[return to Installation Dinner] I would like to start by saying "Thank you to everyone who helped make this day necessary" a (Yogi-ism). To know where we are, we have to know where we came from. I believe it was with "Funny Cyde". Now it's Smarty Jones, and "Lend-a-Hand", and Smarty Jones, and "Lend-a-Hand" and Smarty Jones, and .… (You guessed it - "Lend-a-Hand" at the finish!) While everyone else was betting on horses, I was betting on the Forked River Club Rotarians. And I know who came out ahead of the pack. If you're looking for Triple Crown winners, no need to look any further than Lacey, Waretown and Barnegat townships. The Forked River Rotary Club has made a Triple Crown winner of each of them. And I'm very proud to be a part of this special history and for the honor of being your President this year.
After achieving a great deal last year and contributing
$30,000.00 to the Polio Plus Fund in celebration of our 30th Anniversary
and "Sowing the Seeds of Love", we were challenged to do more
and "Lend A Hand" to those around us, in our Community and the
world. I believe we did, and it showed!
Through the combined efforts, dedication and commitment of each
Rotarian, we have become more of a presence within our communities
through the growth of our membership, inducting ten new members this
year. Through the efforts of Bill Ridgway, Public Relations, we became
more visible within the communities through expanded media coverage. We established our commitment to the Waretown Pavilion Project by making two $10,000.00 donations, covering a four-year period. We helped the cause of the Gift of Life and the Orchid Foundation through our sponsorship of the Seafood Festival and Container project. We helped to "Lend a Hand" to literacy (Ocean County Volunteers Literacy Program - 1st Place Award), education (Guatemala Literacy Project), community service programs (Annual Blood Drive), helped feed needy families during the holidays and brought smiles and tears to those less fortunate during Christmas. We enjoyed fellowship throughout the year, including our Progressive Dinner, Ski Trip and Baseball Fundraiser. We honored 20 high school
seniors as "seniors of the Month" and awarded $30,000.00 in
scholarships to Lacey and Southern Regional High Schools. And for this, I thank each Rotarian, their spouse, significant other, and family members who contributed and sacrificed to help us reach our goals.
I want to thank so many for extending themselves and going the
extra mile to help our Club and me this year. From Past Presidents to
our newest members who have contributed so much to make my job easier.
Veronica, "Thank you", for all that you do. For making sure
our raffle licenses are up to date, for your help with Autumn Windfall,
Casino Night and Go for the Gold.
To Dan Cortese, for taking on the responsibility of filling in
for Jeanette Loftus to become President Elect and handling programs and
always being available. To Dick Ritchie, who single handedly, help make
our Autumn Windfall a success; Leo Tierney for helping the Seafood
Festival Fundraiser become a success; Bruce Halliday and Glenn
Candeletti for a successful Thanksgiving Food Drive and Elf Program,
which contributed to our Simplified Grant Award of
$1,000.00; Lori Aceto for making the extra effort as Secretary;
Joe Kuna for handling the Club Bulletin, Casino Night and Flag Program;
Tom McGillick for another successful Blood Drive (broken snow shovel and
all), Superbowl Party and Baseball Pool and Fundraiser; John Lorton and
Joe Appello for Adopt-A-Flag Program and Casino Night; Joann Sheppard
for our Football Pool, Ken Flatt for a successful "Job
Shadowing" program; Al Golluscio for handling our Club finances in
spite of all you endured this difficult year; Stan Cislak for honoring
our "Student of the Month", George Broome as Treasurer of our
Rotary Foundation and distribution of funds (even on short notice); and
Lou Embraico for his tireless energy in supporting our Club through Paul
Harris Fellowships, Orchid Foundation and Gift of Life Foundations and
new member sponsorships.
I want to say "Thank You" to my Board of Directors and
officers for their ideas and committee members, as well as to Vinny
Layton and the Scholarship Committee.
I believe that our club is only as strong as its members, and
because of each one's dedication and commitment to "Service Above
Self", are we able to succeed. Let us also remember those loved one's who have
gone before us, especially to the following families who lost family
members - Lori Aceto, Tony Angona, Bud DeFiglio, Debbie Edgecomb, Lou
Embriaco, Al Golluscio, Veronica Laureigh and Tom Morrissey.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
In closing, as we look toward next year as we "Celebrate
Rotary" for our Centennial,
I want to wish Dan and his Officers and Directors much success and know
that we will support them and continue to "Lend
a Hand". It has been an honor and privilege to be President this year and I want to say "Thank You" for making this a successful year and a lot of fun. I couldn't have done it without me (you). Which leads me to my next step as president, and that is to pass the (cupcake and Magic Wand - maybe) to the capable hands of Dan. May God bless each of you, God bless Rotary International and God Bless America. Yours in Rotary, Paul Rizzo
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