Tracy Abamont presented the past-president's pin to Bob Bonagura, who received myriad accolades for his many accomplishment throughout his tenure. At the July 17 meeting of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, Tracy Abamont was inducted as the fourth woman president of the club which was incorporated in 1925. A member of the club for the past six years, Tracy has held various positions, chaired numerous committees, coordinated myriad events and activities and served as editor of the Sunrise Rays, the Club's weekly bulletin. Tracy is well known for her never ending volunteer spirit. She has served on the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps for the past 10 years holding several officer positions, and is a five-year member of the Carle Place Volunteer Fire Department. She is also a member of the Nassau Regional Emergency Medical Service Council and has been an instructor at the Nassau County EMS Academy for the past eight years. Tracy is currently pursuing a nursing career. Professionally, she is a sales representative with All-Metro Health Care of Lynbrook.

Also, the year 2007 has been designated "Rotary's Year of the Woman." It was 20 years ago, in 1987, that rotary clubs world-wide first inducted women. Both Maureen Clancy and Althea Robinson were inducted that year and were presented on July 17 with their second Paul Harris Fellow Awards, Rotary's highest honor.

Art Vanderpool, District Governor, inducts Tracy Abamont as the Mineola-Garden City Rotary 83rd president at the July meeting. Also inducted to the Board were Tom Tierney, president elect; Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis, vice president; Peter Gall, secretary; and Kathleen Petronis, treasurer. Inducted as director were Lou Castellano, Bernarda Melone, Suzanne Saramak and Ray Sikorski. "It is timely and fitting that in keeping with this designation, that we induct Tracy as our club's fourth woman president," said Bob Bonagura, out-going president.

(The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club meets on Mondays throughout the year at 12:15 p.m. at the Garden City Hotel. For information about club membership, call President Tracy at 516-322-2747).

The year 2007 has been designated "Rotary's Year of the Woman." On July 17, both Maureen Clancy, left, and Althea Robinson were presented with their second Paul Harris Fellowship Awards (Rotary's highest honor) for their dedication to Rotary's many service projects. Maureen had served as Rotary's first woman president in 1993, and Althea has continued to serve in the area of public relations. Both women were the first inducted into Rotary. Tracy Abamont received "The Presidential Survivor Kit" from fellow Rotarian, Lisa Mueller as Gary Fishberg, left, and Dick Goodwin, past president, looked on. Patricia Owens, branch manager, Community National Bank, is inducted into the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club by Art Vanderpool, district governor, as Immediate Past President, Bob Bonagura looked on. Members of Tracy's family were among the celebrants at the July 17 induction luncheon. Pictured L-R are: brother Michael Abamont, Tracy, her dad, Brian and brother Brian Abamont. Not pictured were Joyce Abamont, Tracy's mom; brother James and sister-in-law Kharla Daly Abamont. Tracy Abamont was officially inducted along with the new board by District Governor Art Vanderpool.