January 5, 2017 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
mblyClub Assembly
Peter started the meeting with Sargent at Arms. After happy/sad dollars, we learned Chum had knee replacement surgery this week, and both Marty Martens and Roberta Smith were wearing slings and everyone who wasn’t was fined a dollar.
Peter encouraged everyone’s participation in the meeting. He recapped the slate of officers, Mik Mikkelsen, Mary Sargent, George Abendroth , Kristen Lindquist and Kim Milton.
Buckets on the table in January are for the Shields Mission Project. Deb explained that much of the funds are used to keep people from being on the street overnight, especially during the winter months.
Kristen was asked to clarify about making tax-deductible gifts to Rotary. Because the West Bay Rotary club is a separate entity from the West Bay Rotary Foundation, gifts should be made to the Foundation. This would be in addition to gifts on top of dues to the Rotary Foundation. Currently we are only able to make gifts by check or cash to the club. You can make gifts directly to the Rotary Foundation through the rotary.org website, including regular periodic payments (eg, monthly) and can designate your gift to a particular focus area of Rotary, like Polio.
3rd quarter invoices for the 2016/17 year were sent via email this weekend. Let Kristen Lindquist know if you didn’t receive one.
Kim Milton and Charlie White of Raymond James from Rockland Rotary made a presentation about gifts of stock to support the West Bay Rotary Foundation. Charlie works with a brokerage account to accept gifts of securities to the West Bay Rotary Foundation. $35 will be the cost of selling the securities. He left a folder with more information, and see Kim Milton if you want to learn more.
George Abendroth spoke about Hospitality House. Last month, the club raised $600 through December bucket contributions which was matched by the HH for $1200. They are around $80,000 in fundraising for their campaign. $800 was raised by selling decorations through the Christmas Tree sales. More than 80 families were served as part of their Christmas program.
There will be an electronic survey soon to help with evaluation and planning for the club and its activities and operation.
The membership committee is also working on a card and brochure to help share about the club and build membership. Lisa and Sandy are working on a membership drive for the next two months, with prizes for both Rotarians and guests through a drawing in March. This will happen at a Get to Know Rotary Happy Hour, date-time-location TBD. Bring a guest you would like to introduce to Rotary and you think would be a good addition to the club to participate in the program. On the tables were pages with talking points “Top 20 Reasons” to join Rotary. Current membership is around 80, and the focus of building the club includes retention of membership as well.
Lehman is going to work on a sponsorship program with Jen Harris, Jan Campbell and others. Rotarians are encouraged to be sponsors and help recruit others to support the fundraising for events like Chili Challenge, Chowder Challenge, Duck Derby and others.
Peter talked about upcoming events in the District and Nationally, including our own District Conference in May and the International conference in Atlanta in June. Sandy talked about the leadership programs that many of our club have participated in over the past years. Next is March 18 at York County Community College in Wells. See Sandy if you want to go. Registration for District Conference is available on the District 7790 website.
Susan Dorr, International Service chair, described a water project in the town of Valladolid in the Yucatan in Mexico, involving 15 water installations in small villages nearby, providing clean water for the schools. Each system involves a kiosk with fountains and a spigot so kids can take water home, too. Each one costs $1000. So far Susan has raised $1000 with WBR Charitable Foundation and International Committee support, and she plans to go the end of the month for the installation of a facility to celebrate and take pictures.
Heidi provided an Interact update. It consists of about 80 members that meet at CHRHS, and it includes both boys and girls. At Christmas, they participated in Christmas by the Sea, helped deliver meals, helped with Tree Sales, will be part of Winterfest and the ice carving and planning another trip next year to Safe Passage in Guatemala. She also talked about the United Nations day that they group participated in last November. 2 adults and 8 students traveled by van to New York, saw a Veteran’s Day parade and then the Rotary International United Nations Day, which includes programs for youth including Interact, Rotaract, Youth Exchange and RYLA in addition to programming for Rotary. The theme was sustainable development, and they heard RI President John F. Germ speak. They also heard from Ambassador Su of So. Korea, and others, including youth leaders from the US, Rotaract members. She and Karen Hansen have been talking about exploring the creation of a Rotaract Club for the area, and anyone interested in having one for young professionals in the area should see Heidi Karod.
Steve reminded us about Toboggan Nationals and need 38 people to help with parking that weekend, February 11 and 12.
Mark Masterson announced that the Chili Challenge will take place on February 11th, either at the church or somewhere else where alcohol may be served. Community Service is also working on a project locally, and all are encouraged to come to their meetings and participate.
Alton Lane, graduate of STRIVE, will be talking about his book From Convict to Mentor, at next week’s meeting.