On June 24, at the soccer pavilion at Seymour Elementary School, the Rotary Club of Flushing held its annual Pass the Gavel meeting during which outgoing 2020-2021 Rotary President Marty Barta passed the presidential gavel to incoming 2021-2022 Flushing Rotary president Gary Whitmire. During Ms. Barta’s term as president, the Rotary Club initiated a regional literacy library reserve, providing books to area Rotary clubs to provide to schools in their area in Genesee County to promote literacy. The Flushing Rotary Club also established the “Little Free Library” in Cornwell Park in downtown Flushing, providing free books for the community, primarily for school-age children to develop literacy; recognized a Rotary Student of the Month at FHS from September-June; and provided two Rotary Scholarships to graduating FHS seniors recognizing outstanding community service and academic achievement. The Club also engaged in strategic planning to align its projects and priorities with the needs of the community in which it resides, and which it serves. President Barta was able to utilize Zoom to conduct virtual meetings during this challenging year to ensure that the Rotary club could continue to meet and conduct its business of serving the community. Incoming president Gary Whitmire will continue leading the Rotary club forward, implementing its strategic plan and serving our community and world through the club’s local, regional and international projects. The Rotary Club of Flushing, chartered in 1992, has provided financial and in-kind support to the Flushing community for 29 years. The Rotary Club’s signature project was the stadium seating in Riverbank Park in downtown Flushing. The motto of Rotary is “Service above Self”, and the Flushing Rotary Club strives to reflect this in all of its initiatives.
Individuals who reside or work in Flushing who are interested in learning more about the Rotary Club of Flushing can visit the Club’s website at www.FlushingRotary.com and/or email FlushingRotaryClub@gmail.com