Jim Ferguson is the new president of the Rotary Club of Florence. Ferguson is the 73rd president of the local service leadership organization, which was founded in 1945. He was installed at a luncheon ceremony on July 9 at the Hilton Cincinnati Airport. 
The “passing of the gavel” ritual highlighted the ceremony. Each former president passes the gavel to the one who followed until it reaches the new president. Twenty former presidents are still members of the Rotary Club of Florence, including the past 12.
“The passing of the gavel shows the incoming president he is not alone, sitting on an island,” said Dennis McEvoy, a two-time club president and former district governor of Kentucky Rotary District 6740.
Ferguson is an owner and broker of Apex Realty Group in Florence. A graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a degree in communication, he worked two years as a Realtor with Huff Realty before moving to the Apex Realty Group 10 years ago.
The other officers for the Rotary Club of Florence for the 2018-19 year are as follows:
Zach Ziler – President Elect – Director of Ticket Sales – Florence Freedom;
Carrie Herrmann – Secretary – Library Director – Boone County Public Library
Michelle Owen – Treasurer – Vice President for Commercial Banking – Forcht Bank
Shawn Carroll – Sergeant-at-Arms – Executive Director – New Perceptions
In a newsletter message to club members, Ferguson cited increasing membership and international outreach as focal points for the coming year. He noted that membership is one of the greatest challenges globally for Rotary International.
“We do plenty in the local community and are a strong club when giving internationally,” Ferguson wrote. “I think we can do even more with greater membership in our Rotary club.”
He also pledged to “meet Rotarians where they are and adapt our club to fit their lifestyle while maintaining who we are fundamentally.”
#FloRo #ServiceAboveSelf #PeopleofAction #Rotary
