Rotary Foundation Outlined for Club
November 15, 2011
By: Stephen Kent
Kathy Czerwinski and Gena Gates
Kathy Czerwinski and Gena Gates spoke to Rotary on Tuesday about the Rotary International Foundation and the local Bay City Club's Foundation. These two organizations are sometimes confused by members.
The RI Foundation is a national body run by Rotary International. There are a number of voluntary ways for members to make tax deductible contributions to this organization. Contributions that reach $1,000 qualify the donor for a Paul Harris Fellow award. Additional donations apply to advanced levels of the fellowship.
People who exceed $1,000 to the RI Foundation are also awarded points that may be given or assigned to other donors. Sometimes matching points are given first time contributors and result in a Paul Harris Award for that first time person. Other times the points are used to honor a person by contributing in their name so that person is named a Paul Harris Fellow.
The RI Foundation funds a wide variety of national and international projects. The distributions are handled outside of the club's control. Some funds are returned to the local district and club through special provisions.
The local
Bay City Foundation was created as an avenue for people to make local contributions, which are used for local programs and projects, and receive the benefits of donating to a qualified 501c(3) organization.
The local foundation has traditionally been used to support the club's major projects. The club would identify the project and pledge an amount of money. That money would flow through the foundation.
Historically the foundation received funds from the club's International Night dinner. On some occasions the Rotary Concert funds were designated to the foundation. At other times those funds have gone to the club or to specific projects.
Where the foundation has previously raised money for the major project, the recent recommendation of the Administrative Work Group (ARW), and action by the board, has made the foundation the sole funder for programs and projects. This includes Community Grants, which were previously funded by the club's operating budget and, therefore, from dues and unused, prepaid lunches.
The ARW recommendation was that in the future the local foundation would manage funds, write checks, and give the club an amount of spendable cash each year. The club would select projects that fit the cash available. If larger disbursements are desired, the club must raise funds for the foundation to cover those expenses.
CLUB NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congratulations to
Lynn Weaver,
Brenda Rowley,
Jennifer Carroll, and
Dee Dee Wacksman, who received Paul Harris awards or advanced recognition on Tuesday. Their contributions continue the tradition of the Bay City Club, which has such a large number of Paul Harris Fellows.
NEW MEETING PLACE
Beginning December 6 the club will meet at the Doubletree.
The lunch fee at the new location will be $11 rather then the present $9. Until then, members will be asked to pay the difference. This will be on the honor system based on previous prepayment of the full meal cost or the partial %6 with dues.
Starting in January the prepaid portion of lunches will no longer be required with dues. Members may prepay the entire amount with their dues or pay the full $11.00 at the door. (See note below)
NEW DUES PLAN
The Club's board has change the dues structure to NO LONGER REQUIRE pre-paying a portion of the meals. Two options will be offered in the invoices that were recently mailed. Option 1 calls for payment of dues only. Meals are paid at the door. Option 2 allows pre-payment of the full meal cost must as it is now.
The change in pre-paid meals will have an effect on the budget where unused meal payments helped fund the club's programs. Under the new budget programs will be paid for from the local foundation and the club will be asked to raise any funds that are distributed.
MEMBER PHOTOS:
If you missed the opportunity to have
Anne Trahan take a new picture for the Rotary Directory, don't fret. Give her a call or see her at the meeting to work out a sitting. The directory picture is free. Retouched digital photos and portraits for your own use are available for a small charge.
Upcoming Programs
(See the official schedule at
RotaryBayCity.org )
November 22, 2011: Candace Bales and
Teri King will talk about
Holiday Shopping in Bay City.
Meetings begin at the Doubletree on December 6.
December 6, 2011: Good Samaritan Rescue Mission.
December 13, 2011: 10 Minute Rotarian.
December 20, 2011: Annual Holiday Program!
Rotary is an intimate affiliation of carefully selected business and professional people,
having as its objective the promotion of high ethical standards in private, commercial
and civic life, and dedicated to the ideal that the basis of all worthy endeavor is unselfish service.
Current and past
DISTRICT DISPATCH newsletters are available on the District site shown in the LINKS section below.
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