Welcome Rotarians and non-Rotarians to the Rotary Club of Pittston, Pennsylvania.
. . . Twelve years ago, when I was a relatively new Rotarian and whilst being installed for the first time as president of the Rotary Club of Pittston, I threw down the “Gauntlet”, it never crossed my mind that twelve years hence I would be installed for the fifth time as president. Again, as it has been for the last four, it will be an honor and a privilege to lead our club for the year appropriately named “The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands” – which is the theme selected by Rotary International President John Kenny for the 2009-2010 year. More than a million Rotarians the world over give of themselves to help those who need a helping hand. This help may be the administration of millions of doses of polio vaccine to children in areas where we've yet to finish the job of polio eradication – or the drilling of a well to supply clean potable water to a village with no reliable source of fresh water – or a low cost shelter for families that have no roof over their heads. These are only a few of the things Rotarians do without asking “what's in it for me?” The “what's in it for them” is the wonderful feeling they get by helping someone in desperate need and thereby making the world a better place in which to live.
. . . Polio is a terrible disease and we are very close to eradicating it from the world. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have put up a $200 million challenge to Rotarians to help us finish the job of Polio eradication. We Rotarians must match the challenge! The only four countries where Polio is still endemic are Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria. For me it is easily remembered by the acronym P A I N. We need to finish the job!
. . . IIF you aren't a Rotarian and want to experience that wonderful feeling yourself, why not ask a Rotarian if you can become one of us. The Rotary Club of Pittston has done many useful projects since its inception in 1920 and we strive to continue that tradition. Five years ago we started our "Score a Goal Against Hunger” project. We collect non-perishable food and cash donations for the local food banks from Penguins fans at the arena. Each year the amount of food we collected has exceeded the amount from the previous year. This tells me that there are a lot of caring individuals out there that would make good Rotarians. We need to seek them out and convince them that they can do even more good by joining Rotary.
. . . Again, it is my honor to serve this club as president for the Rotary year 2009-2010. The Pittston Rotarians are a “can do” bunch and always get the job done in exemplary fashion. Thank you for your vote of confidence Pittston Rotarians, and your “Future of Rotary is in Your Hands” attitude!

Marty Snyder, President