💙 President's Final Bulletin Message

As we close the 2025-2026 Rotary year, I find myself reflecting with a heart full of gratitude. 💛

Serving as President of the Rotary Club of Harlingen has been one of the greatest honors of my Rotary journey. When we began this year under the theme "Make Service Personal," I hoped it would remind us that our greatest impact comes from the relationships we build and the lives we touch. Looking back, I believe we truly lived that message. Together, we demonstrated that when service becomes personal, it becomes powerful.

Throughout the year, we:

  • 🤝 Completed 16 service projects
  • ⏰ Contributed 2,800+ volunteer hours
  • 💙 Invested more than $45,000 into our community
  • 🎉 Welcomed 15 new members
  • 🎓 Awarded scholarships to deserving students
  • 🌍 Exceeded our PolioPlus fundraising goal
  • 📖 Shared Rotary's story through 95 weekly bulletins, social media, and outstanding weekly programs

Every project, every meeting, and every act of service reflected the dedication, generosity, and heart of our members. These accomplishments belong to every one of you.

🏆 Celebrating Excellence

Our Installation Banquet gave us the opportunity to recognize several individuals whose service embodies the very best of Rotary. Congratulations once again to Dillon Dawi, Veronica Kortan, Michael Browning, Larry & Charlotte Dahm, Darla Richmond, Julie Fonseca, and Edna Tamayo. Each of you exemplifies Rotary's ideals through your leadership, generosity, and commitment to serving others. Thank you for the example you set for all of us.

We also celebrated several members who received Paul Harris Fellow recognitions on behalf of long-time donors. 🌎 These honors represent more than generous giving, they reflect a commitment to changing lives through The Rotary Foundation. Whether promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, supporting education, growing local economies, protecting the environment, or helping eradicate polio, your generosity continues to make an impact around the world. Thank you for believing in Rotary's global mission.

🕊️ A Moment of Remembrance

One of the most meaningful moments of the evening was our Moment of Remembrance. Together, we paused to honor the loved ones of our Rotary family who passed away during the past year. While Rotary is often about celebration and service, it is equally about fellowship, compassion, and standing beside one another during life's most difficult moments. May their memories continue to inspire us, and may we keep their families in our thoughts. ❤️

❤️ What I'll Remember Most

While these accomplishments are worth celebrating, they are not what I will treasure most.

I'll remember the friendships that grew stronger.
The laughter before meetings.
The conversations that sparked new ideas.
The members who quietly stepped forward whenever something needed to be done.
The countless moments that reminded me why Rotary is unlike any other organization.

Those memories will stay with me far longer than any statistic ever could.

To our Board of Directors, committee chairs, volunteers, community partners, guest speakers, families, and every member who gave their time, talents, and heart this year, thank you. 🙏 No president accomplishes anything alone, and I have been incredibly fortunate to serve alongside an extraordinary group of people.

🚗 The Next Chapter

On July 1, my term as your President comes to a close as I become your Immediate Past President.

While this chapter is ending, my Rotary journey is entering an exciting new one. I am deeply honored to serve District 5930 as District Secretary and Assistant Governor for Area 8 during the coming Rotary year. Although my title may change, my commitment to this club never will. I look forward to supporting our new leadership team in every way possible while continuing to serve our club, our district, and Rotary International.

After all, once Rotary becomes part of your life, service doesn't end, it simply finds new opportunities.

🎤 One Last Tradition...

No Rotary year in Harlingen would be complete without one last tradition.

For years, Mike Mezmar has closed our Installation Banquet by serenading the outgoing president with his famous Rotary rendition of 🎶 "Hit the Road Jack." This year, it became...

🎵 "Hit the road, Victor, and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more..."

Sorry, Mike...you're only half right. 😄

I may be hitting the road as President, but I'm not going very far. I'll still be around, just serving Rotary in a different capacity. Because the truth is, once Rotary gets into your heart, there really is no leaving.

Thank you for the incredible privilege of serving as your President. It has been an unforgettable year, and I look forward to continuing this journey with each of you.

💙 Yours in Rotary,

Victor Rivera
President, 2025-2026
Rotary Club of Harlingen