The baton has been passed, and I, Lili Dobert, am honored to serve as your new President. Thank you for the trust and confidence you have placed in me.

As we embark on this new year, our club has set two important goals for Rotary:

• The Rotary Foundation: Raise $5,000 through donations from 20 Glens Falls Rotarians.
• Membership: Welcome 5 new members to our club.

These are the goals we've submitted for the year. But imagine what we could accomplish if every one of us invited just one new member to join our club. We wouldn't just meet our goal—we would exceed it beyond our expectations!

As many of you know, I serve on the Rotary Peace Subcommittee, and one of the initiatives I'm involved with is our Positive Peace Conversations. Through these discussions, one of the greatest lessons I've learned is the profound power of listening.

I've been listening (or trying to!) —to our members, to your ideas, and to your concerns. A theme that has resonated repeatedly is the need for stronger internal communication.

Our club runs exceptionally well in so many ways. We are incredibly fortunate to have dedicated Rotarians who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. With so many talented people contributing, it can sometimes be challenging to find where I can make the greatest difference as your President.

One area where I believe I can contribute significantly is by improving our internal communication. I want to ensure that all members feel informed, connected, heard and included. This will be a key focus throughout the year, and I look forward to working with all of you to make it even better. I ask that you tap into your curiosity and lets have a conversation either through email, text, over coffee or  whichever communication style you like. 

My second passionate initiative for the year centers around our Peace Poles.

Please join us immediately following the lunch meeting, on August 6th, for the planting of our Peace Pole just outside this building at SUNY Adirondack. We will also gather for a group photo at the Peace Pole prior to beginning planting the pole .  I invite you to introduce this meaningful addition to our community.

Kids with Packs with an annual back-to-school organized by Tri-County United Way in collaboration with Nemer Ford in Queensbury.  The event entails packing backpacks with brand-new school supplies for local students across Warren, Washington and Norther Saratoga counties. This initiative reflects a commitment to invest directly in students, educators and families within our communities that need it most.