A Message from the Club President

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Dear Rotarians and Friends:

Happy September and New Generations Month.  Despite an earthquake which provided the "drum roll, please" for DG Jim  Bynum's entertaining visit to our Club on August 24, and the hurricane which washed over us on the Saturday following our Charter Day celebration on August 26, the Club found joy in fellowship and service through it all.

Challenges remain:  our Interact Club with the wonderful faculty sponsor, Susan Brafford, will get a little bit of a late start since Prince George schools opening date has been moved back a week.   Alisa Skipper will be working with Erma and Floyd Brown to help in that effort.  We love that Interact energy!

We had to cancel our meeting on August 31 because our venue, Rosa's Italian Restaurant, was, like many businesses and families without power.   Shel Douglas, new Rotarian and Director of Social Services in PG County, alerted the Club to an opportunity to help distribute caseloads of drinking water that day.  Even members who still did not have power or water at their homes came out to assist and some, like Carol Woodward, were there until 6 p.m.

September challenge:  Now we need to get busy and sell those Kayak Raffle tickets.  We will have flyers available on Wednesday so you can promote this opportunity for the community to support the dictionary project, improvements at the kayak launch, scholarships, donations to the Hopewell/PG Health Clinic, and other local and international service projects.  This is our major fall fundraiser and with tickets priced at only $5.00, the tickets will fly out of your hands!  Plan on picking up books of tickets from Steve Woith this Wednesday.

Thank you so much to the committee which planned the Charter Day Event:  Steve Woith, Erma Brown, Peg Whipple, Jackie Woodruff, and Pat & Earl Hale.  The Celebration was a fun time to get to know new members and welcome back former members like Nat and Ettora Elliott, Sandy and Don Hunter, Brad and Anne Hale, and Otis Bryant.  Shel and Chris Douglas brought Ian and Christie and it was great to have Kim Mason Wells and her husband Todd join us.  Pat Hale, Charter President, made thoughtful and inspiring comments.  Earl and Steve provided fun doorprizes, Peg arranged for a beautiful cake and appetizers, and song and merriment filled Luca's.  We really need to thank the folks at Luca's for terrific accommodation and service. 

Kalyan Banerjee, Rotary International President, calls for Clubs to "green" the organization in his September message.  He says that means that we need to bring in not just new members but also younger members.   He suggests that using social media is one way to work towards that goal.  Thanks to folks like Carol Woodward, Chana Ramsey, Donna Street and Peg Whipple, our website has been well administered but we are still looking for more folks to participate in updating pages on the website and "twittering" on behalf of the Club.  Please check in with Chana Ramsey to volunteer your help.

Here is hoping that September brings a little less weather and geological drama.  No matter what may befall central Virginia, I am honored to be on your team, the Rotary Club of Prince George County.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Jan