The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville announces its 2019-20 officers and board of directors as follow: Officers: John Hamels, president; Tracy Bennett, treasurer; Janese Berkhouse, secretary; Mary Swanson, immediate past president; and directors: Patty Benton, Luci Petrella and Pete Bills. Submitted photo

WESTFIELD — On June 18, the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville held its installation banquet at the Grape Discovery Center in Westfield.

Mary Swanson, club president 2018-19, led the program.

“Small acts became the focus of this Rotary year and we were active,” she said. “Together, our club was able to perform 22 different actions that positively impacted our locality. Our actions took on the form of cleaning up highways, the Yorker Museum grounds in Sherman, and the Westfield Cemetary. We served turkey dinners to the less fortunate in our neighborhood, and sent out best wishes on cards for Meals on Wheels recipients and to our hospitalized veterans. We assisted Blue Star Mothers in packing boxes for soldiers far away. We held fundraisers to support our community hospital, library, high school student scholarships, student leadership trainings, and many other worthy nonprofits and organizations, like Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care and the Chautauqua Adult Day Care Services.”

Then Swanson presented the “Unsung Hero Award” to Janese Berkhouse, immediate past club president, and offered her a gift of a Rotary hammered metal dish as a token of appreciation.

“She stepped in any time she was asked, and volunteered on her own when she intuitively felt the need. She defines grace.” Berkhouse tearfully expressed her gratitude for the honor.

Swanson named Sue Hammond, club public relations chair, as the recipient of her “Hustle with Heart Award,” and also gave her a Rotary metal dish in appreciation. “With this particular award, heart is associated with compassion, and with being selfless. I think this energy comes from connecting to something beyond ourselves. This connection occurs when we tap into the authenticity of what is really motivating us. I think that what motivates this person [Hammond], and brings such high achieving results, comes from her heart, her passion, and her desire to help other people — with a hand up.”

Jim Wakeman, club foundation chair, announced that Westfield-Mayville Rotarians individually contributed a total of $2,385 to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Program Fund, and $546 to its PolioPlus Fund during the past club year. Wakeman presented certificates of appreciation to 19 club members who donated $50 or more to The Rotary Foundation Fund in 2018-2019.

As Swanson concluded her term as president, she received from the club her Past Club President’s pin and name badge as given by John Hamels, the incoming club president. Also, in appreciation for her many tireless efforts during the past club year, Swanson was presented with a Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville decorative, ceramic bowl as presented by Linda Dunn, Past Club President.

Hamels then led the installation of the new officers and board members. The Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club’s 2019-20 Officers and board members are as follow: officers: John Hamels, president; Tracy Bennett, treasurer; Janese Berkhouse, secretary; and Mary Swanson, immediate past president; and board directors with their respective three-year terms: Patty Benton, 2018-21; Luci Petrella, 2017-20; and Pete Bills, 2019-22. The officer position of President Elect remains unfilled.

The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville serves the communities of Brocton, Mayville, Ripley, Sherman and Westfield.