Past President Len Kennedy welcomed President Doug to his new position.  President Doug is known to most of us as a Rotarian and will also be known to many as active in the local real estate sector since the 1990’s.  His career really took off when he joined forces with Judi Rufo in 2001 which led to the creation of the most dynamic real estate team in the Belleville area. It was also the beginning of an amazing life together, including their marriage in 2008. Doug joined Rotary in 2008 after he and wife Judi Rufo donated $5,000 to our club collected from guests at their wedding earlier that year. These funds helped Dr. Ruth with her service in Africa. Doug worked on the Rotary AIDS Walk Committee and acted as Chair of the AIDS Walk for 2 years.  He joined the Board for 2013-2014 Rotary year under Past-President Paul VandeGraaf…. Len had the pleasure of working with Doug on the Board for the next 3 years and found his input helpful and thoughtful.   Doug served 2 years as Club Secretary after taking over from Past District Governor Bill MacKay.
Doug passed the brutal entry requirements to work with the kitchen crew at Merrywood. With 4 years of dishwashing under his apron, Doug says it has been one of the most fulfilling Rotary activities in which he has participated, despite the demands of working with that kitchen team!. He has found it a great example of Fellowship, Service above Self, and it proves that Rotarians are “People of Action”.   Doug helps lead the family business, the newly branded “Rufo Real Estate Team”, along with wife Judi and stepson Joey.
Doug is a personable leader, team player and effective communicator, a dapper dresser and a highly engaged person who supports many causes in our community. I think we are fortunate to be under his leadership in our Centennial year.
 
Doug thanked Past President Len for that generous and safe introduction.  Of all the Pokerstars he chose Len because he knew he would handle the assignment with some class and decorum, the rest of them, well….?   Special welcome to Doug’s wife Judi Rufo and our new First Lady, and to Doug's stepson and second business partner Joey Rufo.  You might know them better as the Rufo Real Estate Team… and Doug.   Doug thanked Past President Andrew for his steady hand last year, he fulfilled that commitment with grace and diplomacy.   Doug also thanked the retiring directors Adam Zegouras and Drew Brown. 
 
Now into our new Rotary year, our 100th year!  100 years of service in our community and around the world.  100 years of fellowship and friendship.  He is extremely honoured to lead the Club in our Centennial year.  We have a great new Board of Directors eager to get to work at the job of managing the affairs of our club.  He wanted to thank them for their commitment to the future of our club.  They are a diverse and dedicated group with a passion for Rotary and this community. The Board includes three satellite club members, President Elect Tim McKinney, Directors Collin Myers and Peter Malone.  Joining them are Past President Andrew Bandler, Vice President and Club Secretary Darryl Smith, Club Secretary Brenda Snider.  The other Directors are Karen Baker, Randy Coker, Cory MacKay, Ashley Rushnell, John Smale and Jeanette Minaker.  Jeanette has also accepted the new role of Executive Secretary to help keep the club focused on our goals.
 
Rotary around the world is changing, evolving, and adapting.  Our club is no different.  Doug has seen many changes since he joined the Board in 2013-14.  Our Satellite club has engaged a new portion of our community.  We’ve changed the process for electing our Board of Directors resulting in a more committed and engaged Board.  We have started to simplify and consolidate our committee structure.  We have outsourced our bookkeeping and accounting.  Lots of positive change. The Rotary Club of Belleville must continue to change to be more relevant, more vibrant and more impactful in our service.  We will consider anything that improves the overall health of our club and increases our impact in our community.  We have to accept that change is the only constant.  We need to be open to new ideas.  No matter how random, we will give consideration.  No one should be afraid to bring their thoughts and ideas forward.  For example, in addition to our new “Men Who Cook. Women Who Sizzle” fundraiser we are exploring two exciting new fundraisers brought forward by President Elect Tim.
 
Rotary Clubs around the world are challenged with attracting, engaging and retaining membership.  Our club is no different.  Every year we have the same challenge.  New members join our club and some leave.  Total membership stays very close to 120 – 125.  That’s not a problem if our membership is fully engaged through the fellowship offered by the club and actively participating in fundraising and service projects.  The Board wants to ensure we are fully engaging our members new and old.  We have already started taking steps to play a better membership game.  We have better vetting of new members, a stellar new mentorship program created and led by past district governor Bill MacKay.  More purposeful outreach to all members to ensure everyone is getting what they want from Rotary.  For this year Doug has asked Past President Kelly McKinney to lead a new and improved membership committee that will oversee the overall health of our membership.  Kelly will be forming a group to oversee everything membership.  To help we are ramping up our Public Relations Committee to include more social media and press attention.  We hope this will connect out current members fully with the club and inspire others to join in the fun.   Our recent dedication of the Rotary Music Garden was a great example of how a bit of publicity can help enhance the impact of our club.  This was the first event of our Centennial year and Doug's first duty as president.  With the leadership of past district governor Bill MacKay your 100 Anniversary committee has been planning some great events and projects to mark this historic milestone.  Special thanks to Dave Albert for providing the office space for the work of this committee. We will also be celebrating our Centennial with a formal Gala on April 1st next year.  A small but focused Gala committee led by Pat Feasey is well on their way to a great event.
 
A quick update on his trip to Hamburg, Germany for the Rotary International Convention.  They enjoyed the walk for Polio on their first day, took in a ballet sponsored by the Host Committee.  Met with now Rotary International President Mark Maloney and formally invited him to speak at our 100th Anniversary Gala. Each year the President of Rotary International leads over 1.2 million Rotarians around the world.  Each president chooses a theme for their year in office.  This year’s RI President Mark Maloney created the theme of “Rotary Connects the World”.  For Doug, Rotary and the Rotary Club of Belleville has always been about connections.  When he came to his first lunch meeting, he could not believe how many people to whom he was already connected. Rotary connects us to each other.  Rotary connects us to our community.  Rotary connects us to the world.  Rotary connects us to something deeper in ourselves.
 
Let’s celebrate, let’s take action and let’s connect. Past President Tracy thanked Doug, and mentioned that Rotary is the key to longevity, connecting with people you will live longer.  She wished him a fantastic and fun year.