The Rotary Club of Lake County Golden Triangle gathered on June 21 at the Country Club of Mount Dora to recognize the accomplishments of the past year and to mark the transition to a new board of directors. 

The club applauded outgoing Board of Directors President Richard Guckenberger, his board team and the membership as a whole for completing many acts of “Service Above Self” in the past year. Among its activities, the club:

• Awarded $26,000 in scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year to 13 central Florida residents who are pursuing higher education degrees.
• Sponsored and coordinated the 4^th Annual Tri-City Fire Department Food Drive Challenge.  During the past four years, the club has collected a total of 91,401 pounds of unexpired, shelf-stable food for Lake Cares Food Pantry, providing 76,168 meals to those struggling with food insecurity. For 2024, 25,086 pounds of food were collected with  Eustis Fire Department in first place again with an overall total of 16,708 pounds, Mount Dora Fire Department in second place with a total of 6,860 pounds, and Tavares Fire Department third with a total of 2,302 pounds. 
• Aided four local charitable organizations through weekly “Happy Dollar” contributions from club members:
  • Seminole Springs Elementary School in Eustis for school supplies
  • Wreaths Across America for wreath placements in Pine Forest Cemetery, Mount Dora, to honor and remember veterans
  • Special Hearts Farm based in Winter Garden that provides individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities an opportunity to participate in meaningful farming and gardening experience
  • Open Door, Eustis, a drop-in center that provides needed services and assistance to homeless individuals.
• Cleaned up trash along Waycross Avenue and Abrams Road during the club’s Adopt-A-Highway held quarterly on Saturday mornings.
• Sponsored six high school students to attend the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp. Five club members volunteered during the weekend.
• Sponsored the Children’s Christmas party with food and gifts for families residing at the Mount Dora Children’s Home.
• Held the Inaugural Fiesta De Mi Gente “Party of My People,” a music festival that featured four live bands celebrating Latin music heritage and genres.
• Contributed to the new building construction for Lake Cares.
• Awarded Paul Harris Fellowship pins to club members Chuck Hiott, Dee Johns, Ruth Jones, Shane Sherman, Janet Westlake and Vickie Stockglausner.  Continuing the legacy of Rotary International’s founder, the Paul Harris Society honors and thanks individuals for their generous, ongoing monetary support of the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund, international approved global grants, and the PolioPlus Fund.
• Members participated in the club’s fundraisers at Freedom on the Waterfront, Last Call of Summer, Light Up Mount Dora, Planes, Tunes and BBQ, Rocktober Fest and the 43rd Annual Sunnyland Boat Festival. 
• Rotary Zones 33/34 awarded the club a Gold citation for the work of the club’s Public Image Committee.
• Encouraged club members to contribute during the Mount Dora Community Trust Giving Week.
• Contributed Easter baskets to the Cassia Community Club in Eustis.
• In addition, the weekly speakers program featured movers and shakers in Lake County and environs representing government, schools, charitable organizations and the private sector.
• The club also enjoyed fellowship gatherings on the third Thursday of the month for club members, their family and friends. Activities included a fish fry, chili cookoff, lawn bowling, BBQ, holiday party, tailgate party, blueberry picking and other social get-togethers at different venues in the area.

Beginning July 1 serving on the Board of Directors as the club officers are President Jim Dickerson, President-Elect Kathy Yarbrough, Treasurer Bill Brooks, Secretary Kristi Van Dyke, and Immediate Past President Richard Guckenberger, as well as these committee chairpersons: Shane Sherman for Community Services, Janet Westlake for Youth Services, Dale Reed for Foundation, Ruth Jones for Membership and Sabrina Gowen-Ciccarelli who is shadowing Jones in the coming year, Tom Miranda and Michell Middleton for Programs, Deb Hickok for Public Image, and Sargeant-at-Arms Chuck Hoitt. 

“Richard and his team have left the club in great shape, and I want to continue what he started,” said Dickerson. He  outlined the board’s priorities for the coming year which includes the recruitment of new members, development of a five-year strategic plan, and creation of guidelines for all the club activities/programs.

The Golden Triangle Rotary encompasses Eustis, Tavares and Mount Dora and environs. Guests are welcome at club luncheons typically held on the first, second, and fourth Thursdays of the month at 11:45 a.m. at the Country Club of Mount Dora in Mount Dora. Find out more about activities and membership at www.lakecountyrotary.com.