The Rotary Club of Weston has been a part of the landscape of the City of Weston since 1986, and today is recognized as one of the leading community service organizations in Southwest Broward County. As we approach the threshold of our 25th anniversary year the Club’s leadership has adopted an ambitious agenda that expands our local community service activities and, as a part of Rotary International, extends our reach to communities through the world.

Rotary International, founded in 1905 in Chicago IL, is widely recognized as the world's first community service organization, with more than 1.2 million men and women in 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. The Rotary motto, “Service Above Self” conveys the humanitarian spirit of the organization; strong fellowship among Rotarians, and meaningful community and international service projects ... such as PolioPlus ... that characterize Rotary worldwide.

At the Rotary Club of Weston we focus our community service activities in the areas of Services to Youth (including education / scholarship / learning development) and, Services to Families In Need. We address the service needs of the Southwest Broward community through volunteerism, the application of member skills, organizational resources, and a menu of fundraising activities and events. Some of you may have participated and/or attended our events such as the annual “Scholarship Golf Classic” at Weston Hills CC, the annual “Run for Tomorrow & Family Festival” (formerly known as the “Rotary Holiday Run”), and our annual “Rock & Pop Masters Free Concert in the Park”, which we produce in cooperation with the City of Weston.

Over the past two decades the Rotary Club of Weston has awarded more than $600,000 in college scholarships to hundreds of graduating seniors from Cypress Bay and Western High Schools; young men and women of our community who have clearly demonstrated an exceptional combination of academic achievement and commitment to community service. Weston Rotary has also contributed more than $500,000 from it’s annual “Run for Tomorrow & Family Festival” to local charities, non-profit organizations, and the Rotary Foundation.

The more than 100 men and women of the Rotary Club of Weston are business owners and managers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, educators, artists, clergy, energetic retirees and, most importantly ... your neighbors. Our recent president Larry Herman just completed a very successful Rotary Year 2009-2010 on June 30th; and now we kick-off Rotary Year 2010-2011 with a new theme (“Building Communities .... Bridging Continents)” and a new slate of officers and directors, as follows:

• Dan Young, President
• Julie Vergara, Secretary
• Steve Goldstein, Treasurer
• Chuck Yeh, President-Elect
• Carolyn Burk, Vice President
• Larry Herman, Immediate Past President
• Keil Hackley, Director
• Gene Harvey, Director
• Rod McLeod, Director
• Joe Roth, Director
• Denise Schultz, Director
• Gaye Stewart-Loudis, Director

Thanks to Weston Lifestyle, during the coming year I will have the opportunity, through this monthly column, to acquaint you with the activities, events, members and supporters of Weston Rotary. We meet every Thursday morning from 7:30 – 8:30AM at Weston Hills Country Club for breakfast and a lively program. If you would like more information about our programs or membership, please contact me (Dan Young) at 954.336.8400 or dyoung@youngconsultinggroup.com or any Weston Rotarian. And, check out the “Weston Rotary” group page on FaceBook for the latest happenings.

Sincerely,
Dan Young
President, RY2010-2011
Rotary Club of Weston