June 25, 2007
Today, June 25, 2007: We meet at the Howell Opera House today for the annual New Officer meeting. Jim Gilligan will be passing the gavel to Ron Hingst, Rotary president for 2007-2008. Congratulations, Ron!
And many thanks to Jim for steering the club into a new technological age with improved fundraising and more active participation in community events. Jim is the man most responsible for the newsletter being on-line for your information, for its pictures, and for its messages about the fundraising activities, speakers, and Rotary Foundation activities. He has really done an outstanding job.
Next year's Vice-President is Kim Dane, who has already begun to put together programs. We can see that Ron is eager to have a wide range of programs encompassing many subjects, not just the status report from local agencies. Kim, as you know, is leaving the role of Membership Chair, where she transformed the position into an area of strength for the Club. She actively encouraged recruiting of members and led them all into the club and put them to work.
The new Membership Chair is Jeff Hansen, the ever-so-friendly and interesting new member (the young man who takes his young children on these 200-mile bike rides to the Bridge). Jeff will be bringing his own ideas to the membership recruiting. Welcome, Jeff!
NO meeting on July 2! The Board usually designates this week a holiday even though July 4th is not until Wednesday.
Have You Signed Up For A Program Yet?
One of Ron Hingst's goals for the upcoming Rotary year is to bring in more informative and timely programs. Here is the program mix he hopes to attain:
50 percent of the meetings on trends in the community, local economy, business.
30 percent on Non Profits
15 percent on Rotary and Rotary Programs
Here are some proposed topics:
State of Howell (Mayor, City Manager)
Downtown District Authority (New businesses, who is hot, trends in retailing)
Taste of Howell (Featuring Restaurant owners, who perhaps could bring along samples
Challenges of Health Insurance, trends, etc.
Senior Living (what is available, do we need more, what senior services are available)
Candidates Day (Meeting prior to election of hot issues or offices)
How is the Christmas Shopping Season shaping up? Online vs. traditional. Reps from Tangor, Downtown, other shopping areas.
Personal Finance: What is hot in saving?
The Stock Market: Trends.
Economic Outlook (In January)
Religion (How are our area churches faring membership wise, what are their biggest challenges (financial or spiritual, what major social issues?)
Local Labor (Where are there jobs?)
Real Estate (What is hot and what is not. New builds. Used housing.)
New Car Preview. Invite Dealer reps to talk about upcoming model season.
What is going on with Taxes for 2007 and 2008. Perhaps before tax season.