PHOTO – ROTARY DISTRICT 6630 GOVERNOR, JAY DZURILLA, (LEFT), AND PAST DISTRICT 6630 GOVERNOR, JACK YOUNG (RIGHT) LOOK ON AS LAKEWOOD/ROCKY RIVER ROTARY CLUB PRESIDENT, JIM LECHKO, PRESENTS THE NEW SUNRISE CLUB PRESIDENT, GORDON GEIGER, WITH THE OFFICIAL CLUB BELL

Nearly 80 Rotarians and guests were on hand to witness the new Lakewood/Rocky River Sunrise Rotary Club receive its Charter from Rotary International. It was a beautiful evening at the Cleveland Yacht Club, and the food and fellowship were outstanding. Representatives of 11 Rotary Clubs from the North East Ohio Rotary District 6630 were represented. There were six past District Governors in attendance, plus the current District Governor, the Governor Elect and his successor. The Master of Ceremonies duties were handled very well by Lakewood/Rocky River Monday Noon Club Past President, and Assistant District Governor, Bill Gaydos. There were remarks by current District Governor, Jay Dzurilla from the Strongsville Rotary Club; immediate Past DG, Jack Young, Conneaut Rotary; and the incoming DG, Bob Prevette, the Nordonia Hills Rotary Club. The key note speaker was Past DG, Mike Johns from the Hillcrest Club. On July 1, Mike will join the Board of Directors of Rotary International. The seventeen-member Board represents the 1.2 million Rotary members in 170 countries around the world. Only 11 other Rotarians from this district have held this position since 1912. Mike gave an inspirational speech on the need for cooperative projects with developing nations; particularly in areas without clean drinking water.

The new Lakewood/Rocky River Sunrise Rotary Club meets Wednesday mornings at 7:15 a.m. at the Umerley Center at Rocky River Memorial Hall, behind Rocky River City Hall at Hilliard and W. 210th. The Lakewood/Rocky River Rotary meets noon on Monday at the same location.

There are 22 charter members of the Sunrise Club, representing health care, education, financial services, law, real estate, printing, dentistry, home modernization, and retailing.

The officers are: Gordon Geiger, President Marty Harris, Vice President Lee Larson, Secretary Tim Hill, Treasurer Dave Schiska, Sergeant at Arms Other Directors are: Patti Boesken, Tom Giffels, Todd Kiick.

Kathy Berkshire is the Noon Club Representative on the Sunrise Board. Bill Pinter, of the noon Club received a Distinguished Service plaque for his work over the last year to organize the new club, and submit all the necessary forms to Rotary International to facilitate the awarding of a Charter to the new Club.

The new Sunrise Club is already planning International Rotary projects including hosting an exchange student from Brazil, and raising money to support the Rotary ShelterBox project, which provides low cast temporary emergency housing in case of a disaster.