MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Rotary Club of Middletown announces its 2021-2022 president, Dennis Skinner, and new meeting time and location.

Meetings will be held on Thursday mornings at Twin Pine Casino in the private dining room from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Pre-COVID, the club met at the Greenview Restaurant in Hidden Valley Lake.

“The new time and location has been working well for the membership,” said President Dennis Skinner. “We have enjoyed years of great service at the Greenview and are very appreciative of the hospitality offered by Chef Metcalf and his staff. We look forward to growing new relationships at the new location.”

Skinner joined the Rotary Club of Middletown in 2013. He is a resident of Hidden Valley Lake and has been an active and engaged member of the community and the club. Skinner served as the club’s president in 2020-2021, holding successful Zoom meetings during the onset of the COVID crisis.

He has been dedicated to keeping the club members engaged until in-person meetings were able to safely resume.

“It was important to keep the club meeting on a regular schedule and to maintain the community projects the Middletown Club has committed to,” said Skinner. “As we all know, life and life’s activities became more and more complicated as COVID challenged the way we all interact to accomplish our objectives.”

Some of the past projects performed by the Rotary Club of Middletown include dictionaries for elementary schools, “drive careful” signs posted by our schools, tree planting at the Trailside Park and assisting with rebuilding after the devastating Valley Fire of 2015.

Working in partnership with the South Lake County Fire Department, the club also provided fire safety kits to seniors, including fire extinguishers, flashlights and smoke detectors.

Under Skinner’s leadership during his first term as president, internet hot spots were provided to students so they could continue at home education during the COVID crisis.

During his second term as president, Skinner will oversee the distribution of $4,800 worth of books to public schools’ libraries.

Middletown Rotarians annually provide college scholarship opportunities to the youth of our community and support the Middletown Senior Center with ongoing monetary donations.

On an international level, Middletown Rotary played a huge role in raising funds and awareness for the Rotary “End Polio” campaign.

The club also participates in refurbishing schools, providing safe learning environments and sports equipment for youth in Santa Rosalia, BCS and Guatemala.

Rotary is a worldwide organization that connects people from all cultures and occupations who wish to empower youth, improve health, promote peace and advance communities. The organization's theme is “Service above self.”

For more information about how you can become a member of the Rotary Club of Middletown, call Dennis Skinner at 707-494-8892 or join them at one of the Thursday morning meetings at 7:30 a.m. at Twin Pine Casino.