Gary Scanlon was installed as Drouin Rotary Club president at the club’s changeover dinner at the Royal Hotel, Drouin last week.

Mr Scanlon was installed by past president Russell Ford and district governor Mark Humphries.

Mr Scanlon said he considered it a privilege to be elected president.

He joined the club just six years ago.

He will be assisted by secretary Terry Blundell, Mr Ford, treasurer Roger Playdon and directors Bill Petschack, Kevin Roberts, Ian Symons, Sharryn Marshall Bob Vogt and Ian Haughton.

Mr Scanlon commended Mr Ford for the wonderful job he had done leading the club through COVID-19 when meetings, functions and fundraising was difficult.

In his annual report Mr Ford said it had been a difficult year and not just for Rotarians.

He said many organisations were affected as well as businesses and individuals separated from other family members.

He said it was challenging to keep members engaged and the club developed four strategies: community service, finance, fellowship and publicity.

“We are a proud club, and our members are proud people, proud of what we do in the community and the ultimate way to ensure engagement of our members, particularly in the worst of times from July to December 2020, was to ride this emotion of pride,” he said.

Mr Ford said the club was able to achieve great community service despite lockdowns.

“The Board has done an outstanding job and I thank them and commend them for the way that they also had to adapt to changing times. They all not only maintained but built on their portfolios and were very active contributors to board meetings when we were together in a room, together on Zoom or in some cases via rounds of phone calls and emails to address urgent matters.”

Mr Ford said he was particularly proud to be the first father son combination to lead the club.

His father Allan was elected president in 1971/72.  Sadly, his father died after a Rotary dinner meeting aged just 51.

“I was going to say at last year’s changeover dinner which was not held that to become a Rotarian was a privilege, to become a Drouin Rotarian was an honour and to be considered worthy to lead this club is humbling.

“It is still just as relevant today as it would have been then,” he said.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of two Paul Harris Fellowship Awards and the presentation of a sapphire pin to accompany a previous PHF.