Clarkston Rotary Club installed new officers June 25, and honored retiring officers.
Rotary’s presidents traditionally serve for a year and then pass the duties on to a new president, selected by club members.
‘It’s a bittersweet occasion, it’s been a wonderful year because of the members,? said Tim Everhard, 2006-2007 Rotary Club president. ‘These guys are very supportive and you don’t get that in every club.?
Gary Hanna was elected president for 2007-2008. He is the 68th Clarkston president since Jerry O’Dell in 1940.
‘I’m really honored that I was selected for the position by the club,? said Hanna. ‘I am looking forward to the next year. We do have to make some changes; Rotary International is making some structure changes.?
Other elected 2007-2008 officers included Bart Clark, vice president; Lisa Troschinetz, secretary; and Rick Miller, Treasurer.
‘I’m looking forward to it,? said Clark. ‘This is a good and active club, very beneficial to Clarkston. My ancestors were founders of Clarkston and it’s still good to see it kicking. I lived in other states and this is as close to the perfect small town Americana feel to it.?
2007-2008 Directors include: Tim Everhard, Sharon Blumeno, Mary Sloan-Lichty, John Halleran, and Brad Evans.
The night also included special perfect attendance awards. Among those listed were Sloan-Lichty, 8 years; Jeff Lichty, 10 years; Halleran, 13 years; Judy Livingston, 14 years; Larry Eberhardt, 18 years, John Priebe, 30 years; and Dick Logan 37 years.
‘The best thing about Rotary is the friendship and association with friends,? said Logan. ‘This is my connection with the area; its how I keep up with everything is by going to my rotary meetings. It has worked out nicely.?
Clark was also nominated for the ‘Paul Harris Fellowship? award. This award is named after Paul Harris, who founded Rotary with three business associates in Chicago in 1905. The fellowship was established in his honor in 1957 to express appreciation for a contribution of $1,000 to the humanitarian and educational programs of the Rotary Foundation.
Those programs include an assortment of projects that save and invigorate the lives of people around the world and enhance international friendship and understanding. Foundation programs provide educational opportunities, food, portable water, health care, immunizations and shelter for millions of persons.
This award is given to another person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of the Rotary Foundation to build world understanding and peace.
‘I’m really surprised to have (been given the award),? said Clark. ‘I will have to work hard over the next year to live up to the award and the spirit of the award.?
As her first night serving for the Rotary Club, waitress Holly Hopkins said, ‘The Rotary people are very nice and polite.?
According to rotary.org, there are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians who belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
Rotary is deeply involved in the community, as well as the world. The Clarkston club is deeply involved in SCAMP and raised $400 for the SCAMP Walk and Roll. Last year the club rose more than $20,000 for ‘Shoes for Kids,? by selling Good Fellow Newspapers.
‘In three or four days we would raise $12,000-$13,000 through the generosity of the community,? said Everhard.
The club is also donating $2,500 towards the Depot Park Bridge as well as $20,000 to go towards a $400,000 water project in Mirebalais, Haiti.
‘These people only get water once every five days,? said Tim Everhard who is going on the trip with Rotary International.
Not only does Rotary enjoy investing in the community and the world, but they enjoy investing in time and fellowship with other club members.
Each year, whoever Sergeant at Arms of the club is, takes club members on a trip known as ‘mystery night.? It is a trip that only the Sergeant knows about.
‘Nobody knows and that’s the fun part,? said Club Member Joe Kadiliski.
These trips are paid for by one-dollar fines from club members. These Fines include being late, or missing a meeting.
Past trips have included: Hazel Park race track, Bridgeport Police crime lab, Detroit Tigers games, and this year they went to Polazzo di Bocce in Lake Orion.
Tim Everhard also extended an invitation to the public to join them at the Deer Lake Athletic club for socializing at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30.