By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

In the annual changeover Thursday, Don Woodhouse became 2010-2011 Dowagiac Rotary Club president.

Woodhouse, a Rotarian since 1996 and president in 2003-2004, missed Michigan’s violent thunderstorms, although it rained in Montreal, where he was among 18,000 from 154 countries attending the convention and hearing Dolly Parton sing.

Woodhouse also listened to Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea,” about building schools in Afghanistan.

“He found out you don’t tell people what to do, you work with them,” Woodhouse said.
“Dolly Parton looks great. She sang a song at the beginning and a song at the end, but in between she talked about books and her literacy program.”

Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith is American, from Kirksville, Mo.
Theme for their leadership year is Building Communities/Bridging Continents, which appears on a pin presented to each member.

Woodhouse is personally acquainted with President-Elect Kalyan Banerjee of India, who has visited Dowagiac.

Don and Lauren’s stay at his home coincided with a wedding, which was fascinating to witness.

Woodhouse previously served as Rotary president for a year and a half, finishing the term of Kim Richardson when she moved.

He retired as chief financial officer for Midwest Energy Cooperative in Cassopolis.

Don’s dad, former Dowagiac mayor Graham Woodhouse, was the club’s first Paul Harris Fellow in 1977.

Immediate past president Cathy Merrill is Dowagiac’s 102nd.

“I know quite a few of you from being here in the community,” Merrill said, “but I never would have been given the opportunity to know you on a more personal level. It’s been a great journey and I really enjoyed the ride.”

Woodhouse accepted a president’s pin from Merrill that originally belonged to Polly Judd’s father.

He presented her with a framed gavel.

She realized that the gavel she has been banging on the podium for the past year is  inscribed with the name of the late Cindy Roessler.

The club was introduced to Doug Wamack of The Timbers. He belonged to Rotary in Texas.