Germ elected president of Rotary International

photo John Germ, vice president of the International Rotary Club, was instrumental in planning and bringing a meeting of past, present and elect officers to Chattanooga. Roughly 1,000 rotarians will be at the Chattanooga Convention Center for the week long activities, not including local members.

Longtime Chattanooga Civic Leader John Germ will head one of America's biggest service clubs in two years.

Germ has been selected to serve as President of Rotary International.

Germ, chairman of the consulting engineering firm of Campbell & Associates, Inc., was recently elected president of Rotary International for 2016-2017. The Chattanooga engineer will serve as the head volunteer for the 1.2 million-member service organization, which began in Chicago in 1905 and has grown to include chapters around the world.

Germ has been a member of the downtown Chattanooga Rotary Club since 1976 and has served in a variety of Rotary leadership posts over the past three decades.

Germ was honored by President Barack Obama last year as one of 12 Rotary international "Champions of Change". He has served as president of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement and Cherokee Area Council of the Boy Scouts, and as campaign chairman of the United Way. He has also served as president of the Tennessee Jaycees and was honored with the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award.

"This is a huge honor not only for the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, but also for our city," said Chattanooga Rotary President Fred Decosimo said. "We are proud of our native son and know he will make an outstanding President of Rotary International."

Germ said his is honored to head Rotary International, which he said "makes a huge impact around the world.

"From eradicating Polio, to working on providing potable water for communities and serving as a partner to Habitat for Humanity here in Chattanooga, Rotarians make a difference from local to international levels," Germ said.

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