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It was the first Wednesday of the month, so Keith Melberg played the piano and Kathy A. led us in song after the U.S. and Canadian national anthems and John M. offering the invocation. Brian T. reminded us to sell Lucky Duck Derby tickets. If I understood correctly, Matt S. and Brian T. will be handling the canoes. We need to bring our duck (fish) nets and duck calls to this Thursday's race. Brian also passed out fine and brag cards for the 2024-25 Rotary year to those who indicated they wanted one. Sign-up sheets were also circulated for performing club functions this coming year. John M. led off the bragging, thanking Cody O. for switching out our program for tomorrow so Chris Hyslop can speak to us. He has been working in Israel and Jordan and will bring his perspective on what is happening there. Hal L. thanked Kathy for choosing "You're a Grand Old Flag" as one of today's songs, bringing back memories of seeing his first movie, Yankee Doodle Dandy, growing up in North Dakota. This writer bragged about Deb M. completing and submitting our grant proposal for the Bolivia school project. Holly W. paid for missing the last couple weeks while Zack S. added a thank you to the Board for their service this past year. President Katie was our program, talking about plans for our new Rotary year. She underscored RI President Stephanie Urchick's theme for the year, "The Magic of Rotary,"" and inspired/challenged us all to see that the magic of Rotary is in us. She looks forward to working with the ideas that emerged from our visioning session, stating that the motto developed from that meeting, "Connecting, Transforming & Sustaining through Service, Friendship and Acceptance" provides a wonderful description of our club. Plans going forward include developing a standardized onboarding membership process, putting together a club guide/handbook, having at least 80% of our members participate in at least one service project and achieving 50% club member participation overall, holding at least four social events during the year, increasing our social media presence, having long-time members give updated classification talks, getting more members to attend the District Conference, allowing new members to gain experience in Rotary before asking them to be on the Board or serve as officers, developing a major multi-partner project and fundraiser in the community, hosting an exchange student, and successfully completing the Bolivia school project. Consideration may also be given to raising money to refurbish the river trail by donors purchasing bricks to be used for the project. Katie also wants to see Every Rotarian Every Year participation in donating funds to The Rotary Foundation and also wants to promote donations and use of the Fergus Falls Rotary Foundation for worthwhile causes. She hopes the year will see two members participate in a leadership development program, an increased use of Rotary promotional materials, and the club membership growing to 38, with five members sponsoring a new member. Sponsoring a RYLA student is also a goal for the year, as is the development of a strategic plan and getting our website up to date. Last but not least, Katie wants us to have fun, celebrating birthdays (we joined in singing Happy Birthday to Pete W. as his birthday was the day before the meeting), continuing with the Rotary Minute Plus quizzes and possibly having some Random Acts of Kindness Days. Katie acknowledged Buzz L., who has been in our club for what will be 60 years. She concluded by stating she is honored to serve as our president in 2024-25 and looks forward to us making magic! |
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