by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
“Somebody told me today the best job in any organization is past president,” said Jack Diamond with a chuckle as he stood at the podium at Monday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville. “I’m looking forward to sitting out there with you in the coming weeks.”
Diamond had just concluded a presentation that was more a look ahead to the club’s future than a look back at his 2007-08 term as president. It was also the last time he would ring the bell to call the meeting to order. He will officially pass the gavel to President-elect Carl Cannon June 23 at the annual President’s Party.
“At the beginning of the year, I asked all of you why you joined Rotary and most people said their reasons revolved around knowledge and information,” said Diamond. “You also mentioned friendship and fellowship and service above self.
“My goal for the year was to make this Rotary Club well-informed. Each week, our speakers have brought up every issue that faces this community and in a timely fashion. We’ve heard from the mayor, the sheriff, the State Attorney’s Office and leaders from the education and health care communities as well as economists, charities and the military. And having (award-winning filmmaker) Ken Burns was good, too.”
He also looked ahead to the future of the club and that of Jacksonville and said the city is facing a choice.
“A city changes for one of two reasons, vision or crisis. Vision takes you farther, but crisis gets you there quicker,” said Diamond. “We need to make no small plans and whatever we do, we should put it to the Rotary Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair? Will it build goodwill? Will it benefit all concerned?”
The meeting began with the presentation of awards to the 16 North Florida winners of the 2008 Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards. Each State government program or employee was recognized for saving taxpayers money through innovative thinking and implementation. The annual awards program is administered by Florida TaxWatch.
“This year we had 490 nominations representing more than 4,000 employees of the State of Florida,” said Dave Davis, senior research analyst and awards program advisor. “Their hard work and determination resulted in $322 million in added value last year alone. In the past 20 years, the Davis Productivity Award winners have contributed more than $6 billion in economic benefits for the people of Florida.”
One of this year’s top winners was the Permanency Team of the Department of Children and Families Jacksonville Office. Led by Circuit Court Judge David Gooding, the group saved Florida taxpayers more than $1 million last year by expediting the adoption process for hundreds of children who were able to exit foster care and join their new families weeks and in some cases months ahead of the normal time line for adoption.
Diamond commented he thought it was appropriate to have the Davis Productivity Awards ceremony the same day he was recalling the past year’s guests on the club’s podium because, “Our goal this year was to have speakers who show how government can make a positive difference.”