Changing of the Guard: Cunningham Reflects on a Productive Term

'13-'14 President Sid Fuller presents Past-President Ben Cunningham with a plaque commemorating his Service Above Self as the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club President for the 2012-2013 year.

At the June 27th Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club meeting, Past-President Ben Cunningham bid the Club farewell as President, recounting for all in attendance his busy year at the helm. 

After recognizing each of the members of his Board, Cunningham celebrated the 2013 Fund Drive, which raised a grand total of $15,170.  The result of the Club's fundraising efforts yields an additional $10,000 for our future Park Project, and $5,000 to distribute in grants to local nonprofit agencies. 

Club social events were also a big part of the past Rotary year, with the implementation of Club Happy Hours complementing the Fall Fiesta at the Villafranca's and the Christmas Party at the Lonquist's.  The Club raised $2,725 for the Rotary Foundation, and Regina Edwards once again worked with the Montego Bay Rotary Club in Jamaica to benefit the Cornwall Regional Hospital, and Blessed Assurance and West Haven Children's Homes. 

Our Club was once again home to the Four-Way Test Speech Contest Champion, Kevin Kehl, and was featured in Forbes Magazine for our efforts in Jamaica, as well as here at home with the Mentoring Program.  Five of our Club members were nominated for District Awards, and Doug Rudman conducted a New Member Orientation at Newman Smith High School.  We honored our nation's Veterans for the 9th consecutive year at the Veteran's Day luncheon, and sposored a Hebron High School sophomore to travel to Germany as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange.

All in all, is was a very productive year, and our Club made leaps and bounds in becoming more relevant, which was Cunningham's vision at the start of his term.