Fellow Rotarians,

 

I am happy and proud to announce the first Rotary Club of Springfield hybrid meeting.  It was a plan dreamed initially by our past president Bert Carter, who commissioned me to make it possible.  It took almost one and a half years, but this Friday, we will have the first in-person meeting in more than a year for members that had completed their vaccination and waiting periods, combined with a virtual meeting for those who can’t be present. We are strictly following CDC rules regarding social distancing for the health of our older and health-compromised members. Still, as vaccination progress and more member are vaccinated, we hope to be together soon.

 

In the meantime, we are continually working on all necessary steps to register our Club with the Massachusetts AG. This action is required to announce a raffle to the public to raise funds for our Club.  Thanks to Marie Angelides for all the work and great attention to detail she contributed to this project.

 

Just calling this year challenging would be an enormous understatement.  We learned new ways to manage our personal lives, family life and keeping our Club viable and running.  We had made a few changes (e.g., meetings every two weeks) to adjust to our new realities, but we are encouraged by the support from all members with all the service projects we had planned and executed.  I am very proud of all of you.  

 

Recently, a member told me that I am the equivalent of a “war president” due to the current pandemic.   We had many challenges that we confronted and solved during the year, but my mind is permanently fixed on our motto, “Service Above Self.”   Our motto drives and motivates me to be persistent, resilient, and inventive to find new ways to serve our fellow citizens and our city. Thank you for your support. 

 

In service,

 

 

John D.