President Kerrie Address to Changeover 2017

President Kerrie Schmidt's Address to the Changeover Meeting

1 July 2017

Good morning everyone,

Welcome to what is yet another first for our club, the Presidential / Club Leadership Changeover.

It has been a privilege to be the President of this club for the past year and during its formative stages. Looking back, it has been a year of learning; about each other, about Rotary and about making ourselves relevant to the community we want to attract and the ones we look to serve.

The club is in a sound financial position and I would like to thank Ian for his diligence there. I would also like to recognise Ian’s effort in minute taking during Board meetings while still managing to contribute to the discussion, and his tireless effort to make sure our records are all up to date.

I would like to thank Brian for his effort first in making sure that the public face of our club was appealing and foremost in making sure that we “met” weekly with material that inspired, informed and occasionally provoked us. It was great to see your effort recognised at the recent District Conference. Not long now until we receive meeting #100!

I would like to thank Tom for his wise counsel over the year; the prods for action and his enthusiasm to share Latitude 38 with the world. Of course, former member Martin Stow’s efforts in sharing Rotary and Latitude 38 also warrant special mention.

I would like to thank Janet for her tireless energy to make things happen locally and abroad. Her commitment to making sure the records on Polio are corrected for the good of the Cambodian children, our club and Rotary are an example of her readiness to make a difference.

I would like to thank other members of the club for their ongoing commitment to the club and the ideals of Rotary which is integral to us taking the next step. We’ve had no role model and road map; just a belief in what we are doing is the right way to go. We’ve welcomed Amy because of our flexibility and friendship and are confident that others will follow.

Finally, I would like to recognise Vice President and President Elect, Deanne. You have been a good role model and a great sounding board for me. You have been a steadying influence when that was needed, a driver of change when we needed to up the pace or move in a different direction and a brake when we needed to refocus energy and effort. I look forward to supporting you this next Rotary year.