The Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra (Nocatee) has a new president. Club charter member Karen Everett was sworn in as the group’s new leader during a “Pass the Gavel Celebration and Installation” event at Maggiano’s in Town Center last week.
After Everett recited the oath of office and received her president’s pin, she told the assembled audience, “My goal this year is to encourage current and future engaged members to improve our community and world with fellowship, friendship and fun along with a dose of Rotary magic.”
The Magic of Rotary is the 2024-25 Rotary International theme that clubs will embrace.
In addition to Everett’s swearing in, the club’s outgoing president, Joshua Hull, presented gift baskets to his board and handed out three special recognition awards. Rotarian Rosemary Lorenz received the President’s Award for her service to the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Everett collected the Dr. Leona Farrell Award for working quietly behind the scenes for years in service to the club. And the Rotarian of the Year award went to the immediate past club President and outgoing Chairman of the Ponte Vedra Rotary Foundation (the club’s charitable foundation) Bob Wiltfong.
In return, the club gave appreciation gifts to Hull to commemorate an outstanding year under his leadership. After receiving his Past President pin, Hull told the gathering, “I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of this club this year and there were many. We learned of a need for local students who were considered homeless. As soon as our club identified the need, we partnered with a local nonprofit, Mission to End Student Homelessness (MESH), and raised $20,000 to assist students in need. Our club continues to be committed to the Rotary value of ‘Serive Above Self’ in our local community and beyond.”
The District Governor of Rotary District 6970, Mickey Ulmer, from the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach was on hand to celebrate and participate in the installation ceremony, as was Dale Moe, charter president of the Rotary Club of Northwest Jacksonville and 2024-25 District Governor Nominee.
The Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra, chartered in April of 2018, is one of 64 Rotary Clubs in North Florida that comprise Rotary District 6970. Its mailing address is 101 Marketside Ave., Units 404-111, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081. Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves. For information about where in Nocatee the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra meets, email an inquiry to: pontevedrarotary@gmail.com.
