ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Robertsdale Rotary Club celebrated a “challenging year” in 2020-21 introducing officers and presenting awards at its annual meeting held Thursday, June 24 at Bethel Baptist Church.
“It has been a long year, but we made it,” said 2020-21 President David Kitchens. “I’m proud and amazed at what we were able to accomplish this year together.”
The Rotary Club faced the challenge of meeting via Zoom, moving from its traditional weekly meetings at Mama Lou’s Restaurant to meeting virtually twice a month. The club resumed in-person meetings in May while continuing to welcome members via Zoom also.
Some events had to be canceled such as the 2021 Robertsdale Rotary Rodeo and the 2020 Hot Trot for ARC. Others were modified such as delivering presents to William F. Green in Bay Minette at Christmas and “visiting” with residents through the windows because visitors were not allowed inside.
Among the accomplishments included:
Instead of the traditional Rotarian of the Year and Paul Harris Fellow Awards for its club members, this year the club decided to give two awards to non-members who serve on the front lines in the community.
According to rotary.org, the Paul Harris Fellow is named after the club’s founder and is given to “individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set for by Paul Harris.”
A $1,000 donation is given by the Robertsdale Rotary Club in the name of each individual. Paul Harris Fellow awards are also given to individuals who have contributed more than $1,000 to the Annual Program Fund, the Polio Plus Fund or the Humanitarian Grants Program of the Rotary Foundation.
A Paul Harris Fellow receives a special certificate and a gold pin. At the discretion of the Fellow’s club, the Fellow may also receive a gold medallion on a blue-and-gold ribbon.
Paul Harris Fellow Awards were presented to:
Coach Peter Bezeredi, head baseball coach at Robertsdale High School, who also teaches AP classes such as physics and earth & space.
“He has helped develop countless young people at RHS, not only on the baseball field and in the classroom, but as young men and women who will grow up and contribute positively to society,” Kitchens said.
Bezeredi and his players also helped in numerous ways in the community. Earlier in the year, he and 14 RHS baseball players assisted longtime club member Margaret Cooper on her property clearing debris and moving some larger items for her that she wouldn’t have been able to move herself.
Sabrina Fore Blackwelder, a retired nurse from Mobile Infirmary, who continued to volunteer her nursing services at the Alabama Free Clinic.
During the pandemic, she volunteered to do both COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at OWA, Coastal Alabama Community College, Mobile Infirmary, 3 Circle Church, the Baldwin County Health Department in Robertsdale and the cruise terminal in Mobile.
“She exemplifies service above self,” Kitchens said.
Kitchens recognized officers and board members for the past year, including Rebecca Mills, who served as vice president and will serve as president for 2021-22; Ryan Frolik, treasurer, who will serve as vice president for 2021-22; outgoing Board members Jeff Plato and Cheryl Russell, who served as president for 2019-20; Linda Buck, Howard Harper and Dennis Young, who will continue to serve on the Board in 2021-22. Sylvia Mattingly will continue to serve the club as program chair.
Mills presented the Rotary theme for 2021-22, which is “Serve to Change Lives.”
Mills recognized all the incoming officers for 2020-21. In addition to the returning officers and Board member, Mills announced that Austin Young will join his father Dennis Young on the board in 2021-22 and John Underwood will serve as secretary.
Founded in 1948, the Robertsdale Rotary Club is a member of Rotary International which boasts more than 1.2 million members in more than 35,000 clubs worldwide and operates by the credo of “Service above self,” and under the motto of the 4-way test, “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? And Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
Currently the club meets at noon every other Tuesday at Mama Lou’s Restaurant on Pine Street in Robertsdale.
Through the Robertsdale Rotary Foundation, the club has donated money for local scholarships, schools and charity organizations.
For more information visit the club’s website at robertsdalerotary.com or the Robertsdale Rotary Club page on Facebook. For more information on Rotary International visit rotary.org.
