I have been remiss in contacting a few people who have not yet signed up for Rotary Minute Plus Insurance for the 2024-25 Rotary year that is about to end, on June 30th. I have now done so by a phone conversation or by e-mail to those I could not talk to, and I am hoping we can make President Katie's goal of again accomplishing "Every Rotarian, Every Year" status. To achieve that, we need to realize a minimum average contribution of $100 per person to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund, with every dues-paying member contributing at least $25 to the effort. We have therefore encouraged every member who had joined the club prior to July 1, 2024, to contribute at least $95.00 and, if at least $95 is given, the club will contribute an additional $105 in that member's name, so your total donation to The Rotary Foundation will be $200. If you contribute less than $95, the club will match it dollar for dollar. Of the $200 that would be contributed in a member's name, $120 would go to the Annual Fund and $80 would go to PolioPlus (unless you choose to designate all or part of the funds that would otherwise go to PolioPlus to the Annual Fund). A member can also designate what of the seven areas of emphasis of The Rotary Foundation they want their annual fund contribution to go to: 1) peacebuilding and conflict prevention; 2) disease prevention and treatment; 3) water, sanitation and hygiene; 4) maternal and child health; 5) basic education and literacy; 6) community economic development; and 7) the environment. Just tell me if you have a preference in that regard; otherwise, it will go to the general "pot" for the annual fund, which supports all seven areas. And remember, out of every dollar you give to The Rotary Foundation, half of it comes back for our Rotary District to decide how to use. Over the years that money has been approved by our District to help fund our Chad water well project, the Spash Pad, the modern manufacturing learning lab at the public high school, the library expansion and a greenhouse at Lake Region's Community Garden, amongst many other projects we have thrown our weight behind.
Because I haven't given the list of who signed up for Rotary Minute Plus Insurance to Brian T., he has not billed it to anyone, so if you have already or are going to sign up to participate, it will get billed to you on the next statement he sends out. We will still be sending out the funds you pledged or pledge, and the club's match, so it is received by The Rotary Foundation in time to be credited toward Katie's 2024-25 year, so that means the club will cover your share until you reimburse the club for it. To help the club out in this, if you bring your check for $95.00 made payable to The Rotary Foundation tomorrow and give it to me, that will reduce the amount our club treasury will have to cover until your pledge would otherwise be billed to you. Brian tells me that we have enough funds in our fundraising budget to cover the amount pledged and the club match, but it would just be nice if we could reduce the amount of the "float" if you are willing to do it this way. I have to take full responsibility for asking you to do this since I let the ball drop in moving things forward. I apologize.
To summarize, if you have or are intending to sign up for Rotary Minute Plus Insurance for the 2024-25 year, please consider bringing a check for $95.00 made payable to The Rotary Foundation tomorrow and give to me for sending on to Evanston. Then Brian won't be billing you and I will just be getting a check from him for the amount not turned in and the club's match. For members who joined in 2024-25, the club will make your first donation of $200 to The Rotary Foundation on your behalf whether you give any money or not, so there is no expectation that you will participate in Rotary Minute Plus Insurance for 2024-25. Finally, if you were a member of the club prior to July 1, 2024, but you are not participating in Rotary Minute Plus Insurance, we still need to ask for a pledge or payment of at least $25.00 to The Rotary Foundation so we can make the goal of "Every Rotarian, Every Year."
Thank you!