Thank you
Lorrie Dujmovich
Bellingham Sunrise Rotary celebrated with our annual “Changing of the Guard” day last week. A day of golf, food, fun and friendship as we closed out our Rotary Year, and said Thank You to our out-going President Lorrie Dujmovich.
2024-2025 was an exceptional year for Sunrise Rotary and this is do the exceptional leadership under the guidance of Lorrie.
Jack Keith, long term club secretary summed up the year this way in the recent newsletter:
Overall, we raised $175,000 at Oysterfest, which was held Saturday, February. 1, 2025. After Sunrise Rotary paid bills connected with the event at the Bellingham Country Club, "the net total for Oysterfest was about $152,000, our best year ever!"
Lorrie praised Sunrise members for their generous contributions throughout the year, which made our club stronger and provided funds that we donated to nonprofit groups in Whatcom County as well as international campaigns, in Mexico and Africa.
"Thanks to the Sunrise Board for an awesome year!"
Lorrie thanked board members for helping lead the way, encouraging members to get involved in activities that made Bellingham a better place, and also made Sunrise a great Rotary club. She specifically named many board members, including Bill Mersereau, our treasurer for 27 years; Jack Keith, our secretary who writes the weekly Sunrise newsletters; Patrick Blaine, who this year took command of the Rotaract Club at WWU and the Interact Club at Bellingham High; Corky Smith, our sergeant-at-arms every week for the last 37 years; Scott Mihelich, our club historian for life; Lydia Bennett our Rotary Foundation chairperson; and Dennis Kaiser, who led our small grants committee.
And “Thanks to Chris Vazquez, too!”
Lorrie reminded everyone that Chris stepped up to help out Sunrise when he agreed to take the role of president-elect around mid-year, filling in on short notice. Chris promptly took over the role of inviting people to be our guest speakers. Chris also continued his effort to help organize Oysterfest along with Martin Meade and Barry Lovell.
Chris will take over as President of Bellingham Sunrise Rotary beginning in July.
Many thanks to Lorrie - for an exceptional year!!! Well done!
