This is my final week as president. The 2019-2020 Rotary year is winding down and I’d like to thank everyone for all of your support over the last two years. It has been the honor of my life to be president of our great club. I’d like to start this message by thanking someone who I refer to warmly and sincerely as the finest man I know, my sponsor, Art Martin. In December of 2014, Art stopped by my office. It was the first time that we met. He asked if the fitness center would be interested in sponsoring a local 5k run, “It’s called the Run with Rotary” he said. He also invited me to a Rotary club meeting as his guest. Three meetings later, I became a member. I can’t thank Art enough for his friendship and inspiration.
I’d like to thank our Foundation Board. We’re in a very unique time right now. Our economy really took a hit this year. Our Foundation has been great stewards of our financial resources. This has been very apparent during the Covid-19 crisis. My thanks to our foundation board: Bill Hyncik, Bill Beachell, Mary DiCicco, Emad Abou-Sabe, Jim Bartolomei, advisor-Art Martin and rookie of the year, Tyler Tomalavage. In the club’s best interest, we’ve worked through some challenging situations together. I can’t thank you enough for all of your hard work and support.
I’d also like to thank our Charter Members, aka “Our Magnificent Eight.” Bill Beachell, Kris Hadinger, Kip Higgins, Bill Hyncik, Art Martin, Don Matthews, Doug Merritt and Keith Wheelock. You remain the foundation on which our club is built. What you’ve started thirty years ago has stood the test of time. Our club is thriving! We’ve had thirty years of service that has translated into thousands of lives that have been touched. Thank you all for building our club to last.
Thanks to our Rotary Club Heroes. You know who you are. Whenever I needed a sounding board, there were always people there. When I needed to be pointed in the right direction, or made aware of a detail, the Rotary Heroes were there for our club. You didn’t have to ask. Our Heroes seem to show up at just the right time.
To our Club Board; I would proudly go to battle with this group anywhere and anytime! My heartfelt thanks go out to: Zoltan Nagy, Doug Merritt, Louise Wilson, Jeff Gould, Dennis Helms, Kevin Lynch, Sharon Prosinski, Andy Mozumdar, Josh Turner and Maria Kauzmann. Our board has been a great blend of ideas and ideals. We often approached the same goals from different points of view. All I can say is, "Good for us!" We’ve successfully worked together over the last couple of years with our hearts on our sleeves and a sincere desire to do what’s best.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention our Sergeant at Arms, Lisa Youngberg. Lisa does so much on behalf of our club and she has been the perfect SAA. Lisa is aware of protocol and procedure. She is a tireless worker who clearly identifies anything that may need attention. Also, she is relentless and will stay on an issue until it is resolved. She has my vote for the club’s MVP and I can’t thank her enough.
I’d also like to thank our next President-Elect, Andy Mozumdar. I sponsored Andy and look forward to his term as president in the 2021-2022 Rotary year. Andy continues to demonstrate through his efforts in our community the Rotary ideal of Service above Self.
Congratulations to our next President, Zoltan Nagy. Zoltan officially starts his term on July 1st. Since joining, Zoltan has been a key contributor to our club. He brought us the “Bikes for the World” program. He’s been involved and contributed above and beyond to all of our major projects. In addition, Zoltan has streamlined and enhanced our online presence. He has my full support and I’m confident that he will continue to move our club forward.
Congratulations to our next President, Zoltan Nagy. Zoltan officially starts his term on July 1st. Since joining, Zoltan has been a key contributor to our club. He brought us the “Bikes for the World” program. He’s been involved and contributed above and beyond to all of our major projects. In addition, Zoltan has streamlined and enhanced our online presence. He has my full support and I’m confident that he will continue to move our club forward.
I’ve never been prouder to be part of a group than I’ve been as a member and president of our club. If we compared Rotary clubs to horses, many veteran Rotarians would agree that there are a lot of clubs in our district who could be referred to as “Old Paint”. Being president of our club was different. It was like riding Secretariat…And I got to do it for two years!
So for the last time as president of our club, I’d like to express my gratitude, my warmest regards, and my utmost respect and love to my MRH family. It’s been an honor…
Very Truly Yours in Rotary,
Tony Parziale