New Leadership Sworn in at Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club Gala

The event, attended by local elected officials, club members and community leaders, marked the beginning of a new chapter for the club, with Jordan Pecora assuming the role of president.

Also sworn in were Rotary members Christopher McBride as vice president, Comfort Itoka as secretary and Marc Rigueur as treasurer.

All new officers were previously involved Freeport-Merrick Rotary club members, who took part in a number of Rotary-backed projects.

Rotary District Governor Beverly James – head of Rotary District 7255, encompassing all Rotary clubs from the Verrazano to the Hamptons – was present at the event, where she swore in the new officers.

The swearing-in ceremony is an annual tradition for the Rotary Club, with officers’ one-year terms running from July 1 to June 30.

“Our terms are one-year … because we’re a volunteer organization,” Pecora said, noting the importance of continuity and preparation in leadership transitions.

Pecora explained that the way that Rotary presidency works is that the previous year’s vice president has first right of refusal.

If the vice president does refuse, which did not happen this year, then the office goes to election based on the club board’s nominations.

“The way the Rotary works is they try and groom someone for the next year,” he added. “So I was being taught by our (past) president Barry McDaniel.”

Pecora’s responsibilities as president include running meetings, setting up and overseeing projects, and making sure that the club’s committees function effectively.

“I’m really looking forward to (my term as Rotary president),” Pecora said.

“I’m really looking forward to continuing what’s already been done by previous presidents,” he continued. “I want to add to it, I don’t want to destroy what they’ve done because they’ve done a lot of great stuff … I’m looking forward to reaching out to the community more in Freeport and in Merrick.”

Pecora’s rise to the club’s presidency is a story of dedication and growth within the Rotary. He first got involved with the Rotary while looking for ways to give back during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Pecora said he assisted the club during the pandemic by reaching out to media outlets to make people aware of all of the charitable, ongoing projects that the Rotary had taken on.

“It showed, at that time, that I took initiative (and tried to get things) done in a different way,” he said.

“One of the biggest things I notice at Rotary is when I give back (and) make that other person happy, I make myself happy as well,” Pecora said. “Giving back is a source of happiness that most people don’t have.

“Rotary is a third place (outside of work and home) where people can go and gather and talk and all different walks of life,” he added. “Doesn’t matter who you are, where you came from, what you look like — we’re all there to do the same thing and to accomplish the same goals.”

Beyond his Rotary involvement, Pecora is a civil servant, working as the director of cost recovery for the City of New York’s Office of Technology and Innovation. He also serves as a union shop steward, advocating for his colleagues.

Itoka, the incoming secretary, also brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her new role.

Having been actively involved with the club since 2019, she has participated in various projects and previously served as vice president and chair of special projects.

Her commitment to the club’s mission is evident through her active engagement and leadership in special projects, which focus on service and fundraising.

Itoka said she looks forward to working closely with Pecora, and contributing to the club’s activities.

“I feel excited and I have been in the club, a very active member in the club, since 2019,” Itoka said.

She is also the founder of Gyabolanders and Friends, an organization dedicated to humanitarian projects around the world.

Also present at the dinner was superintendent of Freeport Public Schools Kishore Kuncham, who was given the Paul Harris Fellow award, a designation for individuals who have contributed to the Rotary.

McBride, the Rotary’s new vice president, said, “We are committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment.”

“We are here to do what we can, and we’re here to improve everyone’s life as best as we can,” Pecora said.