The Rotary Club has a fiscal year that begins July 1 and end June 30. We just finished a recap of the year as a review with the Board at our final meeting on June 26, and all we can say is “Wow. What a year.”
We can also say “Thank you”—starting with our Board and Members for our many impressive first-time accomplishments: over $100,000 raised and spent or spoken for; massively successful July 4th and Mt. Baldhead events last summer; navigating the pandemic with grace to maintain our regular schedule of meetings online; plans delayed but intact to launch the Boys & Girls Club in January; and our welcome of 15 new Members into the Club since this time last year, nearly a 50% increase.
We’d also like to thank our generous sponsors, donors, and friends of Rotary for volunteering their time, talents, and treasure to aid us in our purpose to bring positive lasting change to our towns through a commitment to “Service Above Self.”
We now face a very challenging year, one which includes a summer of cancelled fundraising events; traditional sponsors and donors in economic distress; more neighbors in greater need; and our coffers nearly empty of discretionary resources. Our towns share the widening crises—public health, economic, social, and political—that confront the nation. New thinking and new approaches are required, yet as always, fear opposes the creative energies and hopefulness needed for innovation.
So, Rotary says that, as always, there is one true way to combat fear, and it’s summed up in our motto. We all need the spirit of “Service Above Self” now more than ever. These crises don’t stand a chance against that spirit. Our mighty little Club will work hard to stay together, stay healthy, and stay the course to help others who need it most. We invite you to join us with whatever positive thoughts, prayers, helping hands, and financial support you can muster. Together, we must keep moving forward.
For what else can we do? We’re either “ALL ONE” or “ALONE” and the difference is LOVE… one “L” of a difference.
