Today, being the 5th Thursday of the month, was set aside for our routine Club Assembly Day. Mark Murray took to the podium and spoke on three main topics: The Big Hairy Audacious Program for the future, the Adrian Rotary Foundation and Membership.
Big Hairy Audacious Dream Projects – Like the Kiwanis Club, Mark said, our club will be using a different approach to coming up with projects in the future. Our club in particular will be looking at possible future fundraisers that meet these two very important criteria: Projects that (1) advance the interests of the greater Adrian area and (2) advance the interests of the Adrian Rotary Club. This is a different approach from the past, Mark said, since we used to pass out money to organizations who came to us with simply a presentation attempting to justify their need. The new approach - the club will be investigating “more meaningful projects” in the future – a type of “signature project” like we’ve had in the past like Big Brothers/Big Sisters pledge. We contributed $50,000 to over a 5-year period. Another example - the semi-annual Rotary Show. A more recent example, however, was the New Year’s Event at SHU last December 31st . The club will also be looking for others to partner with as well as projects where we can count on every member being involved (a.k.a. “All in”).
The Adrian Rotary Foundation – This foundation has a rich 60 year history, Mark mentioned. The money collected and earned stays in the club’s hands and a portion is used to fund local projects every year. It should not be confused with the Rotary International Foundation of which Mike Olsaver is the chair and the money goes to the National Headquarters in Chicago but half comes back to District 6400 for programs they choose to run. Relative to the Adrian Rotary Foundation, Mark said, the club’s policy has been to take 5% of the principal for our club to spend as determined by our board of directors. This year there is a total of $300,000 in the fund of which 5% or $15,000 is to be used by the club. The fund fell on very hard times in 2007-08 and lost approximately 40% of our investments. Things are much brighter today due to the economy and the management of the equity portion of those investments by Gleaner and the continued support/generous contributions of our members. Generally, all proceeds from the club’s annual project (i.e. New’s Year’s Event which raised $10,000) would go exclusively into the foundation’s coffers. Today, however, Mark polled the membership to see if they thought it should be split in the future with half going to the foundation and the other half into the general fund. Members unanimously voted for the latter.
Membership – Mark reminded members that a Fireside Chat is scheduled for either the 13th or 24th of June for not only the 4 new members who have joined the club recently but any member who would like a refresher course on Rotary in general. We currently have 56 members on the roster of which about a third are “inactive”, another 1/3 are “somewhat active” members while the final third are “very active”. Mark mentioned that in 7 years our club will be celebrating its 100th anniversary! We should be thinking about “what do we want our club to look like in 2021?” Are each of us doing enough to insuring we are providing a prosperous and strong club as we begin or 200th year? Are we all doing our jobs by inviting prospective members to a club meeting? Mark referred back to the “Big Hairy Audacious Project” and the likely impact they might have on our club as recruiting tools in the long term.
Rod Pender, a member of the Membership Committee, spoke on behalf of Nate Smith – it’s chairperson. Rod said very succinctly that membership is “the life blood of any organization” and that it will be our job to make an even greater effort to go out and recruit leaders into this organization. The landscape has changed he said from being one where many companies in the area years ago would pay for an employee’s membership to one where we are today where that is the exception rather than the rule and poses a huge challenge for us. The committee, he said, will be looking for aspiring entrepreneurs who can be convinced that our club is the place to be! The committee will make efforts to visit companies that are still here and asking who their leaders are. Rod concluded by saying he and the committee was open to ideas from everyone for ways to increase the club’s membership now and in the immediate future.
June 11 – Annual Super Market Sweep - to be held at Country Market in Adrian the proceeds of which will benefit the Damascus Road in memory of founder Bob Fultz who passed away recently. Volunteers have been secured. Thanks to Lisa Wilkie, Mary Murray and Rhonda Gage.
