Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach welcomes new president, presents annual awards

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The Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach installed new President Mark Farrell on June 21 at the club’s final meeting of the 2017-2018 year at Marsh Landing Country Club.

Farrell is the founder of Killashee Investments, LLC in Ponte Vedra Beach and a native of Binghamton, New York. The beginning of his leadership marks the end of Billy Wagner’s term as president. Among several other accomplishments, Wagner’s presidency included raising thousands of dollars for both Rotary and local charities, building a new website and enhancing the club’s technology and holding a five-year strategic planning session. A highlight of the year was the club’s chartering of the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra based in Nocatee, which was the only Rotary club to be chartered in Florida this year.

As a result, Farrell noted Billy’s presidency will be a tough act to follow.

“You ever feel like the little guy with a little shovel with a big bucket walking behind the elephants at the circus?” Farrell joked. “Billy, the way you led us this year is admirable. You made us all proud. Everything you touched, you made better.”

Before Farrell was installed as president, Wagner also honored several members for their contributions throughout the year, recognized the club’s board of directors and presented a few prominent awards to those who went above and beyond. Vickie Cavey was named Rotarian of the Year, the club’s most prestigious honor.

“I can’t even tell you how much she (Vickie) has meant to the club and what she has done,” Wagner said, recognizing the work Cavey completed in organizing the club’s annual Mineral City fundraiser. “I’m so thankful for her. I don’t even know what this year would have been without her.”

In addition to Cavey, Christine Ng received the Don Blackburn Award; Rosemary Takacs received the Service Above Self Award; and Ed Dalton received the Rookie of the Year Award.

An upcoming edition of the Recorder will feature the efforts of Rosemary Takacs, who led a Rotary-sponsored service project in which she worked with a team of female engineers from the University of North Florida to install a new water distribution system in a Mayan village of Guatemala.