HIGHLANDS The Rotary Club of Highlands has installed new officers and a new board, for the next year starting July 1 and ending June 30, 2012.
The new president is Denise Smith, who it was announced at the dinner is now Chief Clerk in Judge Mike Parrotts office.
The installation was held at the Baytown Boat Club on Clear Lake Road in Highlands. About 75 persons attended, including the families of many of the new board members and officers, the Interact Club officers from Chinquapin and Goose Creek Memorial High School, and special guests including Judge Don Coffey, Constable Ken Jones, and Judge Mike Parrott and their wives.
Cooking was done by the Henderson Cooking Team and Charlie Ward, and music was provided by Bill Manahan.
In her outgoing remarks as retiring president, Michelle Lomazoff spoke of the accomplishment of the club in the last year. She said that Rotary International has added another category or avenue of service for clubs to follow, which is New Generation. The Highlands club has sponsored two Interact (High School level) clubs, has served presents to perfect attendance students at Highlands Elementary, and donated bicycles and dictionaries to the schools. It has also provided $30,000 in scholarships this year, to 18 students from the area, and it has also sponsored a large group of Interact students to attend the national conference.
In the coming year, Rotary will sponsor and support an interntional exchange student, a girl from Spain who will arrive in August. She will attend Goose Creek Memorial, and live with the Smith, Cotten, and Scott families for the year.
Awards were given out by President Lomazoff for outstanding work during the year, and perfect attendance. The longest attendance award went to Weston Cotten for 25 years.
The Rotarian of the Year, the most prestigious award the club has, was won this year by two persons, voted on by the membership. They were Betty Brewer and Michelle Lomazoff.
Denise Smith welcomed the audience as she accepted the office of president, and spoke of her plans for her next year.
She reviewed the results of the 2011 Chili Feast, which raised over $100,000 and netted the club $70,000 for projects and scholarships. She noted that this is quite an accomplishment for only 24 members.
Denise plans to continue the scholarship program, and hopes to expand it with revenue from the Chili Feast. The club is very active this year and next with the local schools, and has applied for a $2500 Rotary grant for Partners In Education.
Denise would like to expand the Holiday food basket program, which annually helps about 100 families, with the Food Pantry. But she noted that many children go home from school and its amazing that they are hungry for the weekend.
She said her year would be more active with Interact, and the exchange student. She is working closely with the Rotary presidents of nearby clubs, to work on joint projects.
She closed by admonishing the club members to invite a guest to ehlp a Rotary Project, and to Share your passion for Rotary with others, inviting them also to attend a luncheon.
She reminded all that Highlands Rotary has the reputation in the Houston area as The Biggest Little Club in District 5890.