June 13 – New Member Orientation (Fireside Chat) – Mark Murray announced that this will take place at his home on Sawmill Court behind the Charlotte Stephenson Center on Lake Adrian beginning at 4pm and ending 1 hour later. Anyone is welcome to attend.
June 15 – Race at MIS – Proceeds go to support LISD. Still looking for a single driver for that afternoon. Those who have already volunteered are asked to bring their own food and drinks for the time they’ll be there.
June 20 – Annual Changeover Dinner - The event will be held outdoors (weather permitting) at The Stables in Blissfield.
June 21 – Inaugural Arts Festival at Devil’s Lake – Our club will help staff the children’s art tent that day. We still need volunteers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rotarian of The Year Nominations - President Theresa encouraged members to complete and submit applications for this year's award to be presented at the Changeover Dinner on June 20th.
Brent Mercer launched his maiden voyage as a first-time finemaster and collected oodles of money from these deserving Rotarians: Keener, Kojima (2), Keller, Sack (2), Alvarez, Pender (3), Mary Murray (2), Anzalone (4), Satterelli, Wagley (3), Bendes (2), Douglas, Rye, Wilkie (2), Williams (2), J. Clark, Soto, Mark Murray, Adama, Burg, Herrera, Slater.
Happy Bucks
Mark Murray, Anzalone (2), Bendes, Satterelli, Maxe, Chase.
Big Hairy Audacious Dream Projects – Like the Kiwanis Club, Mark said, our club will be using a different approach to coming up with projects in the future. Our club in particular will be looking at possible future fundraisers that meet these two very important criteria: Projects that (1) advance the interests of the greater Adrian area and (2) advance the interests of the Adrian Rotary Club. This is a different approach from the past, Mark said, since we used to pass out money to organizations who came to us with simply a presentation attempting to justify their need. The new approach - the club will be investigating “more meaningful projects” in the future – a type of “signature project” like we’ve had in the past like Big Brothers/Big Sisters pledge. We contributed $50,000 to over a 5-year period. Another example - the semi-annual Rotary Show. A more recent example, however, was the New Year’s Event at SHU last December 31st . The club will also be looking for others to partner with as well as projects where we can count on every member being involved (a.k.a. “All in”).
The Adrian Rotary Foundation – This foundation has a rich 60 year history, Mark mentioned. The money collected and earned stays in the club’s hands and a portion is used to fund local projects every year. It should not be confused with the Rotary International Foundation of which Mike Olsaver is the chair and the money goes to the National Headquarters in Chicago but half comes back to District 6400 for programs they choose to run. Relative to the Adrian Rotary Foundation, Mark said, the club’s policy has been to take 5% of the principal for our club to spend as determined by our board of directors. This year there is a total of $300,000 in the fund of which 5% or $15,000 is to be used by the club. The fund fell on very hard times in 2007-08 and lost approximately 40% of our investments. Things are much brighter today due to the economy and the management of the equity portion of those investments by Gleaner and the continued support/generous contributions of our members. Generally, all proceeds from the club’s annual project (i.e. New’s Year’s Event which raised $10,000) would go exclusively into the foundation’s coffers. Today, however, Mark polled the membership to see if they thought it should be split in the future with half going to the foundation and the other half into the general fund. Members unanimously voted for the latter.
Membership – Mark reminded members that a Fireside Chat is scheduled for either the 13th or 24th of June for not only the 4 new members who have joined the club recently but any member who would like a refresher course on Rotary in general. We currently have 56 members on the roster of which about a third are “inactive”, another 1/3 are “somewhat active” members while the final third are “very active”. Mark mentioned that in 7 years our club will be celebrating its 100th anniversary! We should be thinking about “what do we want our club to look like in 2021?” Are each of us doing enough to insuring we are providing a prosperous and strong club as we begin or 200th year? Are we all doing our jobs by inviting prospective members to a club meeting? Mark referred back to the “Big Hairy Audacious Project” and the likely impact they might have on our club as recruiting tools in the long term.