2009 the club started God’s Breadbasket recognizing the need to feed the hungry in Tecumseh. Over the past 4 years over 30,000 meals have been served and hopes this will become a model for other clubs in the future. He said he has conducted much research on other agencies that do this and has found that there aren’t that many but that it wasn’t that difficult to do and more should be offering something similar in their communities. It is faith-based and they have already established a partnership with the local First Presbyterian Church and are serving 5 meals every Monday now. Roland concluded his presentation by sharing photos of church locations where the meals are served along with the kitchen where the food is prepared and volunteer servers. The club has spent $22,000 to comply with Health Department requirements.
HOSPIECE POND PRESENTATION
Angie then showed audience members various photos of the Hospice Peace Pond and reminded them that the dedication was scheduled for this coming Saturday. Breakfast would be served starting at 10 am and the actual dedication would begin at 11am. Expected to attend are State Representative Nancy Jenkins and State Senator Bruce Caswell and former State Senator and Rotary Noon Club member Jim Berryman. Angie thanked Bobbi Dawes for all of the work she has done on this important project.
REMARKS BY DISTRICT GOVERNOR-ELECT
Incoming DG Dr. Donna Schmidt took the podium and began by saying how excited she was that the new Rotary year would begin in a short 24 days! The District theme for next year will be: Service With a Smile! One of her goals for the coming year will be membership since district membership currently is down around 1,600. The district will be focusing on retention of current members as well as “alternative, non-traditional clubs” configurations (i.e. Spanish-speaking clubs, clubs that meet 3 times a month instead of 4, etc.).
Regarding service projects for the new year, Donna mentioned that in the District Directory are listed a "US" chair and a "Canadian" chair but since we are just one district, it will be listed simply as the "District 6400" chair. Eliminated for next year are the “Community” and “International” headings for projects. They have been replaced with the “6 Basic Needs”. Donna mentioned a new project in the district: Launch Detroit that will make available low interest loans of between $1,500 and $2,000 to Hispanic women to be repaid in 1 year for start-up and/or expansion of new and existing businesses.
Relative to the on-going polio eradication program RI has supported, Donna said that already this year compared to this same time last year, we are less than half the number of cases one year ago! “We are definitely in the end game in polio”, she said.
Donna said that she and several others are also involved in developing a strategic plan for the district. They will be seeking input from others before it is implemented sometime this fall. She concluded by reminding members about the District Conference at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island in May of 2014. Anyone interested in signing up should contact Bruce and Sue Goldsen from the Rotary Adrian AM Club.
INDUCTION OF NEW CLUB PRESIDENTS
Installed as new presidents for the coming Rotary year were:
· Bill Blackerby – Adrian Morning Club
· Theresa Soto – Adrian Noon Club (President-Elect is Mary Murray)
· Andy Borchardt – Blissfield Club
· Mike McCarran – Tecumseh Club
PAUL HARRIS RECOGNITION
David Bailey and Jerry Ressler ($7,000 level) received Paul Harris pins this evening.