How do 365 days go by so fast? This last year has been one for the memory books. Did we ever think we would be where we are as a world, country, state, or city? It started off with a bang by having eight of us travel to Hamburg, Germany, for the Rotary International Conference. Larry and Marcia Janssen, Michael and Tiffani Gonda, Brad and Michelle Blaha, and my daughter Grace and I joined over 25,000 Rotarians from 175 countries who came together during the first week of June. We were able to meet new friends and learn how we can help one another; therefore following the 2019-2020 Rotary Motto: Making a Difference.

We Rotarians are a group that keeps on giving and always finds a way to help our community. To help celebrate our 100th Anniversary, we fund raised to purchase a Rotary Clock to be placed downtown. Our last meeting in January we celebrated with cake, proclamations from our Mayor Corbett, Governor Noem, District Governor Ina Winters, and also heard memories from some of the previous Rotarian Presidents. Another highlight to the year was being able to sponsor a Rotaract Club at SDSU. One of our grants that we applied for through our District 5610 was approved which allowed us to help fund the “The Born Learning Trails”.

Considering what has happened during the last couple of months, many things have changed. We went from meeting on Tuesdays with lunch at the Brookings Activity Center to meeting via Zoom. Many of us hadn’t even heard of Zoom. Covid 19 (Corona Virus) changed everything. Nearly everything came to a standstill and it is likely that our world as we knew it, won’t be the same in the future.

Yes, we are moving ahead as best as we can! The dream of making all our members Paul Harris Fellows, was completed in April by the gifting of points from a number of our local Rotarians. I was told this has been a dream of many of our past presidents, so I am so happy it became a reality! We came together quickly and raised money for a “Covid Relief Meal and Thank You” for our Skilled Nursing Home staff which was funded by local Rotarians and a District Grant. There are things for us to look forward to! Our clock is slated to be delivered near the end of June and installed during July. Our 100th Celebration is scheduled for November 5th in conjunction with our District Conference which will be led by our very own District Governor Dan Little.

Thank you to all of you! I am thankful for the opportunity to serve you as your President. You are all awesome and I appreciate each of you! Time goes fast, so enjoy it while you can. In a blink of an eye, life can change.

Blessings my friends,

Jennifer