President's Letter - July 5, 2021

Dear Fellow Rotarians, 

 

Here we are again: It was 103 years ago that our club gavel was first passed from one president to the next. I’m honored to have received the mantle from Past-President Stacey Lydon at her Step-Down last month. Please join me in again acknowledging her extraordinary year of leadership. We are in a better place as a club because of her many contributions. 

 

I asked a stranger to take this photo of me while visiting Cape Town, South Africa, in 2018. I’m next to a Rotary wheel prominently displayed in the heart of the city harbor. Upon discovery, I had one of those “ah ha” moments that Rotary was bigger, more far reaching than I had imagined upon joining our club the previous year. 

 

 

And now I’m here as your president for 2021-2022 and pleased to introduce our Board for the year: 

 

Club President: Matt Nehmer
Past President & Secretary: Stacey Lydon
President-Elect & Club Services: Michael Baker
Director & Membership Chair: Steve Baker
Director & Youth Chair: Margo Byrne
Director & Vocational Chair: Dan Herlinger 
Director & Treasurer: Marshall Howen
Director & International Chair: Don Jack
Director & Community Service Chair: Jennifer LeMert

 

As we prepare to set our sails for a new year, I know that there’s a question on many of your minds: Where are we meeting? It’s on my mind too. Our working plan is to go “on tour” and rotate around different venues until we find a permanent home. It’s my No. 1 goal for the year and an area of focus for the board. Stay turned for updates. 

 

Until then, we kick off the new year on July 16, followed by our first happy hour on July 23, and annual meeting on July 30. I hope to see all of you there. After more than a year of Covid, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara is back: Back in person and back directly serving our community. I look forward to continuing our club’s 100+ journey with all of you. 

 

In service,
Matt Nehmer