History (By Year)

East Memphis Rotary History - 2017-2018

Officers

President	Mark Griffee
Vice President	Wendy Smith
Secretary	Sandra Roberts
Treasurer	Alisa Farmer
President-Elect	Bob Chance
Sergeant-at-Arms	Terry Dunger
Past President	Robert Morehead

Board of Directors

Bob Schreiber	Dale McGee	Ed Roberson
Jim Rout	John Seabold	John Snyder
Lee Greene	Lisa Foley	Miles Hardin
Ray Brakebill	Wendy VanCleve	Willie Towler

District Governor

Bethany Huffman, Millington

Rotary International President

Ian H.S. Riseley, Australia

           Being asked to reflect upon a year as President of our Club is an enjoyable task. The stated goals at the beginning of this year were to make Rotary fun and meaningful for our Club Members, through our weekly meetings, service projects and opportunities to socialize with each other, our spouses and, most importantly, to grow our Club membership via the same avenues.

            I believe our goals were satisfied, for the most part, throughout the course of the year.

            First, this year’s Program Chair, Richard “Dick” Cockrell successfully managed to have a wonderful speaker present for each of our regular weekly lunch meetings at the Racquet Club making him very deserving, in my view, of the Rotarian of the Year award.

            We also had successful meetings elsewhere, including at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital and the former Sears or Crosstown Concourse and Lichterman Nature Center. These events were well-attended and enjoyed by all present.

            Our annual Dunavant Awards Luncheon was very successful, including our first female Keynote Address Speaker, Caroline Hardy, and deserving recipients of both the Elective and Non-Elective Public Official Awards, Judge Tim Dwyer and Harvey Kennedy, respectively.

            Second, our service projects continued unabated with numerous programs at White Station Elementary School including tutoring, dictionary day, girls in pearls, guys in ties, gardening projects, etc., Memphis Rotaract, the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy at Whispering Oaks and Junior Achievement, as well as many others. Significantly, the new members of our Club are developing their own program via Youth Ministry to serve deserving students in the Inner City.

            Fellowship, both at our weekly meetings and otherwise, was in abundant supply via many “happy dollars” (the funds from which will fund the new members’ service project, if needed), personal introductions of guests by members of the Club following the “Greet your Neighbor” segment immediately after our prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, not to mention our annual Christmas Party and Newcomers’ Welcome Reception, both of which were very well-attended this year. Who knew that lambchops and frozen margaritas were such a big attraction?

            Our Club membership, which had been steadily declining over the last three (3) years, held steady at approximately 100 active members. Unfortunately, our new growth of 13-14 new members was offset by an approximately equal amount in the loss of current members due to attrition by way of health issues, work obligations, relocations, etc. 

            However, it is hoped that the Membership Drive in place at the end of this year will maintain its momentum going forward as it appears to be the case, and that our Club will experience an effective “net” growth in membership going forward.

            All in all, it was my great pleasure to work with everyone in the Club this past year. I do want to take this opportunity to again thank my wife, Virginia, for working so hard to host the Christmas Party and Newcomers’ Welcome Reception at our home, thereby assuring the success of both events, along with Lee Hughes, our Executive Director, who works tirelessly in support of our Club as well.

2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009
2007-2008
2006-2007
2005-2006
2004-2005
2003-2004
2002-2003
2001-2002
2000-2001
1999-2000
1998-1999
1997-1998
1996-1997
1995-1996
1994-1995
1993-1994
1992-1993
1991-1992
1990-1991
1989-1990
15-16