Members of the Buckhannon Rotary Club welcomed special guest speaker First Lady Gayle Manchin Tuesday during their annual dinner and induction ceremony at the Riverbend Golf Club. Highlights of the evening, in addition to Manchin, included the installation of one of their own as district governor.
More than 100 registered for the dinner, with 33 attending from other clubs in the state.
Manchin spoke to Rotarians on the ideals of being a Rotary member.
"It is a pleasure for me to be here," she said. "I am looking forward to the induction of the second lady district governor."
Manchin is a member of the Vandalia Rotary Club and once served as that club's president. During the Sago Mine incident, the Buckhannon club helped a lot of people, she said. After that act of kindness and caring, Vandalia made a donation to the Buckhannon Club.
"We as Rotarians need a vision of what is going on around us," Manchin said. "In that way we can make a difference. It will take all the Rotary clubs working together to accomplish this dream."
Following Manchin's speech, Jody Light, a member of the Buckhannon Rotary Club, was installed as the district governor of District 7530, only the second woman to serve in that position. The first district governor was Mary Dean, also from the Buckhannon Club.
Light thanked everyone who had helped during her time in Rotary.
"I am glad to have a wonderful team of Rotarians to work with," Light said. "There is no limit to what we can accomplish this year.
"There is a lot to be done, and with your help it can be done," Light said.
"I will be learning each day," she said. "But if we keep an open mind we can accomplish many things this year."
Following the induction of Light as district governor, the Buckhannon club installed its officers for the new year. Those officers include, David Long, president; J.C. Rafferty, president-elect; Steve Foster, vice president; Burl Smith, past president; Joan Harmon, secretary; Dan Chenoweth, treasurer; Marty Kelley, international service; Lisa Deatherage, community service; Kwame Boateng, family of Rotary; Al Tucker, vocational service; Rich Clemens, club service; Patrick Balch, club membership; and Mary Dean, Rotary Foundation.
The new officers officially assumed their new duties Wednesday.
