Under the sign of the goldfish

– Handover of office with RESPECT in the Rüsselsheim boathouse on June 28, 2024 –

When Rotarians celebrate, the evening can sometimes be a little longer - as was the case with the handover of office in 2024, when a curious Rotary year came to an end in the Rüsselsheim boathouse to enable the start of a new - respectful - Rotary year. The conditions were ideal, the sun was in a great mood thanks to the midsummer temperatures - and so around 60 guests were able to ring in the evening in a relaxed manner with a glass of champagne.

Our friend Horst Aussenhof, the clarinetist, provided a relaxed and lively musical accompaniment together with three talented instrumentalists (on vocal cords: Frank Ebert), before the outgoing president Markus Ornau reviewed the many meetings and events of his exciting year with a view of a large-format picture collage and thanked his board. After the main course, the baton, which is not coincidentally reminiscent of the Olympic flame, was handed over and the "Rotary President's Medal on Ribbon" was awarded to the new club president Bianca Heinz, who started the next Rotary year with RESPECT as its motto and a new board. She also solved the mystery of the goldfish that had already appeared on the invitation to the handover of office.

The goldfish jumping out of its aquarium glass is meant to symbolize that many things that seem impossible are actually possible - if you just want them and are prepared to put in the necessary effort. RESPECT stands for the recognition of such achievements, but not only that. It is at least as important as a link in our society, as it is especially important in today's times to cultivate respectful interaction with one another so that we can meet on an equal footing - regardless of opinions, education or abilities. This should not only apply to our fellow human beings, but to all creatures on this earth and to nature as a whole.

Time flew by on this Friday evening in the Rüsselsheim boathouse. And when dessert was finally served, the hand of the Rotary clock was already moving steadily towards midnight. All we can say is: RESPECT for exemplary club friendship - and a big thank you to all the organizers of this successful handover of office!

ALL GUESTS AT A GLANCE

Horst Aussenhof and Veronika Killewald-Aussenhof, Bernd Blisch and Wolfgang Dilg, Ludwig Boßler and Patricia Trabert, Wolfram and Marlies Ehrenthal, Siegfried and Waltraud Ehrler, Kurt and Ulrike Eisenacher, Dieter and Ursula Fischer, Thomas Fritz and Annette Balz-Fritz, Manfred Geeren, Volkan Göktürk, Hans and Gertrud Groos, Frank and Cornelia Heckert, Bianca and Jochen Heinz, Gerhard and Ingrid Heinz, Erhard and Sabine Jacobi, Ulf Kelterborn and Anne Huneck-Kelterborn, Ortwin and Astrid Klein, Karin Merkel, Hossein and Ingrid Messroghli, Heinz and Christa Meyer, Klaus and Monika Nüchter, Markus and Sabine Ornau, Olaf and Petra Planken, Hans Quink, Herbert and Hedi Roos, Dag Steeger von Keitz and Diana von Keitz, Christa Stenner, Hartmut and Ina Thiry, Bernd and Marion Wegener, Franz and Christa Winter as well as Maria Schmidt, Yvonne Seibert-Schink (Rotary Club Groß-Gerau/Rhein-Main), Karl Norbert and Elke Merz (Rotary Club Rüsselsheim/Groß-Gerau) as well as Hans-Albert and Marie-Luise Beul (Rotary Club Hochheim-Flörsheim Oberer Rheingau).