And so the adventure begins; 2020 is here.  Happy New Year! 

Where did 2019 go? My term as Rotary President is officially half over.  My hope remains that my two main goals can be reached:  Rotary membership reaching 50 and a new fundraiser established so we can do more to help our community.  Both are a work in progress but appear to be trending in a favorable direction.
I came across a quote this week by Eric Thomas, Ph. D., a world renowned speaker, educator and Pastor.  He said, “This cannot be the year of talking, of wishing, of wanting.  This has to be the year we get it done.”  I could not have said it better myself!

A while back, I was standing around talking to Derek DeMattio, Larae Messer, Adam Perzanowski, and Kate Sedgmer before one of our regular meetings.  We were briefly discussing possibilities for a new event, in particular possible locations for an outdoor event.  It was a simple moment in time but a vivid memory for me.  It was during this brief interaction that I began to believe that a core group of Rotarians wanted to make this new fund raising event really happen!  “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”  (Dr. Seuss)

And one final thought before I sign off.  As we enter the New Year, I am really concerned about the lack of tolerance and empathy in our society today.  I know, at times, I am guilty myself on both counts, but especially with tolerance.  My wife is my social judge and she always straightens me out in a hurry.  “Don’t say that; you know you don’t mean that.”  Or when I really get under her skin, “shut the hell up.”  My New Year’s resolution is to try to do better.
To be a good Rotarian striving to be tolerant and empathetic is an absolute must!