Time is pressing on, and we are in the middle of a great Rotary Year. I want to thank Jack Tonner for leading a great Paul Harris Dinner at Twin Hills Country Club on September 21st. This event was a wonderful celebration of service and commitment to the Greater Springfield Community.  Thank you to Sue, Marie, Samalid, Alicia and the service committee for identifying great nonprofits to honor. Our efforts embrace the Rotary Vision that Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. We will continue to dream big as people of action.

This month we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month and Italian Heritage Month. I believe that cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to sustainability of our club.  I also believe that exemplifying and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) should be a part of everything we do at Rotary.  As we celebrate let us celebrate together as friends and Rotarians. Please invite a friend to our meeting on Friday, this is another special meeting as we will meet at The Fort in downtown Springfield. I look forward to seeing you.