BRAINERD ROTARY Don Ryan  2003-2004

(83) Don Ryan
     2003-2004

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as the President of the Brainerd Rotary Club for the 2003-2004 Rotary year.  I  want to thank all of the Rotarians, and especially the Leadership Team, who worked so hard this year.  It was through their efforts that we had a truly Fun and Successful year.  Most importantly I want to thank my wife Marie and my daughter Fallon for supporting and inspiring me through the year.  But for them, my involvement would not have been possible.  

As part of this year end report I have included a copy of the 2003-2004 Club plan, a copy of our District 5580 awards submission, a disc containing a copy of our weekly news letter for the past year, and a copy of the District awards that we received.  These documents best explain the efforts of our club during this past year. 

It is not by accident or oversight that Brainerd Rotary was recognized with 5 of the 8 District awards, including “Best in the District”.  It also was not an accident that Brainerd Rotary was the #1 Club in the District in foundation giving for the second straight year.  Rather, it is through the undaunted efforts of our Membership that we achieve such recognition.  At District Conference Brainerd Rotary was referred to as a “Flag Ship Club” and held out as an example for other clubs to follow.  This is something that we can all be truly proud of.  We are blessed to be a part of this Rotary Club Family and it’s rich tradition of leadership.  However, we the Brainerd Rotarians of today must not rest on our laurels.  Instead, we must strive to enrich this tradition and pass it on a little better than we inherited it.  I am reminded of the words of my high school football coach:

    Sometimes, not nearly often enough, we get a chance to be part of something greater than our selves, 
    and it starts this way, with the belief that WE CAN.

Together the Brainerd Rotary Club can continue to make a difference.

It is with great sorrow that we say good bye to James Alderman and James Weigel who have passed away this last year.  However, it is with great joy that we celebrate their respective involvement in Rotary and recognize their respective contributions to our rich traditions. 

I look forward to continued involvement in Rotary as a past president of the Brainerd Rotary Club.  I thank my fellow Rotarians for the faith and confidence that they showed in me by electing as their 2003-2004 president.  And, I again thank them for their undaunted efforts of this past year.

                                                                 Respectively Submitted
                                                                 Don Ryan
                                                                 2003-2004 Brainerd Rotary President

07/03/2008