Rotary Club of Hilo installs new president, officers

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More than 80 Rotarians met June 28 at the Hilo Yacht Club to install a new president and board for the upcoming Rotary year that begins July 1.

More than 80 Rotarians met June 28 at the Hilo Yacht Club to install a new president and board for the upcoming Rotary year that begins July 1.

In addition to a great dinner and ceremony, there was a heartfelt “mahalo” to outgoing president Wally Wong.

Longtime Rotarian Randy Hart was installed as the new president by the incoming District 5000 Gov. Clint Schroeder. Rotary International’s theme for this year is “Rotary Serving Humanity,” with service to communities locally and around the world.

One of the most outstanding accomplishments of Rotary International has been its role in drastically reducing polio in other countries.

Along the lines of the Rotary International theme, Hart plans to continue the club’s efforts to help Fiji after its devastating cyclone of February 2016. In partnership with the local community, more than $57,000 was raised for the first emergency relief handled through another Rotary project, “ShelterBox.”

Closer to home, proceeds from the club’s recent Hilo Brewfest will go to the nonprofit Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of East Hawaii that assists abused children and the Hilo Medical Foundation’s Residency Program that encourages newly trained doctors to remain in East Hawaii.

A portion of the proceeds also goes to the club’s foundation that helps with many special projects and needs in the community, Hart said.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Hilo, visit hilorotary.org.