What a complete honor and pleasure it is to serve as President or as I like to call myself “Duchess” of Anchorage South Rotary. This is an exciting year for Rotarians as we celebrate many milestones, our 100th anniversary of The Rotary Foundation which started with the first donation of $26.50, which you will get a personal challenge from myself to become a sustaining member! Also we are celebrating 30 years of woman in Rotary, it’s incredible how times have changed! And our hopes to end to Polio, as I type this only 12 cases are left in the world! Something each Rotarian should be incredibly proud of!
Anchorage South Rotary, or as we like to call ourselves the “FUN CLUB”, live up to our name through many different efforts. From our fellowship to our “fun”-raisers and through our weekly meetings and community service we have FUN! We enjoy the company of each other and truly do practice the 4-way test and believe in Service Above Self. We welcome visiting Rotarians and guests to be part of this FUN! If you are interested in becoming a Rotarian, which I highly recommend as it is one of the best decisions I have made in my adult life, please reach out to myself or our Membership Co-Chair! It truly is life changing!
Our membership continues to grow and change. We are holding strong around 80 members. Our members truly represent our community and various industries – from a local “watering hole” owner, to CPA’s, to bankers, to Doctors, to real estate agentss, to on-air personalities plus more! We are a diverse, high energy group that has FUN!
As for our community support and service we hold a vibrant School-Business Relationship with Chinook Elementary. We have Rotarians read or have the pleasure of students reading to us each week the school is in session to help with childhood literacy. Anchorage South Rotary also supports Chinook with turkeys for their Turkey Bingo night, provide food for the volunteers for Multi-Cultural Night, built a long jump pit, built library seating for students, and supply the nurse closet with clothing and needed food items. Anchorage South also provides flowers to Mother’s at Providence Extended Care, has a team at the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, has a booth at Kid’s Day, hosts a S’mores and hot dog roasting booth at Fur Rondy, helped at the Downtown Soup Kitchen Slamin’ Salmon Derby, we will be constructing and supplying 20 Little Free Libraries across Anchorage in partnership with Anchorage Hillside Club and also support Camp Erin, a grief camp for children who have dealt with loss in their life plus MANY MORE! We live by the motto, more hands make a lighter load, so we welcome all to get involved in one way or more!
Lastly, Anchorage South Rotary Club is the proud “parents” of an in-bound and out-bound youth exchange student. We are proud to be part of such an incredible opportunity to mold the leaders of tomorrow and show them the beautiful state of Alaska and also learn from them and their culture.
Let us continue to HAVE FUN and be Rotarians who serve humanity and put service above self,
Your “Duchess”
Jess Gutzwiler