Today's regular Thursday meeting was cancelled in favour of our President's Ball, to Honour President Paul and his year.

About 55 of us gathered at the Cambridge Mill for a great night of fun, fellowship, and food.

This annual event is really not to be missed, and I hardly can do it justice in a written account, but here we go!

The most notable events of the evening:

Paul Harris Fellows were awarded to some of our very strong supporters of the Rotary Foundation – each multiple levels after many years of support – Congratulations and thank you to John Jonas, Matt Morris, and George Szczepski

Rookie of the Year – Mike Henhoeffer
This year’s Rookie of the Year was awarded to Mike Henhoeffer, who dove into Rotary with enthusiasm and purpose from day one. Within just his first couple of months, Mike single-handedly revived our Euchre Tournaments and brought valuable attention to a local community organization, the Hespeler Village Association. Mike and his wife Lauren have been enthusiastic supporters of many of our events, and it’s truly a pleasure to have them as part of our Rotary family.

Rotarian of the Year – Tracey Dingwall
This year’s Rotarian of the Year was awarded to Tracey Dingwall, one of our newer members who has made an extraordinary impact in a short time. Tracey has not only attended the majority of our events but has actively supported them — often donating and displaying her Love Letters — while also giving her time to numerous other charities and community organizations. Her dedication and passion for Rotary are truly inspiring. We’re also thrilled to welcome Tracey to the Board as our new Director of Community Service.

All of our dedicated Bingo volunteers were invited to join us on stage as the backdrop for our presentation of a $5,000 donation to the CMHF MRI campaign. A heartfelt thank you to each of you who generously give a few hours each year — your commitment helps make this and so many of our other community contributions possible!

Todd Lyons was also awarded a Paul Harris Fellow for his tireless work updating our bylaws and the steady guidance he continues to offer as a Past President. He often works behind the scenes—keeping events on track, mentoring members, and handling the details that make our projects shine. Todd’s dedication powers so much of the good we achieve in our community.

President Paul said a few thoughtful words on what this past year has meant to him. He reflected on the many good times and triumphs the club experienced together, highlighting the spirit of service and camaraderie that defined his term. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the board and all members for their unwavering support and dedication. As he passes the torch, he shared his confidence in the club's bright future and ongoing impact in the community.

President Paul then passed the gavel to our 2025–2026 Club President, Keith Peers.

President Keith's first move was to award Past President Paul McMenemy a Paul Harris Fellow - in appreciation for the exceptional job he did through the year.  Not just being the head of the board and setting the tone, but for the excellent job done every week at our meetings.  Great job Paul - Thank You!!!

President Keith then took a moment to reflect on his recent experience at the Rotary International Convention in Calgary. He shared how meeting Rotarians from around the world gave him valuable insight into the global scope and impact of Rotary. The convention inspired him with fresh ideas and a renewed sense of purpose as he begins his term. Keith expressed his excitement for the year ahead and his commitment to building on the strong foundation laid by past presidents.