It’s out with the old and in with the new at Butler Rotary Club PM, as eager incoming officers recently took their places on the club’s board of directors.

Assuming their offices at the annual Changing of the Guard dinner, held July 1 at Sonoma Clubhouse in Connoquenessing Township, were Shawn Pugh, president; Barbara Gade, president-elect; Al Vavro, president nominee; Leslie Osche, secretary; Lou Grenci, treasurer; Dr. Victor Nieto, sergeant-at-arms; Dennis Baglier, board member; Susan Edwards, membership chairman and board member; Thomas Edwards, board member; and David White, immediate past president.

Rotary District 7280 Gov. Zach Covington, of the Franklin Rotary Club, attended the event to deliver the oath to the incoming officers.

Covington encouraged the club to celebrate Rotary, become official peace-builders, and work toward growing Rotary’s membership in new and exciting ways.

Pugh, who is Butler County director of procurement, joined Butler Rotary Club PM two years ago, when he resigned from the Rotary Club of Slippery Rock as president-elect to return to the county to work. He was formerly the grant writer and criminal justice planner for the county.

“I’m extremely happy to be a member of an organization that does so much for the county,” he said.

Pugh said that as Rotary president he plans to continue current projects like the Turkey Roundup, Luncheon for Literacy, Election Day Pancake Breakfast and the meat raffle held in the spring.

All proceeds from Butler Rotary Club PM events benefit community projects the group supports, like the Butler County Community College GED completion program, food support for the needy during the holiday season, and creation of the Cultural District in downtown Butler.

Pugh said he looks forward to leading the Rotary group into the future, as well.

“I would like to embrace technology a little bit more,” he said. “There are a lot of things we could do online and our members don’t necessarily take advantage of it.”

Pugh said he is proud to serve as president of such a worthy Rotary club.

“I am thankful for the generosity of the members,” he said.