Paul Burns, left, secretary of the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach, presents a plaque to Louis Gregor at his 80th birthday party to commemorate his 37 years as a member of the club.
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – It was a full house, with party favors and live music, at the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach meeting on May 30 to celebrate Louis Gregor’s 80th birthday and to honor his 37 years as a Rotarian.
Gregor is currently the Sergeant-at-Arms for the club as well as one of the founding members of the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach. He received a big surprise not only from his fellow Rotarians but also from his wife, Maria Gregor; his son, Louis Gregor Jr. and guests.
During the celebration, Louis donned the majestic jeweled king’s crown while graciously receiving many kind words along with some friendly roasting. In addition to this, a commemorative plaque had been presented to him along with a T-shirt acknowledging his collection of, on average, $4,000 a year for the past three years for the Rotary Club Foundation, which is known by the club members as “Lou’s pocket.”
The Rotary Foundation’s funds are earmarked for programs that promote goodwill and peace by improving health, supporting educational programs and alleviating poverty.
During the meeting Michael Schultz, club president, had another surprise for Gregor as he read a letter from Margit Rahill, Lou’s sister, who is the Secretary of the Rotary 747 District in New Jersey In the letter, it had noted that Louis had first become a member of the Rotary Club of Jefferson Township N.J. in 1975. In 1982 he became the club president and then he continued as an active member until 1987 when he moved to Florida with his wife.
In 1987 Lou joined the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg West and then transferred to the Rotary Club of Seminole. In the late 1990’s Lou had been a member of a small group of Rotarians that had been asked, by the then Rotary District Governor Richard Breske, to organize a new club. In 1998 this group then formed the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach. Notably, after 14 years, these same founding members continue to be active members of the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach.
Following in Lou’s footsteps is his daughter-in-law, Andrea Gregor, who is on the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach Board of Directors and the president-elect for 2013-14.
To learn more about “Lou’s pocket” (The Rotary Foundation) call the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach at 403-4060 or visit www.irbrc.com. The club meets every Wednesday at 7:15 a.m. at Jimmy Guana’s at the Holiday Inn Harbourside.
![[Image]](/content_images/062012_bee-05.jpg)
![[Image]](/content_images/070312_pco-01z_front.jpg)
