The Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Rob McGregor, at our Tuesday, June 29 meeting, as he provided the Club with a review of all that transpired during his presidency which is coming to an end on June 30th. As Dr. Rob labeled his presentation “Year of Lemonade: Turning Lemons into Lemonade” couldn’t have been more accurate.
Who would have predicted when Dr. Rob began his ascent into the Rotary Club of Akron President pathway that he would find himself serving an entire term in a virtual environment? How fortunate that the Club had Dr. Rob’s expertise and commitment to providing the Club support and guidance as we worked our way through the challenges thrust upon the Club as a result of the pandemic.
Dr. Rob began his summary of the year with the following quote from Victor Frankl. “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” It was obvious that Dr. Rob led our Club throughout the past year with that quote in mind.
Some of the accomplishments and activities during Dr. Rob’s tenure as President included the following:
- Pack That Truck/ Akron Food Bank Food Collection
- Isolation Gowns purchased through a District Grant that provided badly needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Children’s Hospital
- Clothing collection to donate materials for masks to be made and distributed to those in need
- Mixology 101 – Shakin, not Stirred
- Akron Urban League – PPE donations to small businesses
- Together but Apart – Metro Parks Hiking Spree Challenge
- The Well CDC $7,000 District Grant for the Akron Hope Program
- Akron Public School - school supplies distribution event
- Recognition of Dr. Jeff Kempf by St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Haiti
- Camp Holiday Drive-by Christmas Party
- Virtual Chili Open - record earnings of $312,486
- Mixology 202 – Manhattan
- Save the Monarchs – Butterfly Milkweed Project Metro Parks
- Partner with the Well to beautify 7 Middlebury properties
Dr. Rob concluded his presentation with the following quote from John F. Kennedy, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past, or the present are certain to miss the future."
Not only is that how Dr. Rob looked at his year as our Club President, but also his belief in the future of our Club.
Thanks for a great year of Leadership Dr. Rob!
Terry Dalton
Club Secretary 2020-2022
