Sidney enjoys working as a minister in a local church. His first day as a minister was on September 11, 2001. He serves on many civic and non-profit boards. In 2002 Sidney became a Rotarian with the Elk Grove Rotary Club. Sidney is a pound father and grandfather. (Let the record show that the club gave Sidney a standing ovation welcome.)
Sidney thanked the club for inviting him to speak and thanked Steve Turner for the friendship they have developed over the past couple of years. In ministry, the minister has to be careful about the message he shares with his members as he knows them well and they can take things said personally. Then the evangelist comes in and blows things up and leaves the aftermath for the minister to deal with. This is his legacy for Steve when he takes office. Sidney gave credit to his many mentors that helped get him where he is today in Rotary. It is important to have mentors in Rotary to help you get a clear picture of what Rotary is. Sidney knows that Rotary is really about friendships.
Sidney asked the club what we are known for, what is our reputation? When guests visit, do they feel welcome and want to be a part of the club? Sidney shared that it took him about 15 years to finally realize what Rotary was about. Before that time, he was just attending meetings. He then asked how many Rotarians in the room vacation with other members... only a couple of hands went up. Until recently he would not have raised is hand but now he as a few up-coming vacation dates with fellow Rotarians.
Sidney wants to talk with the club about the "power of the second question." The first question is "Who are we?" The second question is "What are we to each other?" John Price read about Fictive Kinship, it refers to the family members chosen and not decided by blood lines or marriage, God Parents, play uncles and aunties. Rotarians enjoy Fictive Kinship, if we allow it.
Sidney shared the fact that the first time he encountered Al Frumkin, he formed an opinion of him. We too often size people up and we determine if they are worthy enough to be invited to play. We want to invite every age, stage shade and shape of people. Others also size Rotary up and think they know who we are, elderly, lighter hue, rich and male. He realized that he had sized Al up without every having a conversation with him. We do this frequently with the people we meet.
Our platform this year is the Say YES campaign. When you say yes to Rotary, you get to go to places you never would have gone, you get to meet people you never would have met, and you get to do things you never would have done.
We interrupt this train of thought with these commercials:
RYLA.
Do you know a student that needs to attend RYLA? Would they go if they could afford it but can't, so they don't? We can help! Let the District know about the student and there may be a way to help get them there. Spots are going unfilled at RYLA and this is bad for the perception of the program with the donors as well as for the students. RYLA, for a better future for students and a better future for Rotary. Paid for by RYLA, making tomorrows leaders, today!
District Conference
District Conference will be held this year at the GSR in Reno. Rotarians are encouraged to attend to: throw axes, ride go-carts, play Top Golf, ballroom dancing Arthur Murray style, dance with headphones only music (it is a lot of fun and really screws with the minds of the drunks that enter the room by mistake.) There will be a talent show, a speech contest and gambling has been known to take place in Reno... and there is the District Conference. George Forman will be the guest Keynote speaker... finally your chance to grill him. It is going to be a family friendly event, bring your kids and grandkids. Now back to your original message.
Our growth goal for this year is 14%. That seems arbitrary you say... you are right, it is. However, it is the amount of growth we need to get our district to 2,000 members, a number we have never reach in the history of the district. How are we going to get there you ask!? We simply need to give people a reason to play. It needs to be a deeper reason, meaningful to the prospective member. Rotary is about friendships. Sidney challenged the club to go deeper and develop close friendships, not that we have to vacation together, but form meaningful connections with each other. We have something that the whole world is looking for, yet we are nonchalant about it.
We have been at 1.2 million members for 20 years. This is because members are leaving out the back door just as fast as they are coming in the front door. We need to do better than that. We need to contact members when they have not been at meetings. We need to develop the friendships that keep members, members.
Sidney, with the aid of 8th grade Audrey Turner, showed the new Video Newsletter, Go, Meet, Do. No one was reading the newsletter so they upgraded it to a video newsletter. Here is the link for the August newsletter:
https://www.rotary5180.org/ Our District wants to share news in a format that people will enjoy. They are asking us for video stories to share online. They even have field reporters that are available to attend events and report on them.
14% growth or 4% growth we need to share Rotary with others and shut the backdoor.
Sidney announced that a Paul Harris Award was going to be given today and then called Lisa Keller to the font of the room. This is Lisa's first Paul Harris award.
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