Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club welcomes new leadership

In a prestigious ceremony, the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club recently convened its annual installation dinner, welcoming a fresh lineup of leadership board members dedicated to upholding the club’s rich legacy of community service. The newly appointed board members, comprising Barry McDaniels as president, Jordan Pecora as vice president, DeRosette Harrison as secretary, and Marie Charles as treasurer, are poised to steer the club into a promising future.

With a remarkable 80-year history deeply rooted in the Freeport community, the Rotary Club remains unwavering in its commitment to enhancing the well-being of the area’s residents. Over the years, the Rotary Club’s steadfast mission has been to assist those less fortunate, whether through selfless service or the promotion of integrity.

“We’re a small but mighty club,” Pecora said. “We give back and try to work with local community leaders and other nonprofits and charities. We just try to uplift everyone. Our motto is service above ourselves. So that’s how we always think of everything, putting service to doing for others before we do it for ourselves.”

Peace in the world has always been a core focus for the Rotary Club. This year, their attention centers on the theme, “Creating Hope in the World,” with an additional emphasis on promoting mental health and well-being within the community. Their mission includes breaking the stigma associated with mental health, raising awareness, and improving access to prevention and early treatment.

“We are striving to create hope in our communities and the world,” Harrison said. “We will attempt to hold one service project each month this year. Last year, we distributed essential items to homeless veterans, packed food pantries in our community, and provided basic necessities to those most impacted by the earthquake in Turkey. This year the need is still there, and we plan to continue to assist in these areas and anywhere else that we can demonstrate our mantra of Service Above Self.”

Treasurer Charles emphasized the club’s commitment to fostering a sense of belonging among community members and creating a welcoming environment where individuals can be themselves while contributing to the greater good.

“The goal of our club is to create a sense of belonging through our club meetings and our service projects,” Charles said. “Through our many service projects, we want to continue creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone can be themselves and have the opportunity to do service above themselves.”

President McDaniels outlined his vision for the Rotary Club’s future and how he plans to expand its mission.

“Our mission is to continue our 80-year history of giving back to the community,” McDaniels said. “We work with several pantries and with the Salvation Army to help distribute food to people who are in need. We also provide scholarships to many students each year. We plan to stay committed to the community.”