I want you to know that I am standing in a room full of leaders, leaders in this community, in your business, leaders in doing good and making positive change in our world, our community and ourselves. Thank you so much for being a group full of energy, purpose and kindness. In June, at my last full meeting, I said that this was a room full of characters with character. I say 
that with a heart full of love and thanks.

This hasn’t been just my year. It has been our own Todd Restel’s year as district governor. Thank you, Todd, for your leadership to over 70 clubs. I would like all the board members to stand, please. Several have served their final month: Mark Solyst, Mary Ann Gschwind, Ryan Geister, Tim Ehler, and Eva Marie Restel as our past president. At the same time, I want to welcome these new board members: Sheila Riley as President Elect nominee, Chris Palmer, Michael Wagner, Joan Park and Travis Bordeau. The past president chairs the nominating committee, among other responsibilities, so I
will begin that process in November. If you are at all interested in club leadership as an officer or as a board member, please let me know. I want to say that Rotary International does an incredible job of training and supporting its local leaders, so don’t be afraid of stepping forward.

Every week we hear of service opportunities, and are reminded of our Rotary motto “Service above Self”. The two biggest reasons people join Rotary are for fellowship and for service. I want to thank all who have spent some hours serving others this year.

I want to thank Richard Strauss for all the wonderful programs this year. And if you did a classification talk, one of our favorites, please stand up. Our club is full of such gifted and interesting people.

I want to thank all who are part of our various committees: service, membership, environment, DEI, climate change sub-committee, STAR committee, public image, fellowship, Al’s Musky Challenge, youth and more. You are touching lives and making a difference.

I want to thank Mary Ann Gschwind, who has finished her tour as our sergeant at arms. Sue Durtsche will be taking over that position and continuing on our board of directors. I want to thank persons who are working on the district level - Michelle Skemp as head of our district’s Public Image committee, and Mary Beth Hensel, who has been a wonderful district trainer. Niki Pohnl and Diana Carey are working with the Tri-Con committee. And if you didn’t know, above our district is the zone, and our zone 29 goes from Minnesota to Louisiana.

Joe Ruskey is working at the zone level, doing things that affect and support thousands of Rotarians. For Eva Marie and all the past presidents who will soon line up here, thanks for being a ready source of inspiration and just plain good advice. It has been great to be able to turn to you at various times this year.

I have to give thanks for God’s merciful healing and for the gift of wonderful medicine and practitioners who supported me through two medical crises this year. When my wife Sharon retired from her nursing career and made it clear that she wanted to join Rotary, Rotary became even more fun and more a part of our life together. Sharon, thanks for traveling with me to Australia and the Philippines and Singapore and to all the meetings and gatherings in this area, but most of all, thanks for being here with me, a partner is creating new visions for our world together. Finally, please join me in thanking Niki, who is the glue who keeps us working together in