Rotarian of the Year 2009

Willem Bodisco Massink

The new President-Elect of the Fuquay Varina Rotary Club is Willem Bodisco Massink. He joined this Rotary Club in September 2007 through a transfer from the Deposit Rotary Club in New York State. His qualification is that of Presbyterian Clergy.

Willem Bodisco Massink became a member of the Deposit Rotary Club in 1997.

During the 10 years he was a member of that Club he was the Club’s treasurer and chairman of the Club’s Youth Exchange Program. The District of which the Deposit Rotary Club was a member, District 7170, had a very active Youth Exchange Program with 45 in- and outbound students to about 35 countries.

The Deposit Rotary Club had had for the last 30 years 1 exchange student per school year.

Presently Willem Bodisco Massink, besides being President-Elect of the FV Rotary Club, is also chair of the Club’s International Service Committee of which the Youth Exchange Program is a part and he runs the RYLA(Rotary Youth Leadership Award) Program for the Club.

During the recently held Hand-over-the Gavel dinner meeting Willem Bodisco Massink became a Paul Harris Fellow and received the Rotarian-of-the year Award.

Earlier this year he completed the 3-part course of the Rotary Leadership Institute.

Last year he was appointed Chairman of the Youth Exchange Program in District 7710. The Fuquay Varina Rotary Club is a member of that District.

Rev. Willem Bodisco Massink is a retired Presbyterian minister. He was 33 years in the ministry, serving congregations in the Caribbean and the USA.

He was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He has a BSc. degree in Tropical Agriculture and a Master of Divinity degree.

Is married to Janet and has 4 grown children of which 3 live in the FV region.

We Welcome our Newest Members!

On July 2^nd, we celebrated the arrival of our two newest members, Urmila Ritchie from Willow Spring, and Eric Coates from Fuquay-Varina. Both members transferred from the Garner Mid-day Club, and both of those transfers were official on July 1, 2009. Although official welcoming activities will be planned for early August, the Fuquay-Varina club has already accepted their transfers and is excited to welcome such bright stars to our membership!

Urmila is an acupuncturist who works from her home in Willow Spring, and proprietor of “Acupuncture Works.” She holds a BA in Languages and a Masters in Oriental Medicine. She is fluent in Spanish and French, enjoys gardening, reading, biking, and cooking, and just finished serving as Secretary for her former club.

Eric is a home inspector and the proprietor of Detailed Home Inspections, Inc. of Garner. He holds a BS in computer science and a BS in applied mathematics from NC State University. His hobbies include camping, and he is a past president of the Garner Mid-day Rotary Club.