Tattler Newsletter October 12, 2015 (Oct 12, 2015)

Presentations:

Bellingham Theater Guild representatives Francie Gass, Campaign Co-Chair and John Purdie II, President made a presentation to the membership prior to the formal campaign start kickoff by Tom Beaumont and Scott Hume.

The Bellingham Theater Guild was founded in 1929, and in the 86 years since has funded all its own operations and become a well-managed, local, community treasure.

It owns its building and land free and clear.
Never before has it asked the community at large for financial help.
No one --- that’s no one --- gets paid a penny in this amazing 501(c)3 non-profit.
Over 7,400 folks of all ages use the tickets that are sold each year.
Over 320 volunteers work in front of audiences and behind the scenes to keep the Guild performing, donating 25,000 hours per year.
Ticket sales completely pay for the Guild’s operations.
Reflecting a growing focus on businesslike operations brought on by the great recession, by 2012 the Guild was debt free, and by 2014 had enough reserves so that, even if productions were to go dark for a season, it would survive. (Oh, that all non-profits could do this!)

Here’s the Project:

In the last couple of years, the Guild realized its building desperately needed some help.

The old “stacked rock and mortar”-style foundation was slowly deteriorating and sinking. Though manageable in recent years, that foundation must be replaced to protect the Theatre’s otherwise excellent, 113 year-old building on H Street here in Bellingham.
Just as important, access to its volunteer activities and its productions was limited, requiring going up flights of old stairways, impossible for many seniors, veterans, and other disabled persons. The Guild had to turn away many who came to enjoy its shows, sad for the organization and even sadder for those turned away. Access had to be improved.

To fulfill these needs, the old building would have to be jacked up and a new code-conforming foundation built beneath it before the building was lowered back into place. And a “tower” would need to be constructed to allow a new elevator to serve patrons from the basement to the top floor, with appropriate new or remodeled corridors connecting the elevator to each area.

The Guild’s volunteer leadership went to work in an orderly, businesslike way. They met with architects and builders experienced in such concerns and got realistic plans and quotations of costs, ultimately setting a budget of $900,000. Then their Board of Directors dug deep and gave leadership gifts to the organization, and they began quietly gathering funding from their key supporters. Now, in mid-2015, before they even bring their campaign to the public, they are over $400,000 toward their goal…and an important northwest foundation has indicated that they as a result they are positioned for a grant in the $200,000 range provided that they can reach 50% of target with local contributions.(Remember, that target is $900,000.)

Our approved project to give them $100,000 this year will have them at $500,000-plus, over halfway there;because our gift puts them over that mark, ours is a crucial tipping-point gift for them! Now, their public campaign can begin, and they can assure other prospective donors that the work will be done. (Oh, yes: to be absolutely sure they can now complete this project, they have arranged for credit up to $200,000 if necessary to meet any shortfall.)

In return for making this gift, the Guild is offering our Club significant recognition with permanent signage appropriately and conspicuously placed.

Two Rotarians, David Blair and Brian Griffin, brought this remarkable project to us for the second time. (This project was submitted last year, too, but at that time the Guild wasn’t as far along toward fruition as now, and the Sun House project which our Club just funded was more ready for our funding.)

Now, with the Sun House project successfully completed, we are ready for our next service to our community.

This is a project that all of us can get behind, continuing our tradition of making an important difference to Bellingham!

Click here to view their website: http://bellinghamtheatreguild.com/index.html

Tom Beaumont and Scott Hume as co-chairs of the Fund-raising committee followed the presentation with a kick-off of the funding stage of the campaign. Reply cards and self-addressed were made available at the tables for each member. Giving was encouraged via a check, a PayPal contribution via the Club Runner, a pledge with payments spread out over a few months or even a gift of stock. Members were encouraged to be generous and the following goals were stated: 1) 100% participation of club members; 2) Completion of the funding by 12/31/2015 and a total amount of $100,000 to be achieved.

Program:

The speaker, District Governor Bill Robson, was introduced by Assistant District Governor, Bill Gorman. Mr. Robson immigrated to Canada from Great Britain in 1974 and spent his working career in the banking industry. He has been a member of several Rotary clubs in Canada, and currently is a member of the Langley Central Club.

He began his remarks by noting that this is his first visit to Rotary Club of Bellingham. He observed that our club is 98 years old and has produced five District Governors. We have sponsored the formation of three new clubs and have given back over $2 million to the community.

He next described his job as District Governor – he is here to serve the members. Members are necessary to have clubs and clubs are necessary to constitute the districts. He pointed out that 56 clubs comprise his district.

Mr. Robson then described some of our club’s major local projects over the years as well as our contributions to the Rotary Foundation for international projects, which have exceeded $555,000. He mentioned the eradication of polio as a long-time goal that is quite close to completion. Nigeria and all of Africa have been declared polio-free, leaving only Afghanistan and Pakistan with known polio cases. No new cases have been reported in these two countries for three weeks, and if this continues for another three weeks, Afghanistan and Pakistan will be declared polio-free as well. The polio virus must find a human host within six weeks, or it dies.

He pointed out that we have 86 Paul Harris Fellows and 34 committees – more than the membership numbers of many clubs.

His three areas of focus during his term are:

Membership growth

Rotary Foundation

District Conference to be held at Semiahmoo in April, 2016.

When he became one of 533 District Governors, all the Governors were challenged by Rotary International president, Ravi Ravindran, to contribute $1,000 each to the Rotary Foundation. The District Governors all met the challenge and were awarded a World Class award.

Mr. Robson then made his own World Class awards for exceptional service to:

Bob Trunek

Paul Grey

Dominique Zervas

Bob Gibb (a member for over 60 years)

Chuck Snyder

Mr. Robson then presented Paul Harris Fellowship awards to:

Tim Fisher

Peter Theisen

Margaret Curtis – 3rd award