Reporter:  Gail Lyman

President Mary Kane

“Report to the Membership, including Survey Results”

 

Meeting only on Zoom

Jean McPheeters opened our meeting as the MC for this Pass the Gavel meeting honoring 2021–22 President Catrina VanAtta and welcoming incoming President Mary Kane.

 

In unison, President Catrina led us in the Four-Way Test.

 

 “America the Beautiful” was sung by Jack Roscoe, Loretta Goss, Loralyn Light, and Jean McPheeters, with Bill Cowdery at the (newly-tuned) piano.

 

Rotarians were asked to introduce the guests at their tables.

Fitting in with 2022–23 Rotary International President Jennifer Jones’ theme “Imagine Rotary,” Geoff Dunn delivered the following quotes:

In speaking about her Rotary year, President Catrina thanked:

The Rotary Chorus then sang “Catrina,” with words by Gary Stewart (and edits by members of the chorus) to the tune of Paul Simon’s “Cecilia,” aptly led by former member Bill Cowdery from the piano.

 

Then to piano music by Bill Cowdery, all of the past Rotary Presidents in attendance processed in order of their presidential years beginning with outgoing President Catrina and ending with incoming President Mary Kane.

 

To strains of Irish music from the piano, Catrina and Mary exchanged pins; that is, Mary Kane pinned a Past President’s pin on Catrina, and Catrina VanAtta presented Mary with her President’s pin.

 

A slide show with photos of Mary Kane and her family and friends began running, and June Losurdo and Loralyn Light commenced cutting and serving a most beautiful Rotary cake, prepared by Wegmans through the generosity of Rotary Past President Beverly Baker.

 

President Mary wants us to start this year respecting and learning from Rotarians who have gone before us, recognizing the needs and opportunities for service that are in front of us, and approaching this new Rotary year with resolve as “people of action.”  She “imagines” an Ithaca Rotary Club where each member contributes their individual talents, feels a sense of belonging in an inclusive and diverse club environment, and supports other club members while working collaboratively towards a “common cause.”  To give each club member a sense of purpose towards this “common cause,” Mary wants each of us to say “YES” to perform one club task consistently throughout this Rotary year.

 

We raised our champagne-filled glasses (there was only about a half inch of liquid in each glass!) to Mary’s encouraging words:  “Please raise a glass as we imagine ourselves doing together what no one of us would ever attempt alone.  Imagine our community and how it might look a year from now” when we “respect where we have come from, value our brothers and sisters, recognize the great opportunities given us, and resolve to change what is to what can be.”

 

Jean McPheeters introduced special guests Mother Superior and the Rosary Club (you had to be there to see it!  In real life, they are Joanne Florino, Perri LoPinto, Nancy Massicci, and Brigid Hubberman).  Mother Superior gave Mary Kane the moniker “Proud Mary” for Mary’s pride for everything that  she’s done with other Rotarians and will do for Rotary in the future.

 

The Rotary Chorus, joined by Mother Superior and the Rosary Club, presented “Proud Mary” (or “Rollin’ on Cayuga”) with words by Gary Stewart (and edits by members of the chorus) to John Fogerty’s “Proud Mary,” again led by Bill Cowdery from the piano (without whom this song would not have been possible!).

 

Jean McPheeters presented a gift to President Catrina:  a soul pin for being the “Soul of Rotary” and a lovely Rotary scarf.

 

President Mary Kane rang the bell to close the first meeting of the new Rotary year.

Name:  Todd Nau

Business:  15 Steps

Position:  Owner

Sponsor:  Ron Provus

Classification:  to be determined

Newsletter Reporter: Gail Lyman

Photographer:  Mike Brown

Newsletter Editor:  Loralyn Light

 

Set-Up Crew:  Harlin McEwen, Dave Martin, Brad Carruth, Richard Kops

Set-up Zoom:  Brett Bossard

Recording Archive:  Paul Martin; click here

Club Service Facilitator:  June Losurdo