It is hard to believe that this is my last Pinion article. It wasn’t long ago that the thought of standing at the podium to conduct a meeting was nothing short of terrifying for me, but with each passing week I found myself enjoying being at the front of the room looking out at all of your smiling faces more and more! It was especially comforting to get a nod of support during one of my inevitable “hot flashes!” Throughout the year members would ask or comment on how busy I was due to my role as club president. Additionally, several have asked if it was worth the time commitment that came with the responsibility of the president and whether or not I “got anything out of it.” As each meeting passed, I found that I experienced an increasing amount of personal growth – that, I believe, is what I will value the most of my year as club president. Yet, what I have come to cherish is the personal relationships that have deepened because I have had the opportunity to interact with each and every member of our club.
At this writing, I am sitting in my hotel room in Korea reflecting on the great RI convention that I just attended. I am grateful for the time I got to spend with President Elect Angus in Korea. As I am sure he will confirm, attending a convention provides an opportunity to meet many new Rotarian friends and better understand the worldwide impact that we as Rotarians have. At the opening session, we listened to world leaders express their gratitude to Rotarians worldwide for being a “Gift to the World.” We made so many new friends. Additionally, one of the benefits I gain from attending the conventions is deepening my friendships with those local Rotarians I travel with on these trips. I most appreciate that Rotary has given me the opportunity to meet and make friends with like minded community leaders in almost every country around the world. Therefore, I urge you to consider attending the Atlanta RI Convention in June of 2017!
I have asked many of you throughout the year the question during recognition, “what do you enjoy about being in Rotary?” Obviously, the projects that we as a club have worked on, the money we have raised for the RI Foundation, Polio Plus, and countless other projects and worthy causes have been mentioned. One thing that has become obvious when I would hear your answers …. I am constantly reminded how proud I am to be a Rotarian, and especially a Niles Rotarian.
This Rotary year has been a busy one…. which is why my year as president has flown by so fast. My year was made so much easier due to the knowledge and expertise of many past Niles Rotary presidents who would take the time to meet with me. I am forever grateful for their guidance. As a matter of fact, all past presidents told me early on in my journey that this would be my best year in Rotary. I can now say based on experience, it has been my best year in Rotary! It is with heartfelt gratitude that I say to each club member YOU made my year the best I’ve experienced. Thank you so much!
As we turn our attention to the end of this Rotary year, I am excited not only to attend the wonderfully kind and sensitive “celebration” of my year as president, but am looking forward to Angus taking the helm of our club. We can all agree that his quick wit and wonderful sense of humor will be the hallmark of his presidency. We are in for a year full of fun and laughs. Speaking of fun, I am looking forward to my year as social chair. I plan to have some new events as well as our tried and true events in this upcoming social year. I would like to thank PP Steve for setting the bar high insofar as our social calendar and will work to “fill his shoes.”
I wanted to finish my last Pinion article thanking those who have assisted me during my presidential year. Short of mentioning everyone in the club, I will simply state that my success as president is entirely due to each and every member of the club. Like the spokes of the Rotary wheel, our club would not “roll” if it were not for each and every member. Each of you has kept us “on the right track.” I am forever in your debt for what YOU have given me this past year as your president.
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