Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jun 26, 2017
Jim King's vintage Model A was Tom's chariot for the evening
Dan Smargon, Garrie Rhodes, and Karin Davies enjoy dinner
The dessert recognized Tom's Marine Corps service
"Judge" Bill Rawlings reviews Tom's presidential year, while Klaus Gubernator looks on
Tom's new "reminder system"
Don Fipps presents Tom with a state-of-the-art communication kit
Tom can stay both clean and think of Rotary while wearing Sharyn Daly's gift
Bill presents Tom with the Rotary "Crown"
No need for a nightlight with this chapeau
Our Rotarians of the Year- Kit Leeger and Paul Chunyk (holding his son- and perhaps future Rotarian- Cooper)
Steve Weitzen (Rotary Club of Solana Beach-Del Mar) drew the raffle tickets as the sun set
One of Donna Fipps's two tickets drawn
Some skepticism from the ticket holders about buy-out offers from the crowd (L to R: Bill Rawlings, Larry Cook, Mary Rawlings, Donna Fipps, Susie Wagner, Sharon Schendel, Monty Woolley, Katie Cook)
The joker surfaces at last
 
On Saturday June 24, 2017, we held our annual demotion party to thank outgoing President Tom Ryan for all the fantastic work he’s done on behalf of the Rotary Club of Del Mar during 2016-2017.  Incoming President Klaus Gubernator and his wife Dagmar kindly acted as our hosts at their home overlooking the Del Mar coast and fairgrounds.  Tom arrived in style in one of Jim King’s vintage cars. 
 
As thank you gifts, “Judge” Bill Rawlings presented Tom with a ball of string so he could tie strings round his fingers to remind him to line up Rotarians of the Day and a watch to keep the meetings running on time, while Don Fipps gave him a high-tech communication packet (stationery, stamps, and some Spam to filter out junk email).  Sharyn gifted a Del Mar Rotary apron. Last, Tom donned the Rotary Club of Del Mar “Crown”. 
 
Tom gave special recognition to several Rotarians. Blake Johnson was awarded “Rookie of the Year”- he thanked Tom with a lovely serenade- and Paul Chunyk and Kit Leeger were co-Rotarians of the Year. Paul and Kit served as Event Chair and Auction Chair respectively, for the very successful 2017 Sunset Soiree, which is our primary funding source for the Club’s projects. 
 
The evening ended with the ticket drawing to give away the $1,000 that had gone unclaimed throughout a year’s worth of ticket drawings.  Incoming Assistant District Governor Steve Weitzen served as impartial ticket picker, and I for one am delighted with the ticket he picked!