From Ron Bedell, Our New Club President:
"We were blindsided by the onset of the Corona virus last winter but be managed to adjust to it by adopting Zoom meetings to our Rotary club. Last week at this time I had no idea that I would be asked to be president of the Lebanon Rotary Club but due to unfortunate circumstances her I am. Now we must forge ahead to make this the best Rotary Club that is possible. Tuesday night we had a successful board meeting and would like to share that with you. It is the board's intention that every month we will try to give you a good idea of the things the board is doing to make the club better."
Ron presented a slide show during which he reviewed the Visioning Process the club underwent in 2018. The following were the items we believed should be in our vision:
To those outside of Rotary
• We will be known as the “go to” club for literacy and youth service;
• We will support programs for drug and alcohol prevention and treatment.
• We will participate in international service projects.
With in our Club
- The Rotary Club of Lebanon Rotary will be a vibrant club as measured by having:
- A good mix of age and gender in membership,
- Excellent weekly programs, and
- A strong financial base.
Ron will work to guide the club in making sure the underpinning of the club can help us move towards our vision. Bruce Pacht with Ron Bedell and Marilyn Bedell to revise the bylaws for our Club and Lebanon Charities.
Rich Wallace has accepted the charge to set up a workable membership committee.
- Our current lock-down is potentially a real opportunity to get new members. New members would be required to pay less than a dollar a day to join; and they could help us decide when, where and whether we want a meal at our meeting place. They could help us evolve a new culture in the club.
- The Membership Committee can choose what area they want to focus on. Having a focused vision makes us satisfied and prouder to be Rotarians.
- We must concentrate on diversifying our membership. Ron briefly reviewed out age and gender statistics over the past few years to highlight the we have work to do.
Ron then provided time for Bruce Pacht to give an overview of the keep concepts approved by the board to use as bylaw changes are considered; Rich gave a brief overview of his plans for membership.
Reviewing our club structure (bylaws, etc.) — Bruce Pacht
These are the guiding concepts being used as we consider revisions to the bylaws:
- Club members acting together are the final authority of the club.
- The board of directors of the club are elected by the membership to act in membership’s stead to move the club toward the club’s strategic goals, oversee all current operations, and keep the membership informed.
- Annual proceeds of the Mollica Fund shall be considered part of the funds available each year for the club’s charitable purposes.
- Based on the club’s strategic and tactical goals as determined by the club board, Charities shall recommend to the membership for adoption, the club’s annual charitable giving budget.
Questions arose about oversight of the Mollica Fund investment, and just which entities are registered with the state of NH and as what. Bruce will continue to work on this with other members of the management task force and members who expressed thoughts about the situation.
Membership — Rich Wallace