By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
The ceremonial “Passing of the Gavel” signaled the transfer of the presidency at Monday’s Florence Rotary Club meeting.
Outgoing president Adam Howard handed over the duties to Pamela Goetting, a senior vice president at Heritage Bank.
Outgoing Florence Rotary Club president Adam Howard offers final remarks at the “Passing of the Gavel” ceremony Monday (photos by Mark Hansel).
The event, which was also the Florence Rotary’s last meeting of the year, took place at the Cincinnati Airport Hilton on Turfway Road.
The Florence Rotary Club traditionally selects a new president each year. However, as Howard’s term was concluding, his chosen successor took a job out of the region and could not assume the post.
As a result, Howard agreed to remain as president for an additional six months and Goetting will also serve an 18-month term.
Howard, an agent with Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance in Burlington, said he has learned a lot about his leadership skills and has seen some incredible acts of service from Rotarians during his tenure.
“It has been an honor to serve you in the course of the last 18 months,” Howard said. “I look forward to transitioning from president, or as I like to call it the firefighter’s role, back to being a construction worker, working on behalf of our community and our club to try to make the world a better place.”
A total of 18 past presidents participated in the ceremony, which culminated with Howard handing the gavel off to Goetting.
Full disclosure: Gene Clabes, associate editor of the Northern Kentucky Tribune, attended the meeting as a former member and past-president of the Florence Rotary Club.
Goetting said she was honored to be sworn in as the 71st president of the Florence Rotary.
Pam Goetting of Heritage Bank (right) accepts the gavel, and the position of president, at the Florence Rotary Club meeting Monday
“I just wanted to tell you how excited I am to be leading the club and following such a great group of people,” Goetting said. “We have such an awesome club and I couldn’t have done it without Adam agreeing to stay on for another six months.”
The Rotary Club of Florence is one of more than 33,000 worldwide clubs included in Rotary International. Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self,” exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s 1.2 million members.
Also at the meeting, Barbara Rahn was presented with the Florence Rotary Club President’s Award for 2015. Among Rahn’s contributions this year were a leadership role in organizing a trip to the Dominican Republic, continued work with the group’s Interact Club and the creation of a profit-loss program in her role as bookkeeper for the club.
“I just really appreciate what you’ve done for the club over the last year, so you are my choice for the President’s Award,” Howard said.
Rotarian Gary Greisser provided a stirring rendition of “Come on, Ring Those Bells,” which he dedicated to the late Mary Middleton, a longtime volunteer with organizations throughout Northern Kentucky. He then led those in attendance in the singing of Silent Night to close the meeting.
The Florence Rotary clubs meet weekly and is non-political, nonreligious and open to all people.
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