Experience from other Clubs
Posted by Bill Molesworth
Fred Hacker, who you can tell is not bitter because his 50/50 cheque had not arrived (he only mentioned it 3 times this week), said that 4 of the Club's current members had been members elsewhere and 3 of them had served as President. As a glimpse into how these Clubs worked, he'd asked them each to give a little presentation.
Arnie said his experience was dated as he'd been in this Club for 30 years. He had been a founding member of the Black Creek Club and worked on Service and the Bulletin. He said there were more nationalities there, but now we have the terrific benefit of having women in Rotary. As a new Club, Black Creek was trying to establish an identity, which Midland doesn't have to do, and there had been less of a community relationship. They had affilitated with the Pioneer Village and had worked on several hands on projects there, which he thinks is a great way to build the trust and respect between members that's so important.
Ron Crane has a History of the Toronto Club, if any one wants to read up on it. It was formed in 1913, the second Canadian Club and he said it had spawned 55 since. He joined in 1975 and was President in '84-'85. At that time it had 400 members, met in the Royal York and had a permanent office there with two staff. They have their own foundation with nearly $10 mill. The numbers have dropped and, as a lesson, he reported that there had also been a Kiwanis Club there which got away from hands on experience, just wrote cheques, and the interest in meetings dropped and that club has disbanded.
The Club used to bring the Met. Opera to the Maple Leaf Gardens as a fund raiser. It helped the Sick Kids, the West End Creche, Nellies and, recently, has been funding mobile clinic buses for street people, at $700 thou per, and the St. Mike's Centre for street people.
Arnie said his experience was dated as he'd been in this Club for 30 years. He had been a founding member of the Black Creek Club and worked on Service and the Bulletin. He said there were more nationalities there, but now we have the terrific benefit of having women in Rotary. As a new Club, Black Creek was trying to establish an identity, which Midland doesn't have to do, and there had been less of a community relationship. They had affilitated with the Pioneer Village and had worked on several hands on projects there, which he thinks is a great way to build the trust and respect between members that's so important.
Ron Crane has a History of the Toronto Club, if any one wants to read up on it. It was formed in 1913, the second Canadian Club and he said it had spawned 55 since. He joined in 1975 and was President in '84-'85. At that time it had 400 members, met in the Royal York and had a permanent office there with two staff. They have their own foundation with nearly $10 mill. The numbers have dropped and, as a lesson, he reported that there had also been a Kiwanis Club there which got away from hands on experience, just wrote cheques, and the interest in meetings dropped and that club has disbanded.
The Club used to bring the Met. Opera to the Maple Leaf Gardens as a fund raiser. It helped the Sick Kids, the West End Creche, Nellies and, recently, has been funding mobile clinic buses for street people, at $700 thou per, and the St. Mike's Centre for street people.
Ron Wassink was with the Kincardine Club through the 90's and joined in Alliston for a year before coming here. He was President through the Centennial Year and their project was a shelter in the Rotary Park, a park they had already developed with slides and picnic areas etc. In Alliston he organized a gala in support of the tsunami victims and they raised $14,000.00.
Alliston's membership is older - avg. about 60 - which is a concern, but they still raise a lot. They have a Polo Gala and hold a rural/urban night when they invite rural business people to mix.
Kincardine holds a TV Bingo but only from October to April and they have an Auction which raises about $17,000.00. They have held draws for a Harley, which raised money, done eyeglass collections and support student exchanges.
He said the two clubs had very different levels of communication and he found Alliston, which seemed secretive, difficult to get involved in. He feels Midland is doing a good job of communication and commended the Board.
Neil Evenden said that, being part of the Salvation Army dictates that he moves a lot. He went to Melfort Sask. at 26 and joined the Club there. He thought it would be similar in makeup to Midland. In Dunnville, there is no Rotary so he was forced to join the Lions, who do 'weird things'. In Saulte Sainte Marie there are two, the senior, larger downtown club and the younger North Club. He was in Melfort for the 'women in Rotary' debate and has hosted the student exchange and international students.
Doug Ewan offered the Club's thanks to Fred and the 4 speakers for sharing, saying there were so many Clubs we can learn from. Joyce added that she thought the theme in all four was the sense of fellowship.
Alliston's membership is older - avg. about 60 - which is a concern, but they still raise a lot. They have a Polo Gala and hold a rural/urban night when they invite rural business people to mix.
Kincardine holds a TV Bingo but only from October to April and they have an Auction which raises about $17,000.00. They have held draws for a Harley, which raised money, done eyeglass collections and support student exchanges.
He said the two clubs had very different levels of communication and he found Alliston, which seemed secretive, difficult to get involved in. He feels Midland is doing a good job of communication and commended the Board.
Neil Evenden said that, being part of the Salvation Army dictates that he moves a lot. He went to Melfort Sask. at 26 and joined the Club there. He thought it would be similar in makeup to Midland. In Dunnville, there is no Rotary so he was forced to join the Lions, who do 'weird things'. In Saulte Sainte Marie there are two, the senior, larger downtown club and the younger North Club. He was in Melfort for the 'women in Rotary' debate and has hosted the student exchange and international students.
Doug Ewan offered the Club's thanks to Fred and the 4 speakers for sharing, saying there were so many Clubs we can learn from. Joyce added that she thought the theme in all four was the sense of fellowship.