President's Message
September Successes
We had a rewarding September, highlighted by a special Springfield Rotary Club's event hosted by our club at Maldaners on September 14. Former Rotary International President Mark Maloney spoke about his extraordinary experiences during his tenure as RI President. He drew a large audience (image below) including officers and members of all five Springfield Clubs and current and past District Governors and other dignitaries from Rotary District 6460.
We were honored to have such an esteemed guest and speaker, Mark has been a member of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama since 1980. He served as the President of Rotary International for the 2019–20 year, guiding the global network with his inspiring theme, "Rotary Connects the World." Beyond his monumental international service, he has provided invaluable leadership with The Rotary Foundation. During his presentation, Mark called attention to a print of original artwork that Rod Buffington created to depict the theme for his year as RI President (lead image). For more information on this event, check out the article and images included in this Newsletter. .
On September 21, we had a successful social Night at Golden Corral (image below). These socials continue to be a night of fun out on the town with members and everyone else who wants to enjoy a night out.
On September 28, we joyfully welcomed new member Paul Rice. We are thrilled to have him as a member of our Club! More information on Paul is provided in this Newsletter.
Our featured speaker on September 28, was Trisha Ratliff. She is the patient experience coordinator for HSHS Home Care and Hospice. She discussed home, palliative, and hospice care. We were fortunate to have her share her expertise in making a difference for patients, and I was happy to present her with our Rotary mug (image on left). For more information on this presentation, check out the article in this Newsletter.During September, Club members picked up the flags for the Flag Service Project completing the display of flags for 2026. However, work by the Flag Service Committee continues. If you want to volunteer for this important fundraiser, contact John Loftus (jlloftus@aol.com).
At our September 28 meeting, Bill Smith launched our 2027 Robert Montgomery Citrus Sale Fundraiser. Bill provided history on this important project and provided members with their sales packets. He noted that we are working on a new process for online sales. If you want to volunteer for this project, contact Bill Smith (smithveld@gmail.com).
Our three September volunteer events sorted panty and kitchen supplies for The Outlet, built beds for children for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and prepared a meal for Compass for Kids (image below). Read more about these rewarding projects and other accomplishments in this Newsletter.
Upcoming Opportunities
The October Rotary News (emailed to all members) and pasted below highlights October and other upcoming opportunities. Check the Rotary News and the articles in this Newsletter for more information on exciting events such as our Pints for Polio Fundraiser on October 6!
Ken Gilmore, President