• Implement Body-Worn Cameras – The police reform bill requires body-worn cameras, but the Chief and the department support this as well, because they improve criminal investigation and police performance, as well as reduce frivolous complaints against police and police misconduct. A policy is being developed with the union and the cameras will be implemented by next year.
• Increase Training – The chief is looking at instituting a variety of ongoing training programs that will address topics like implicit bias, using guns responsibly, and de-escalation.
• Expand SPD Bicycle Program – Bicycles are one of the best tools of policing and make officers much more approachable and easier to get to know. They also assist in a city like Salem with heavy traffic.
• Diversify Police Department – The Chief will use multiple ways to recruit a department that represents the community and hopes to hire qualified and educated officers. He plans to work with local universities to build a pipeline of future officers.

Chief Miller closed by sharing that his vision for all policing is that people will feel comfortable with the police and not be fearful or intimidated by them. He hopes to work with the Salem community to make this possible. 

Happy Summer, and Happy New Rotary Year! This will be the last Spoke of the 2020-2021 Rotary year.

 

It has been an absolute honor to be your president this past year and serving with you in this role gave me new perspective on our club, allowed me to make deeper friendships within it, and gave me a positive purpose during one of the darker times in our history.

 

We achieved much together as a club this past year despite the pandemic and our meeting mostly remotely. This may feel redundant to some, because I have shared this from the podium before, but I think it is important to remember that we did not take a year off or stand idly by while waiting for the pandemic to pass.

 

Instead the Salem Rotary Club:

 

We also had some fun:

 

We adapted. While virtual was not perfect or as personal, in many cases, it brought us closer together through shared conversation and connection. It is wonderful to be back at the Hawthorne, and if you haven’t been back yet, I hope to see you there soon! I also hope that we can build off this year to continue to grow and evolve as a Club. Let’s continue to think outside of the box, stay flexible in our service and fellowship, and keep the conversations open to all like we did on our Zoom meetings.

 

I want to thank each and every one of you for the incredible commitment, support and friendship you have given me and this Club over the past year. While not the year we may have anticipated, we should be proud of all that we accomplished as a Club this year. Everyone put effort into this year, and as I have said throughout my time in this role, the Rotary year is not about one person or the president. It is about all of us, our Club.

 

Thank you for letting me have the privilege of leading us this past year. While I may have had the title, we got through this year together and made Salem and the world a little better along the way.

 

I wish our Club an excellent year for 2021-2022 and am excited to serve with and support President Joe as our next leader.

 

Yours in service,

Adria

 

Adria Duijvesteijn

Salem Rotary Club

Past President, 2020~2021

• Bob Conley shared that he volunteered at a professional golf tournament in Connecticut and had a lot of fun.
• Bruce Whear told of Heidi’s excitement that her youngest son is staying with them for two weeks while he films a movie nearby.
• Bill Henning is back from two weeks of vacation visiting family in Wisconsin and friends in Chicago and Michigan.
• Viktoria Talebian was happy to have lunch with Shawzy this week!
• Claire Kallelis introduced two new members of the Hawthorne Hotel staff: Patricia and Wilson.
• Rich Eisner shared that a dear friend drove to the meeting without his wallet or license. This friend (Gerrit Bradley) then defended himself by sharing that luckily, he rode his bike to the hotel!
• Jason Consalvo shared that he and his family had some fun up in NH.
• Marie Cardillo created and shared a video presentation of all the pictures from the Rotary year!