Marie Calafiura, of Salisbury Maryland, was installed into the volunteer post of President for the Rotary Club of Salisbury at the club’s annual “Changing of the Guard” ceremony on June 30. As President, Calafiura will coordinate the club’s community and international service projects. She assumed the office July 1st and will serve through June 30, 2017, replacing Audrey Orr, whose term as Presidents concludes as Calafiura’s begins.
In addition to her involvement with Rotary, Calafiura is currently actively involved with the Joseph House Advisory Council, volunteer programs at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, and St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. Calafiura has also previously served on a number of community boards.
During the June 30 installation ceremony at Dove Pointe in Salisbury, she pledged to continue and expand the club’s many service projects. “One of my main goals for this club is to encourage new ideas and teamwork designed to grow the number of programs we offer to our community partners,” said Calafiura. “In doing so, we expect an increase in club members and an awareness of what the Rotary Club of Salisbury is and has done for this community for the past 96 years.”
At the same ceremony, Orr wished incoming President Calafiura and her team all the best, and gave thanks to her Officers, Board of Directors and the club members for their contributions toward making her year one that will always stand out in her memory as wonderful.
During Orr’s year as President, the club raised over $40,000 to be invested in the community through youth scholarships and donations to local non-profit agencies. Throughout the year the Rotary Club of Salisbury supported many, broad ranging, projects that benefited the community. A new venture this year was joining with the other two Rotary Clubs in Wicomico County to erect 500 American Flags in honor of our local heroes over the Memorial Days holiday, while raising funds for a local veterans’ organization.
Charted in 1920, the Rotary Club of Salisbury is a growing and thriving club of approximately 100 members. It represents a diverse cross section of business, civic, community and governmental leaders and has a long history of changing lives and improving communities. Current activities include: providing student scholarships and free backpacks filled with school supplies for underprivileged kids; supporting community aid agencies such as Christian Shelter and HALO; ensuring that all elementary aged children in Salisbury area have a dictionary; building wheel chair ramps necessary for continued independence of those dealing with physical challenges; ringing the bell for Salvation Army’s Kettle campaign during the Christmas season; providing maintenance services at Easter Seals Camp Fairlee; and, annually recognizing a non-Rotarian who has made significant contributions to the community via the club’s Four Way Test Award.
The main objective of Rotary International is service in the community and throughout the world. With more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs worldwide, Rotary Club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace and eradicate polio under the motto “Service Above Self.”
Rotarians live by the Four-Way Test, a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide to use in their personal and professional relationships, which asks “Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to All Concerned? Will it Build Goodwill and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to All Concerned?”
The Rotary Club of Salisbury meets every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the Rotary Scout and Community Center at 1715 Riverside Drive in Salisbury. To learn more about the Rotary Club of Salisbury or to obtain membership information, please contact Membership Chairmen John Aukward at 410-713-2833 or jaukward@bankofdelmarva.com or Mike Zajac at 757-897-5496 or mikezajac08@gmail.com or visit the club’s website at www.rotarysalisbury.org.
