2022-2023

2022-2023

There was much to celebrate during our Centennial year. As Caty Crockett served her second term as President of the Club we marked many milestones. At Thanks- giving we held our 67th annual meeting with Kiwanis and together raised $40,000 for the Salvation Army food pantry. Our 27th annual Santa Clothes provided 350 at risk students with essential clothing and an afternoon of games with members of the UNLV Athletic Department. Our 44th annual Valedictorian Luncheon hosted the top scholars from 52 area high schools. After a pause due to the Covid pandemic, we were able to resume presenting the Wetzel Awards, which have been honoring Nellis and Creech airmen for more than 20 years. Under the Chairmanship of Gary Vause, the Las Vegas Rotary Foundation celebrated its 25th year and spun off $84,000 for community projects for the coming year and continued to successfully steward our endowment through an uncertain market. In honor of our Centennial year the club donated $100,000 over two years to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts for their educational initiatives. Past President Jackie Thornhill oversaw the production of our Centennial book with the able assis- tance of Tina Bishop and David Jones, who was able to research the details of our first project, identify the child we had helped and locate the family. Martin Eaton’s son Jim was a special guest at our Centennial Celebration dinner. The event, chaired by Janice Lenke, was a beautiful evening at the Historic Fifth Street School featuring dinner and dancing and special presentations. Our iconic showroom curtain which served as a backdrop for our meetings during the decades we met in Strip showrooms graced one wall of the former elementary school gym. The 25 Club adopted the Oral History project in conjunction with the UNLV Library’s Special Collections and focused on interviewing senior members of the Club. Meanwhile, the Club continued our work with six at-risk schools and partnership with Spread the Word Nevada. We assisted Green Our Planet with their school garden projects and farmers’ markets and the Discovery Children’s Museum with their events. Each week saw many opportunities for members to be involved in a variety of projects.  Under the directorship of Mike Cudiamat we participated in several international projects through RI, medical missions, a water project and aid to Ukraine. The Grants Committee under President-Elect Toni Kern revamped the grant screening process and the Club was able to award $66,000 to community organizations, bolstered by a generous donation from Tom and Leslie Thomas in recognition of the Club Centennial. Toni Kern and Fundraising Co-chair Brian Sorrentino developed a new platform that raised $40,000 for the following year’s Annual Programs Fund and that will be instrumental in fundraising efforts in the future. Greg Maguire made sure that we had great speakers each week that focused on our club’s history and the future of our community. At District Conference, the Club was recognized by District 5300 with the Governor’s Bell for Best Large Club. The year concluded with the demotion party being held at the home of Past President Mike Ballard. There was a twist on the traditional dunking with stunt double Tom Krob taking the plunge for President Caty, for which she was very grateful! Past President Tom Krob was recognized as Club Champion for his years of service to the Club. Janice Lenke received special recognition for her work on the Centennial Celebration. Tina Bishop received the Service Above Self Award. And Shawn Noorda was recognized for her ongoing and tireless dedication to the Club.