Don Leonard is more optimistic than ever about the future of Rotary as he concluded his year as president of the Downtown Rotary Club.
“In one way we had a very difficult year,” he said. “(Through death) we lost six members; six people who cared very much about our community, but we were able to find young people who have contributed greatly to our club and will do so for years.”
He pointed to incoming club president Fannie Vavoulis who assumed that role last week.
“She’s an amazing young woman, very accomplished, very committed to our community and making it better.”
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Leonard said Rotary’s emphasis on nurturing community leaders and “exchanging ideas and taking action” lends itself to a positive dynamic.
“We have a good mix of keeping things light and lively and respecting tradition.”
He said he was proud of the club’s work in getting TV Cogeco bingo up and running,
“It’s a good form of entertainment and a nice fundraiser.”
He said the club’s $100,000 commitment to the Chatham-Kent Hospice represents the leadership Rotary is known for.
“We had the full support of the membership and we’re going to be busy fulfilling our promise but it’s an important need in the community.
Leonard said the Aug. 8 Beach Boys concert to benefit the hospice will put an exclamation point on the year.
Vavoulis said Rotary International’s theme for the year of her presidency is “Be a gift to the world.”
“Rotary International President Ravi Ravindran has challenged Rotarians to use all of the gifts and talents we have been given and use the next year to be a gift to the world,” she said. “We want to ask our members ‘are you in Rotary or is Rotary in you?’”
Vavoulis said her goal is to meet with each member during her term to challenge them and offer support.
“We have so much talent and we’re so much stronger when everyone believes they have something to give, and that as a club we want to receive it.”
Club membership stands at 72, and Vavoulis would like to see that reach 80.
“It’s important to bring new people in, but we want to make sure we don’t lose sight of our current members’ needs,” she said.
Vavoulis said she couldn’t have accepted the president’s position without the full support of her employer, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
“Colin (Patey) and Sara (Padfield) and my co-workers are 110% behind me,” she said. “It’s gratifying to know that.”
