First, thanks, my fellow Rotarians, for allowing me the honor and privilege to serve as President for 2017-2018! I also want to recognize and thank Immediate Past President Steve Ickes for his guidance this past year.
Rotary is amazing and we are doing incredible things locally and globally. Our club recently awarded small grants to some Salem non-profits and those dollars are doing immense things: dental care for young kids, help for homeless youths, free meds for low-income persons – just to name a few. Internationally we’re helping build water projects in Haiti, fostering peace efforts on the Island of Cypress, and of course, working to end polio. These awesome things happen because Rotarians, like yourself, care, get involved, and support this noble work.
Our Rotary theme for 2017-2018 is “Making A Difference.” Our new RI President, Ian Riseley, in the July issue of The Rotarian had this to say about why people join and stay in Rotary: “Through Rotary, we are Making a Difference in the world; and the more involved we become, the more of a difference Rotary makes to each of us.”
I encourage you all to get engaged and involved with one of the many projects and events we have coming up this year. We all can Make a Difference.
Best wishes for a Happy Independence Day!