December 7, 2021 Speaker was DGN Mary Bak
 
DGN Mary Bak spoke to the club on the District 6440 Strategic Plan.
 
Diane introduced Mary who received her B.A. degree from Loyola University, Chicago, and her J.D. from DePaul University. She retired from the Village of Glenview in December 2013 as Director of Community Development/Special Counsel. Significant projects in Glenview during her 28-year tenure include the planning and oversight of the redevelopment of the former Glenview Naval Air Station (The Glen), oversight of two Comprehensive Plans and multiple Corridor studies and downtown planning efforts, and the re-codification of the Municipal Code.
 
Mary Bak presented the goals of our District Leadership’s Strategic Plan. Our Leadership Team is: PDG Lyle Staab, DG Kevin Stevens, DGE Bill Kmiecik, DGN Mary Bak (who will be DG 2023-2024), and DGND Thor Davidson follows her in the leadership line.
 
Goals
Membership: increase by 10%. We have had decreases in membership during COVID and are slightly less than 2,000 members in District 6440.
Service: the lifeblood of clubs
Education: Mary explained that she showed President Diane Krier-Morrow how to navigate ClubRunner and that Linda Borton is the Training person in our district. – we should invite Linda to do a program for us.
Fellowship/Friendship: we provide social events for the four months with 5th Tuesdays.
Stewardship and Grants: Rotary scores high on the Charity Navigator with one of the best Foundations in the World. Members give to the Paul Harris Society $1,000 per year and are recognized as Major Donors when they give $10,000. The Bereavement Society can be joined by willing $1000 in your wills. The new Polio Plus Society can be joined as a charter member giving $100 payable to The Rotary Foundation through your clubs. Funds donated to the Annual Fund are returned after investing for 3 years as District Designated Funds (DDF) to match with club cash contributions for District and Global Grants.
Governance: Learn to use social media (Facebook, Instagram) and clubs share best practices.
Diversity Equity and Inclusion: Clubs are encouraged to develop a DEI statement for their clubs. Our club would like our membership to better reflect the DEI of Skokie Valley (Skokie, Niles, Lincolnwood and Morton Grove).
 
This is the link to Mary Bak's PowerPoint Presentation: