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“Our club is in great shape moving ahead,” outgoing Albemarle Rotary President Jan Goetz said before yielding the gavel at a recent club meeting.

The meeting marked the first of the club’s business year, at which new officers are inducted.

Goetz, who had become president in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, reflected upon the challenges of leading the organization through quarantine.

“What a year it has been,” she said, noting that despite inconveniences such as virtual meetings and delays and cancellations of many club projects and activities, the local club has responded well.

“Our Rotarians have risen to the occasion,” said Goetz, who noted that while some Rotary clubs nationwide had been “shaken to the core” by the pandemic, the local club remains strong, both in membership and financially. She concluded by expressing gratitude to her fellow Rotarians, committee chairs and board members.

Incoming President Dr. Surendrapal S. Mac also expressed his gratitude for Goetz’s leadership.

“I’ve learned a lot from Jan,” he said, praising her efforts in navigating the club through “unprecedented times,” and presented her a plaque in appreciation of her service.

“I’m humbled and honored to be elected Albemarle Rotary president,” said Mac, who thanked the club members for their confidence and pledged to do his best to uphold the club’s principles and purposes.

He then made a short presentation in which he referenced the upcoming year’s planned goals, projects and events. These included:

• Meals on Wheels;
• Rise Against Hunger;
• Dictionaries for local elementary school students;
• Scholarships to local high school seniors;
• Veterans’ Lunch;
• Community Grants;
• Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART);
• Rotary Foundation Polio Plus; and
• Honor Flight.

The slate of incoming officers and directors for Albemarle Rotary Club is as follows:

• President Dr. Surendrapal S. Mac;
• President-Elect Bob Remsburg;
• President Nominee Mandi Rogers;
• Treasurer Steve Laton;
• Secretary Sandy Selvy-Mullis;
• Sergeant-At-Arms Bob Sweet;
• Board Calvin Gaddy;
• Board Dolly Clayton;
• Board Kate Gibson;
• Board Barbara Whitley;
• Board Jay Almond;
• Board Doug Mattox; and
• Past President Jan Goetz.