The Rotary Club of West Hartford held its annual awards and installation dinner on June 23.

Submitted by Christine M. Looby, Rotary Club of West Hartford

The Rotary Club of West Hartford’s 2015-2016 Board of Directors. (From left): Past Club President Cindy Lang, Past District Governor Eileen Rau, Director-at-Large Christine M. Looby, President Kyle W. Egress, Vice President Donna Griffen, Sergeant-at-Arms Roshan Patel, President Elect Robert Kor, Esq., Secretary John Smeallie, and Treasurer Tom Wood. Submitted photo

At its Club Awards/Installation Dinner on June 23 at Pond House Café, The Rotary Club of West Hartford announced its new slate of directors, bestowed several awards, and reflected on an outstanding year of service locally and internationally.

Kyle W. Egress of West Hartford, Vice President with The Perry Egress Group on South Main Street, was installed as President of the Club’s 2015-2016 Board of Directors. Mr. Egress named Robert Kor, Esq., President Elect; Donna Griffen as Vice President; John Smeallie as Secretary; Tom Wood as Treasurer; Roshan Patel as Sergeant-at-Arms; Past District 7890 Governor Eileen Rau and Christine M. Looby as Directors-at-Large, and Cindy Lang as Past President. Club Members David Mangs and Hap Leabman, both of West Hartford, were installed as District Governor Elect Nominee and Assistant District Governor, respectively. Appointments became effective July 1.

Past President Cindy Lang welcomed to the Club new member Tom Wood, Chief Financial Officer at the American School for the Deaf, and honorary member Bob Rau.

Ms. Lang then presented five Rotarians with Paul Harris Fellows designations: Bob Kiely of West Hartford, Hap Leabman of West Hartford, Susan Chandler of Wethersfield, David Mangs of West Hartford, and Eileen Rau of West Hartford. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute at a high level, or who have contributions made in their name, to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary.

Bennett Forrest of West Hartford, a real estate agent with Keller Williams, received the “Light Up  Rotary” Award for his stewardship of the Club’s book drive for the Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy.

Christine M. Looby of Windsor, director of community relations for The Mercy Community in West Hartford, was named Rotarian of the 2014-2015 Year. Ms. Looby is the Club’s public relations liaison and runs the annual winter celebration for the children from the Hillcrest Avenue Neighborhood Outreach Center at The New Children’s Museum.

Chad Licht of West Hartford, a program manager with Pratt & Whitney, received the inaugural Don Chandler Rising Star Award.  Mr. Licht serves as webmaster for both the West Hartford Club as well as for District 7890.