On June 24, President Dan Willits presided over his last meeting as the 2024-2025 Club President. He used the opportunity to summarize the successes throughout the year and thanked everyone who served as a Board Member, Committee/Event Chair, or volunteered at the many events. President Dan stressed the everyone's efforts contributed to the Club's success.
The Club’s aligned its efforts this year with the Rotary International theme - The Magic of Rotary. President Dan noted that the Club sought to create magic through its events and service projects that attracted the community to Rotary. Dan commended District Governor Jill Duerig for making District 5170 one of the top performing District in Rotary.
Vrushali Nanjundappa, Rotary District 5170 Assistant Governor for Area 4, recognized Dan for his service as President during the meeting. Photo by Gary Bosley
Connecting to the Community was President Dan vision for the year. The Club achieve this vision through partnerships, events, service projects, and fundraisers that included
- Connections with the Chamber of Commerce and business community
- Restaurant Walk
- Fall Festival
- Chamber Mixer
- Student of the Year Luncheon
- 3rd Tuesday Social Mixers
- Connections with the Schools
- Student Backpack Project
- 3rd grade Castro Valley history book
- Robert Paylor speaking engagement in partnership with CVHS Interact Club
- $14,000 in Endowment Scholarships
- Connections with community members in need
- Adopt-a-Family
- Children’s Christmas Party
- Car giveaway at the Castro Valley Car Show
- Connections with other community organizations
- Whiskey Tasting with Castro Valley Sports Foundation (CVSF)
- Partnerships with Castro Valley Arts Foundation (CVAF), Castro Valley Educational Foundation (CVEF), Castro Valley Women’s Club (CVWC), Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Child Abuse, Listening, Interviewing & Coordination Center (CALICO), and George Mark Children’s House.
- Holiday lunches at H.A.R.D. Senior Centers
- Connections to the community through grants funded by Club events
- PlayCV summer program
- NASA program
- First Presbyterian Shelter food
- TMC Arts
- Castro Valley Arts Foundation (CVAF)
- Castro Valley History Foundation (CVHF)
- Plethos for arts/play productions
- Spectrum Fall Prevention class,
Dan reviewed and explained the 2024-205 budget including both income and expenditures for both operations and fundraising.
President Dan concluded by (1) encouraging all members to participate on one of the many Club committees and to volunteer at events; (2) looking at future partnerships (e.g., working with H.A.R.D or E.B.R.P.D. on a park); (3) completing the survey President Misti Short will be sending members; and (4) thanking everyone for their support throughout the past year.
Thank you, President Dan for a great year!