LONG BEACH June 27 marked the changing of the guard for leadership of the Rotary Club of Southwest Pacific County Peninsula. The venue this year was the patio at The Lost Roo restaurant. Attendance was impressive, the food was great and they were honored to have Denny Jones, a Charter Member of the club as guest speaker.

    The traditional getting to know you auction raised an impressive amount of funds for polio eradication while letting club members learn more about one another. Each Rotarian brings an item to auction which tells something about themselves, their interests and/or hobbies. There was artwork, food, weaving and woodworking, just to mention a few items. Members and guests bid on the items, with the proceeds going to Polio Plus, Rotarys signature program to eradicate polio in the final four countries where it remains endemic.

    Mike Karvia, incoming president, introduced the new Rotary banner for 2011-12: Reach Within to Embrace Humanity. In his address to the assembly, Karvia quoted and embraced Rotary Internationals President-Elect Kalyan Banerjees statement that, The communities we live in are not built of individual people but of families families living in homes together, sharing their lives and their resources and their common destinies. Good families lead to good neighborhoods, and good neighborhoods build good communities.

    The new club officers are: Karvia, Secretary/Club Administration Peggy Miles, Treasurer Danielle Winkelman, Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Challis, and Past President Lynn Raymer.

    Outgoing president Lynn Raymer commented that although she thought she knew what Rotary was about and how it worked, the local Peninsula Rotary club amazed her. She was proud that during her term the club doubled her goal for contributions to Polio Plus, as well as implemented new programs, created the Rotary of SW Pacific County Peninsula Foundation and participated in the Satellite Club pilot program by forming an evening group.  

    Cheri Diehl, public relations chair, was presented with the clubs Rotarian of the Year award and thanked for her work both on the board and so many projects throughout the year. Raymer stated that she found it hard to pick just one outstanding member.

    Southwest Pacific County Peninsula Rotary meets Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m., at the 42nd Street Cafe in Seaview. The newly formed Satellite Club meets Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m., at the Shelburne Inn Pub in Seaview. For more information, contact Mike Karvia, 783-2106.