West Chicago Rotary Club Recognizes Outgoing President

On June 25, Melody E. Coleman, Administrative Librarian at the West Chicago Public Library District and outgoing Rotary president, was recognized with a plaque thanking her for her energy and her efforts to promote Rotary objectives to the community and the club. This was Ms. Coleman's second term as president of the organization, a position she has held thanks to the support of the Library Board of Trustees. Her first term, in 2005, marked the very first time a woman had held the position.

Believing in “service above self,” Rotary is a world fellowship of business and professional executives who accept the ideal of service as the basis for success and happiness in business and community life. As incoming president last year, Ms. Coleman said, “Literacy will be our community focus in the coming year,” a focus which was fitting given her position at the Library. In highlighting the club's accomplishments over the past year at the Installation and Recognition dinner, Ms. Coleman included donations made by the club to Literacy DuPage and the Library's summer reading program, as well as the funding of three scholarships to West Chicago High School Interact Club members. In addition, she highlighted a special contribution, in partnership with the Carol Stream Rotary, to help fund the construction of the Sensory Garden Playground, a special project of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association to provide a universally accessible playground environment to children with disabilities.

Julie Clark, Assistant Governor of Rotary International District 6440, was on hand to install officers as Ms. Coleman turned over the gavel to incoming president Maggie Burnitz. Also recognized were retiring members Wayne Kuntze, Lalo Ponce, Christie Poulin, and John Yancey. Club member Mary Ann Manna was sworn in as the new club treasurer.