Hello, Fellow Rotarians! 

Let me start by saying WOW! (I seem to do that often with our crew) What started as an “iffy” evening this past Saturday Mother Nature played with her forecast until the last minute. However, she did not disappoint and gave us a lovely evening with which to start this year’s Music in the Park concert series. And what a fantastic event it was!  Not only did the crowd grow as we neared the start time, but we, as Rotarians, showed up, in force I might add. At one point I looked around and became somewhat overwhelmed with pride watching everyone pitching in with selling 50/50 raffle tickets, managing parking, to talking to others about Rotary and what we do. As you know this event is very dear to my heart because, as a child, my parents took me to all types of music events in our community parks. I was fortunate enough to listen/watch opera at Wolf Trap in Vienna Virginia, or listen to the US Navy Band play along the shores of the Potomac or see Lee Greenwood, The Judds, and Alabama play at Bull Run Park in Manassas, VA! I want to create that same type of atmosphere with our summer concert series for all of our area citizens. Music brings people together and you, my friends, made that happen. The Denver/Lake Norman Rotarians are the definition of People of Action!  

That said, for a concert that I was skeptical would take place, the citizens of our community also showed up. There was super support for Coming Up Brass - who were AWESOME) but they also outdid themselves from a donation standpoint. We raised just shy of $750 ($306 from the 50/50 and $439 from the parking crew asking for donations). The Music in the Park Board voted to have all funds raised to be donated to CART (Coins (cash, check, credit card) for Alzheimer's Research. I know we will only grow those numbers in future events as people are alerted to bring cash or to click on QR codes.  Thank you everyone for showing up to work but also to enjoy one another’s company. Not sure if you saw the back of my t-shirt which says “Rotarian at Work  Having Fun!!!”. The events we put on, be it putting on community concerts, school beautification projects, to hosting Day at the Lake for area Foster Youth - there is always fun being had where two or more of us are gathered. The bonus.?.?.? We are providing Service Above Self, together, for others - the best feeling EVER! What’s up next is Day at the Lake on June 1st. Please mark your calendars, sign up if you have not already done so and prepare to provide fun for the kiddos and their families at Camp Dogwood!

Six weeks to go…(I am not counting down the days, just amazed how fast a year has gone by).

Andie