President Mark also thanked the four retiring directors of the club: Jeff Hancock, Gue Hudson, Scott Thompson and Brad Bryant

In addition, he recognized four individuals for jobs very well done by awarding them with plaques:

Finally, President Mark thanked Doug Torbush for being a stalwart and dependable Sergeant-at-arms. Saying "goodbye," he then became a past president.

Incoming President Bryan Downs took up the reins of leadership by first thanking outgoing President Mark for his year of service, especially his dependability and his work behind the scenes to improve the structure and functioning of the club. He then recognized Mark's leadership with a Past President pin, a plaque, and a gift from the club.

President Bryan continued by introducing family members that were present - his father-in-law, Joe Anderson, his son, Walker, his mother, Ann Downs, and his wife, Nancy. Unfortunately, his other son, Luker, could not be present.

As he looked forward to the year ahead, President Bryan pointed out that what will make a successful year for the club is not the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the president, but whether the members of the club are inspired members. The measure of inspiration is threefold: faithful attendance, giving of time and energy, and being generous financial givers. He asked very member to look at her or her talents and skills and to see how they can use them most effectively in service. The club will only work because of the energy and effort of its members.

President Bryan asked the club to focus on its greater purposes: to contribute to the community, to tend to business ethics, to be in service to the local community, and to transcend boundaries to create community. He pointed out that we are a local club, but an international organization; we are a business club formed of professional who want to help alleviate suffering in the world; we contribute in both tangible and intangible ways.

In striving to continue the tradition of good Friday programs, President Bryan analogized to a baseball pitching staff: he going to have a starter (Scott Thompson), a middle reliever (Peggy Mitchell) and a closer (David Ewing).

He thanked the club for entrusting him with leadership for this year and dismissed the meeting.

The book donated to the DeKalb Library System this week in honor of both the incoming and the outgoing presidents was Book of the Presidents: An Illustrated History of America's Leaders

John Robinson, Chair of the Rotary Scholarship Committee, introduced the co-recipients of the 2009 Rotary Scholarship Award. This year the committee had two finalists with exceptional records and - with the vote of the club - decided to give scholarships to both finalists. The 2009 recipients are:

The girls were also accompanied by their teacher, Amanda Lockhart-Keener.