Welcome to a new Rotary year! Last week, Rotary Club of Pago Pago (RCPP) installed a new board and leadership in a boisterous evening of food, fellowship and awards.
RCPP's annual changeover event was held Friday June 28th, 2024 at Sadie Thompson Inn. A crowd of nearly 60 members and guests gathered to farewell outgoing President Cherith Soliai and welcome incoming President Moeroa Hardman and her board of directors.
The evening was expertly MC'd by Vice-President Elect Raymond David. The first order of business was for President Cherith to induct her spouse Archie Soliai as a Rotarian. Afterwards, Cherith gave thanks to the club.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my Rotarian friends, both young and rustic for an experience of a lifetime. It has been a pleasure to lead the Rotary Club of Pago Pago, but most of all, to also learn from the process and the people," she said.
President Cherith, in her last official act before passing on the chains of office to incoming President Moeroa, recognized several Rotarians and honored guests. First, she presented engraved clocks as Lifetime Awards to those who have served in the club for 20 or more years:
■ Tom Drabble - Joined 1969
■ Roy Hall - Joined 1975
■ Peter Crispin - Joined 1979
■ Joe Weilenman - Joined 1989
■ Brent Young - Joined 1998
■ Will Sword - Joined 2000
■ Lenita Young - Joined 2001
■ Jackie Hall - Joined 2001
Next, Cherith distributed special commemorative art pieces to the RCPP board of directors for 2023-2024:
(Cherith Soliai - President)
Moeroa Hardman - Vice President/Club Service Chair
Raymond David - Treasurer
Jackie Hall - Secretary/Membership Chair
Faafua Cummings - Fundraising Chair
Danielle King - Youth Service Chair
Leilani Tuamoheloa-Tilo - Community Service Chair
Peter Crispin - Vocational Service Chair
Katrina Mariner - Immediate Past President/International Service Chair
Frank Barron - Area Governor
Agnes Polu - Sergeant-at-Arms
Next, Cherith distributed club awards:
○ Rotarians of the Year - Joey Cummings & Faafua Cummings
○ Service Above Self/Media In Action Award - Joey Cummings
○ Perseverance Award - Danielle King
○ Service Above Self/New Kid on the Block Award - Max Sudnovsky
○ Service Above Self/Rotaract Award - Tiara Drabble
○ Excellence in Club Service - Moeroa Hardman
○ Bold & Dynamic Award - Agnes Polu
Cherith also presented a special plaque called "The Recipe for Love" to Rob and Moeroa Hardman in honor of their long service to the club as a dynamic couple.
Cherith also aknowledged honored guest Isabel Hudson who is President of the Lions Club of Pago Pago. Also in attendance was Titilia Bese (President of the Rotary Club of Apia) and Athena Polu (President-Elect Rotaract Club of American Samoa Community College). Cherith gave highlights of the collaborations between the Rotary Club of Pago Pago and it's neighboring service clubs.
With those formalities complete, it was time for the main event! To begin the changeover, a group of Rotary Club’s finest dancers - Gun, Andrew and Max - made a musical procession into the dining room. Their skilled swaying and gyrating was applauded as MC Ray announced the entrance of Moeroa who performed a beautiful dance in the elegant Cook Islands style. (See the videos at the end of this article.)
Cherith made the transition official by bestowing Moeroa with the official RCPP Chains of Office. Then, she presented Moeroa with the banner for Rotary Year 2024-2025 featuring Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick's presidental theme "The Magic of Rotary."
"Thank you all for being here. To all our members, young and old. It is an honor to be selected. We are going to have a great year!" said President Moeroa.
Thusly installed, Moeroa introduced the Rotary Club of Pago Pago's board of directors for 2024-2025:
Moeroa Hardman - President
Raymond David - Vice President
Danielle King - Treasurer
Faafua Cummings - Secretary
Cherith Lober Soliai - Immediate Past President
Frank Barron - Director
Margie Tafiti - Director
Chris Brown - Director
Natalia Palamo - Director
Justin Tuiasosopo - Director
Joey Cummings - Sergeant-at-Arms
Along with the delicious food prepared by Taloga Drabble and her staff, everyone enjoyed the music of "Maestro" Ulale Ulale. The night was peppered with sing-alongs and scrumptious desserts. The evening was capped off with cake, dancing and fellowship.
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