Club Web Site:www.RotaryBayCity.org
New features are being added regularly. Visit the site and pass along suggestions to Stephen Kent or Gena Gates.
New Member Orientation will be held at noon, Feb 26 at the Red Cross office at 228 Washingon Ave. Everyone is welcome. (The Red Cross' phone is 892-1541.)
International Night Committee meets again February 27 at 11:00 am. The date for this year's event will be October 11, 2007.
MSU President scheduled to speak February 27. If you have guests, please let us know in advance so we can plan enough seating and meals. Contrary to some reports, this is a regular meeting and is open to members and guests. It is not open to the general public.
Meeting Helpers for the next six months are being recruited. If you'd like to be the greeter, do 50/50 ticket sales, or take lunch money, please sign up at the table this week.
Bring a friend to Rotary. For prospective new menbers we have a supply of the "Rotary Basics" brochures that explain the organization very well.
CLUB NEWS
Congratulations and thanks to Rob Monroe who was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow PLUS 5. Rob is a also a charter member of the Paul Harris Society which has pledged an annual contribution to the Rotary Foundation.
Sign up now for the District Conference in Frankenmuth.
The board voted to pay $50 toward the conference fee for the first 10 members who apply.
Pinconning Club Reminder: The forming club meets every other Thursday at the Third Street Deli in Pinconning. Bay City members are encouraged to attend one of those meetings.
Upcoming Programs
(See the official schedule at
RotaryBayCity.org)
Feb 27 Lou Anna Simon, President, Michigan State University
Mar 6 Global Warming: Peter Sinclair
Mar 13 Wills Trust and Estate Planning: Bob Sarow
Mar 20 Vocational Day
Mar 27 Vocational Day
April 17 Dick Devos
LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM:
What percent of girls are members of Girl Scouts? That was the trivia question asked by Sargent at Arms Timm Holsworth. The answer is 10% according to Kerry Allen, President and CEO Girl Scouts of Mitten Bay who presented a talk about Girl Scouts and the major reorganization currently under way.
The Mitten Bay Council of Michigan, headquartered in Saginaw, covers 21 counties. The staff of 22, with some 1,700 volunteers, service a membership of over 6,000 girls. The Girl Scouts count millions of women leaders who are alumni of the organization.
In 2004 the Scouts becan a major review of the organization by recognizing and addressing some "brutal truths" including.
Competition for girls time is ruthless.
More women are working now.
The brand image could be better focused. (Girl Scouts are more than cookies)
The organization is too reliant on a narrow income stream. Many councils get as much as 50% to 70% of their funding from cookie sales.
Several years ago, Girl Scouts undertook a major study involving all participants. With the help of outside consultants they formed teams to focus on five major areas where "gaps" were identified. These included Branding, Funding, Volunteerism, Program, and Governance and Organization. As a result, Girls Scouts are now in the process of a major re-organization.
The results will be realized in some dramatic changes. As an example, the 14 councils of Michigan will be reorganized into just three high capacity councils. The maps at the bottom illustrate the change. The Upper Peninsula will remain a single council, but will become aligned with Wissconsin.
Besides the change in councils, there will be new programs and even different uniforms for girls. Volunteer training will be updated and improved to meet today's needs. Management will obviously change with the new councils.
Many questions remain to be answered as the change rolls out. The Mitten Bay council will become the Central Council and will stretch from the Ohio border up through two thirds of the state. A new head quarters will be established plus regional support centers.
The new organization will also results in the sale of some of the six camp properties in the state. Allen said this is a very emotional issue. Memories of summer camp are some of the best and it's hard for adults to see the end of THEIR summer camp .
All in all the organization is excited about the changes. The goal and desire is to go from Good to Great.
13 Lower Peninsula Councils will be replaced with three high
capacity Councils with local support centers.
Steve Kent and his family have lived in Bay City for 40 years. He is VP of Technical Services at MMCC which produces MyBayCity.Com. Kent is active in many Bay City civic organizations.
LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM:
