The Seward Rotary Club met in person on Wednesday, June 24 at noon at the Seward Civic Center basement auditorium and observed social distancing with a special summer picnic luncheon to conclude the 95 th Club year of the Seward Rotary Club. The business meeting was conducted by Rotary President Kurth Brashear. He thanked Rotarians Todd La Velle and Greg Zabka for making the arrangements to conform to the rules of the day, so a live meeting could happen!
The Seward Rotary Club met in person on Wednesday, June 24 at noon at the Seward Civic Center basement auditorium and observed social distancing with a special summer picnic luncheon to conclude the 95 th Club year of the Seward Rotary Club. The business meeting was conducted by Rotary President Kurth Brashear. He thanked Rotarians Todd La Velle and Greg Zabka for making the arrangements to conform to the rules of the day, so a live meeting could happen!
For the weekly Rotary Club program President Kurth Brashear-“The Rotary Year in Review” where he reviewed the Rotary Club’s concluding club year of 2019-2020 promoting “Service Above Self!” He listed the many projects that the club sponsored this year, even with the Corona-19 Virus and thanked the membership for their continued support and for paying their dues, in spite of the Zoom meetings over the live meetings and all of the changes.
He announced that the Global Grant for the Rand Memorial Hospital in the Grand Bahama’s was approved and in finalization stages, thanks to John and Bonnie Kruse’s efforts. With all the donations and matches, the grant will be over $90,000 for new hospital beds and equipment.
He introduced Kiersten Hill, Assistant District Governor of the Rotary District 5650, who was present for the annual visit. Also introduced was Jacob Cornelio- Rotaract Club President at Concordia University, who addressed the club on his plans for the 2020-2021 school year.
Brashear presented the current financial report status and a budget for 2020-2021 club year. The budget was approved by the club and placed into action for the new Rotary Club year beginning July 1, 2020. He reviewed the 2019-2020 Rotary Club goals and reported that almost all were achieved or close to being realized.
President Brashear also recognized and thanked retiring Rotarian Alan Baldwin for his years of “Service Above Self” and wished him the best on his August 1 st retirement from the Seward Police Force. He is a Past President of the Seward Rotary Club and very involved in a host of the club’s activities. He will be missed and was thanked accordingly for his spirit of volunteerism.
He was pleased to announce and recognize seven new “Paul Harris” awards, presented to Alan Baldwin, Kay Hansen, Andy Hartmann, Bonnie Kruse, Shelly Nitz, Russ Sommerfeld and Dr. Ron Wallman. Each awardee was presented a special certificate and award, which represented a $1000 donation to the Rotary International Foundation in their name.
As a final official act, Rotary President Brashear installed the new 2020-2021 officers for the Seward Rotary Club, which include Seward Rotary President Brady Johnson, Vice President-President Elect Matt Dominy, Treasurer-Kay Hansen, Secretary Melanie Ayres, and new Board Members Russell Souchek and
Pastor Scott Krohn.
Pastor Scott Krohn.
The new Rotary Club President Brady Johnson’s first official act was to publicly thank Rotary Past President Kurth Brashear for his outstanding leadership efforts for the Seward Rotary Club. Rotary Club President Johnson presented Kurth with an engraved plaque and gavel to thank him for his service this club year in appreciation for his work “above and beyond” for the Seward Rotary Club and Rotary International. He did note that Kurth will remain on the Rotary Board as the Immediate Past President to assist and continue to guide the membership’s efforts.
PHOTO: L-R New Seward Rotary President Brady Johnson presents the President Plaque to Seward Rotary Presient Kurth Brashear to “thank him for his Service Above Self, as Seward Rotary President for the 2019-2020 Club year-the 95 th Club year of the Seward Rotary Club.