The Pen is Mightier than the Sword.
This cold dark winter morning turned out about 30 of us including two near-guests: Yahel Stern and Ron Lambert. While Ron sat stoically and said next to nothing, Yahel gave us her customary week in review which included three nights of performance in Central High’s production of We Will Rock You, noting as she did who from the club was in the audience on which nights.
A bright spot was Randy Reeve receiving a Paul Harris Award for yet another generous donation to the Rotary Foundation, thank you Randy.
Setting that aside we went on to the business of the day. President Dave (supported as needed by Club Secretary Catharine) led us through a review of responses to the live membership survey conducted a few weeks ago. Here is, by no means. a barely adequate point-form summary of some questions and responses. Barely adequate because I’m just giving you the top 2 responses whereas many times there were multiple choices and consequently more than 2 responses.
- Q. Why did you join Rotary? Majority said for local community involvement, next group said for fellowship
- Q. Is the club warm and welcoming? Most said Agree, Next group said Strongly Agree.
- Q. Do we do a good job of integrating new members? Most were Neutral, Next group said Agree.
- Q. Do you get good value for money from the price of a meeting? Most said NO! Next group was Neutral.
- Q. Is the cost of breakfast reasonable? 50/50 split between too high and too low.
- Q. What item(s) within the order of business should we modify? Most said nothing, Next group said the grace.
- Q. How should we direct long-term funding? Most said It depends on the cause. Next group said for a 2- or 3-year commitment only.
- Q. Should we adopt long-term or short-term causes? Most said, a mixture.
- Q. What of mix of local and international projects should we adopt? Almost equally split as follows: 1) Should be more local, 2) should be based on needs of project, 3) should be an even balance, 4) should have more international.
- Q. Are you well informed about RC Burlington Central? Most said Agree, next group was Neutral.
- Q. Do you have a good understanding of Board activities? Most said Neutral, Next group said Agree. (Some discussion ensued and it came as a surprise to some that RCBC donates well over $100,000 a year to various causes. Attached is Schedule 3 from the year ended December 31 2018 Financial Statements showing donations made in calendar 2017 & 2018.)
- Q Do you favour hands-on projects? Most said Strongly Agree , Next group said Agree.
- Q. Would you be prepared to lead a new fundraising project?. Vast majority said NO. a few (7/37) said Yes.
- Q. What would you like to see more of… 1) bus trips, 2) pub nights 3) dinners.
- Q. What do you think of the cost of social events is? Most said Just right.
There were several more but that’s enough. The full results will be published and available to all shortly.
And that’s all, other than to note that your scribe took quite a beating at the hands of the Sergeant at Arms today. The SAA constructed a charge-sheet attributing sometimes libelous questions to random members. They were framed to trap your scribe in a coup de grace, ensnared because of one innocent question from his enquiring mind.
You would think, wouldn’t you, that a retired educator who devoted his professional life to encouraging enquiry and intellectual development would embrace the idea that no question is a stupid question. Well, perhaps he’s forgotten. Perhaps he overlooked the fact that the target of his derision is the scribe; that the pen is mightier than the sword, and that revenge is a dish best served cold.
P. Scribe.