The Rotary Club of Los Alamos hosted its End-of-the-Year Party on June 20 at Cottonwood on the Greens. The Rotary Year runs from July 1 to June 30. In addition to a buffet dinner, Rotarians and guests enjoyed a review of the Club’s projects and activities, applauded an award for clean-water work in the highlands of Guatemala, welcomed new Board members in an installation ceremony, and congratulated recipients of the Paul Harris Fellowship. Pictured above, Rotary Club President Alison Pannell welcomed guests to the Club’s year-end party at Cottonwood on the Greens. She also reviewed the year’s accomplishments including a successful Meals of Hope project in which 40,000 servings of food were packed for distribution by The Food Depot, some of the food returning to LA Cares. The Club also hosted a Purple Pinkie fundraiser at local elementary schools for Rotary International’s PolioPlus initiative, collecting $2000; held a fundraiser for Ukraine relief; and presented eight Distinguished Student awards to LAHS juniors and six scholarships to graduating seniors. The Club sponsored four outbound Youth Exchange students (Finland, France, Germany, Japan) and hosted two inbound students (Germany, Taiwan). A collaboration with community businesses and LANL to promote resiliency through a program being designed for 9th graders is in progress. The Club is also a Global Grant partner with a Rotary Club in South Africa providing math tutors to high school students. Photo by Linda Hull
Deborah Simon, a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Fe, reads a certificate of thanks for the Rotary Club’s support of construction and remodeling of bathrooms for the San José Las Rosas school near Guatemala City. Photo by Linda Hull
Tom Simon, a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Fe and a member of the District’s Rotary International Foundation committee, installed the Los Alamos Club’s 2023-2024 Board at the year-end party. From left to right: Alison Pannell, Immediate Past President; Oliver Morris, Secretary; Greg Viola, Rotary Foundation chair; Tim Bullock, Club President; James Wernicke, Avenues of Service chair (youth, vocational, international, community, club); Vincent Chiravalle, Distinguished Students chair; Linda Bullock, Membership chair; and Lesley Harelson, Treasurer. Photo by Linda Hull
Kerry Quinn, a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Fe and a Rotary District Lt. Governor, presented Paul Harris Fellowships to Melissa Metcalf, second from left and to James Wernicke, far right. Foundation chair Greg Viola, second from right, arranged for the pins and certificates awarded. Metcalf received a gold pin with three rubies, indicating her significant support of The Rotary Foundation; Wernicke received a gold pin with a blue sapphire, his first Paul Harris recognition for outstanding service as a new member. Photo by Linda Hull