www.mybaycity.com
July 8, 2007
Rotary Article 1701
Gavel Passed to New President for 2007-2008
July 8, 2007
By: Stephen Kent
Visit
RotaryBayCity.org,
web site of the Rotary Club of Bay City, Michigan
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bring a friend to Rotary. For prospective new members we have a supply of the "Rotary Basics" brochures that explain the organization very well.
Dues Are Due! Dues invoices have been passed out or mailed to all members. Please submit your payment as soon as possible. Please note that in response to a dues increase by Rotary International, the board approved a club dues increase of $1 (one dollar) for each six month cycle over the next three years.
Breezes Reporters Wanted: If you'd like to help write the weekly Breezes please see Steve Kent. It's an easy job. No experience necessary. High Pay (well at least a lot of thanks).
Reminder: Zone Meeting on Membership is scheduled for July 27 and 28 in South Bend Indiana. The district is chartering a bus for any interested members. Cost is $35 and the bus departs from Owosso.
The Pinconning Club is very close to their 20 members required for charter. It should happen in the next month or so! The Pinconning Club meets every Thursday at noon - Third Street Deli.
If you have International Night auction items it's not too early to let the committee know about them. A form is available for download on the International Night page of the club web site.
The Big Board will be at every meeting until International Night. There are jobs for everyone and every one's name is on the board. Sign up soon.
CLUB NEWS
Carl Lockwood took on the new responsibility of selling the 50/50 tickets and coordinating the drawing of a winner. Seems it was a bit of a challenge to all concerned as the first two drawings produced no winner. But the task was completed and the winning ticket holder was none other than outgoing president Gena Gates!
Cindy Chadwick related her recent dinner with Arnold Palmer. It wasn't planned, but she and Bob were happy with the outcome. And she has the pictures to prove it!
Incoming District Governor Pam Harkema, will be making the traditional rounds of clubs as she begins her term. She plans to start with the forming Pinconning Club.
Upcoming Programs
(See the official schedule at
RotaryBayCity.org)
July 10
Real Estate sales in Bay County
July 17
Hemlock Semi Conductor: They make the most pure material on Earth.
July 24
How does OUR local VA Hospital measure up with our Veterans?
Last Weeks program - July 3, 2007:
New Bay City Rotary President Rob Clark Installed
Before passing the gavel to incoming President Rob Clark and receiving her past president pin, outgoing President Gena Gates highlighted some of the achievements of the past year, which she said really seems to have gone by quickly.
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Although the club did not get a Presidential Citation for increased membership. The membership did, however, hold steady despite losing 10 members early in the year due to moves and other circumstances.
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The board meetings were moved from the traditional 7:00am time to 11:00am right before the regular meeting.
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The dictionary project reached 26 schools and delivered 1,363 dictionaries to area third graders.
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The Rotary Garden and the Mutt Mitts projects on the River Walk continued. As did the annual vocational days.
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International Night raised a record amount of money.
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The club moved it's meeting place to the Lumber Barons Restaurant.
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The club hosted a GSE team visiting from India and the outbound team to West Africa was hosted by our own Connie Schweitzer.
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The club completed a new long range plan under the leadership of Chuck Brooks.
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The Community Grants committee awarded the annual $10,000 but also succeeded in getting district matching grants for two recipients.
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The club's web site was started.
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The goal of $10,160 contributions to the Rotary Foundation was surpassed with a total of nearly $12,000. Including contributions to Polio Plus, total giving was over $17,000. That's a per capita of $92 which is well above all averages.
After taking the reins it was no surprise to hear as Rob's first official utterance "Let's Sing!". His second line was the familiar "How's Everyone Doing?" He then thanked Gena for her year of searvice and thanked the club for their faith in him to fill the position of President for the coming year.
Rob then went on to outline his goals for the coming year. A week earlier he had said "Opportunities are endless for doing service in the world." He also quoted William Gates Sr. who said in at the RI Convention "Think big. Anything less is a disservice to your abilities."
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Rotary clubs typically lose and must replace 10% of their members each year. Rob set a goal of increasing our 120 members to 130 this year. That means we need to recruit about 20 members.
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Noting that the club blew away the Foundation giving goal in the last year, Rob set this year's goal at $11,700. He opened the year with his own contribution of $100 and encouraged all members to meet the plan of "Every Rotarian, Every Year". As a token of appreciation for Gena's year of service, the club will also donate $100 to the Foundation in her name.
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Rob set a $35,000 goal for International night and a $12,000 goal for the golf outting. He also plans to form a fund raising committee with the objective of starting a third annual event.
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With the depot project wrapping up, the major projects committee will reform and begin looking toward the next objectives. This may well be a multi-part plan with some funds going to the plantation project in Africa and other funds being spent locally. Some funds will also be set asside for quick response to disasters and other unforseen needs that the membership would like to support.
* The dictionary project will be expanded to include a thesaursus for fourth graders.
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The club will host an inbound GSE team in August and Dee Dee Wacksman has applied to lead the outbound team to Australia.
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Club Fellowship will be emphasized and the Family of Rotary with events such as a picnic and some small meetings or fireside chats at Rob's house.
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Rob would like to honor the Women of Rotary with some type of event. Although it took many years for Rotary to accept women members, Rob said that they have proved to be a vital an essential part of the organization.
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The club will also consider establishing a "service above self" scholarship program for youth service.
Rob concluded by saying it's a lot to plan for, but "there's no reason we can't do it all!"
0202 nd 04-20-2024
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