by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The Rotary Club of Jacksonville, often referred to as Downtown Rotary, usually convenes at the River Club for its annual Presidents Party but a different venue was chosen this year.
Wednesday evening, about 150 people gathered at the riverfront home of Al and Miriam Funchess. She’s the executive director of the club which was founded in 1912 and holds the distinction of being Florida’s first Rotary Club.
After about an hour of fellowship and refreshments, Immediate Past-president Steve Bacalis welcomed longtime members, new members and guests and then recapped the club’s milestones during his term.
“It’s been a great Rotary year,” he said.
Bacalis then said that “under my watch” the club completed its Mercy Ship campaign with more than $900,000 contributed to the international program that provides medical care to people who live in underdeveloped countries.
Other notable accomplishments included donating $70,000 to local charities through the club’s foundation, donating $90,000 to the Rotary International Foundation and raising more than $30,000 which went to aid hurricane victims in haiti.
Bacalis reminded the club that its Books for Belize program that began during the term of Past-president Carl Cannon was completed. What began as an effort to send a few donated books to one school in Belize grew into sending thousands of books for every student in the country with delivery provided by the U.S. Navy.
Downtown Rotary was also the No. 1 club for the Salvation Army’s holiday bell ringer effort and, Bacalis added, regained the position of largest club in Rotary District 6970. Downtown Rotary currently has 304 members.
Bacalis then introduced the club’s 2010-2011 president, Cindy Stover, who said, “Steve, you have a legacy of leadership. Thank you for your words of wisdom.”
She then said she was looking forward to her year leading the club and meeting the 2010-2011 challenge from Rotary International to be “Bigger, Better and Bolder.”
Stover will ring the bell to open her first meeting as president Monday at the Omni.
Club member Chris Verlander delivered the invocation before dinner was served.
Club member and chair of the membership committee Wyman Duggan with Dan and Cindy Stover.
Club member Clayton Bromberg (third from left), accompanied by Bob Goin and Miriam Funchess, sang “Happy Trails” to Bacalis in recognition of his new status as immediate past-president.
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