President Nate kicked off his second meeting of the new Rotary year by sharing with members what the new RI and District 6400 themes are and how they tie into everything he envisions we will be doing in our club thus coming year.
Nate spoke first about possible new members that will be joining and achieving our goal this year. The new RI president is Ian Riseley from Australia and his theme for the year is: ROTARY MAIKING A DIFFERENCE. RI’s causes, Nate said, include promoting peace, fighting disease (namely polio with Polio Awareness Day on October 24th), developing clean water/hygiene/sanitation (the River Raising Cleanup meets such needs), saving mothers and children (possible Neighbors of Hope collaboration), supporting education (we participate in Fluency Friends), growing local economies, and increasing membership and diversity. Among Ian’s other charges to all clubs this year is the planting of one tree for every Rotarian around the world (1.2 million)!
Membership increase and retention will be a huge undertaking for our club this year, Nate said. He encouraged each of us to look around and identify what professions/trades are not represented and contact people to join this great club. We started the 2016-17 year with 56 full time members, we recruited 10 more, but ended the year at around 53. Nate is planning to host a New Member Day sometime in August so he would like us to be thinking about a new prospect we can invite. “Every Thursday, however, should be a new member day”, Nate said! John B. and Rod Pender have agreed to chair the club’s Membership Committee.
Nate then gave members copies of this year’s Presidential Citation criteria and said that accomplishing them should not be a big deal since we have a good start on most of them already. Of all the areas listed, Nate said, we need to accomplish only 4 in each category. Nate said we really need to track the hours members put in by going to Rotary.org and record them. Members who have not yet visited that site can go there and easily set up their own profiles and begin to record the time they spend doing the work of Rotary. All of this information, of course, goes up to RI in Evanston, IL so they can track what Rotarians are doing all around the world.
Nate announced that Rick Caron is our new District Governor. He is from Windsor and a really fun guy with a lot of energy. He will be paying a visit to our club on Thursday, November 2. The Board will meet with him in the morning that day and he will attend our meeting to make his formal presentation. His theme is: BOLDLY GO.
The new Passport Program, Nate said, was a bit different than last year’s in that of the 4 visits required this year will not require us to go to Canada but two of them need to be joint projects with another club and the other two would simply be visits to two other clubs involving four members. Chip Moore graciously accepted to chair the Passport Program this year and said that anyone wishing to go with him to visit another club in the area to promote our Lenawee Bike Tour should contact him.
Nate announced that Barry Reinink has agreed to chair the Youth Services committee and has been busy establishing a new Rotaract Club at Siena Heights. We will continue our involvement in the district’s RYLA event, Nate said. Assisting with the issue of opioid addiction will also be a focus of ours this coming year. We have applied for a joint district grant with the Morning Club and hope once it’s approved we will have $6,000 to help fund work planned for the Interconnections facility on West Maumee Street, Nate said.
Nate called on Mike Olsaver, chair of the RI Foundation who reported on the successful drive we had last year raising about $3,000 more than our goal of $5,600. Automatic deduction is available.
Nate concluded his presentation by reminding members of the huge project we have planned this fall – September 16 & 17 - the Lenawee Bike Tour and emphasized that we need everyone to participate. Chairman Chip reported that so far some $18,000 has been raised for the event!! The next meeting of the committee will be next week, Tuesday July 18th at Chip’s house at 6:30pm.
Great start to an already great year, Mr. President!!
Kudos to Dane Nelson – President Nate recognized Dane for his efforts with the Maple Stadium fundraising and renovations. What a great new look it has off of Division Street here in Adrian! Congrats, Dane! Our club contributed $1,000 toward that effort.
Pathways & Interconnections Project – President Nate mentioned that the painting of the Rotary Room in the back of the building was completed last weekend and thanked all who turned out for it.
One Rotary Summit – Nate also thanked those 6 members who attended last night’s meeting – Susan Tobey, Luke Barnett, Kathye Herrera, Rhonda Gage, Jim Potthast and Yours Truly.
Hurricane Relief Fund – President Nate announced that the District has so far raised $13,000 toward this effort and that a very generous club member who wishes to remain anonymous has announced a matching gift of $1,000! Anyone wishing to make a donation can make their checks out to “Rotary District 6400 Foundation” and make a note in the memo section “Hurricane Relief Fund” and give them to our Treasurer Rhonda. Cash gifts are also welcomed. Please contribute between now and our meeting next week. Our gifts will be matched by the District as well! Thank you.
Fluency Friends 2017-18 School Year – Chairperson Mary Murray reported that we will be once again gearing up for this program at Michener Elementary. Sign-up sheet was passed around during our meeting. We’re looking for another great turnout that has lasting effects on the children that read to. The program will begin mid-October.
Annual River Raisin Cleanup – Prez Nate thanked those who help last Saturday especially Mark & Mary Murray and Luke Barnett who spearheaded this successful event once again. Thanks also go to Rotaractors from both Adrian College and SHU!
September 16 & 17 - Bike Tour – See “Today’s Presentation”
October 2 – District Governor’s Golf Outing – Our club has a team! It will be held at the Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon, MI. 12:30pm – shotgun start. Playing will be Greg DuMars, Kevin Keller, Dane Nelson and Gerry Burg.
October 6 – Dedication - On this date the grand opening of the Pathway’s/Interconnections office will be held. The time will be 4:30pm. Please plan to attend.
October 24 – World Polio Awareness Day – Prez Nate reminded members that all of the clubs in the county will be coming together to host a gathering at the Stables in Tecumseh that day. Each club will be sending a number of representatives to it. Each club will be submitting the donations that have been raised thus far to this cause. Our own John Elchert has agreed to help with the planning from our club and will be seeing to it that the community is aware of how significant this is to Rotary all over the world. More info coming.
November 2 – Official Visit by DG Rick Caron
Upcoming Club Program Presentations
September 21 - Libby Watson and new ASO director September28 - Jason Trame - Lenawee YMCA October 5 - Club Assembly October 12 – Eric Driver from Missions Sports Performance
October 19 – Joe Williams - One Lenawee
October 26 - Kathy Williams - Women & Children Homeless Shelter November 2 - DG Rick Caron visit
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President Nate kicked off his second meeting of the new Rotary year by sharing with members what the new RI and District 6400 themes are and how they tie into everything he envisions we will be doing in our club thus coming year.
Nate announced that Rick Caron is our new District Governor. He is from Windsor and a really fun guy with a lot of energy. He will be paying a visit to our club on Thursday, November 2. The Board will meet with him in the morning that day and he will attend our meeting to make his formal presentation. His theme is: BOLDLY GO.
Hurricane Relief Fund – President Nate announced that the District has so far raised $13,000 toward this effort and that a very generous club member who wishes to remain anonymous has announced a matching gift of $1,000! Anyone wishing to make a donation can make their checks out to “Rotary District 6400 Foundation” and make a note in the memo section “Hurricane Relief Fund” and give them to our Treasurer Rhonda. Cash gifts are also welcomed. Please contribute between now and our meeting next week. Our gifts will be matched by the District as well! Thank you.
October 24 – World Polio Awareness Day – Prez Nate reminded members that all of the clubs in the county will be coming together to host a gathering at the Stables in Tecumseh that day. Each club will be sending a number of representatives to it. Each club will be submitting the donations that have been raised thus far to this cause. Our own John Elchert has agreed to help with the planning from our club and will be seeing to it that the community is aware of how significant this is to Rotary all over the world. More info coming.
