AG Bill McGurr made an announcement about a RI member survey that is coming to you via email. He encourages us all to give our opinions and it should only take about 5 minutes to respond.
Hustle Date: February 24. Sign up is full. Goal is to raise $10,000 so please make your donation pledge ASAP. Collection for this will be through your dues statement so you don’t have to flag down Mike to make your payment, just your pledge. If you have given cash to Mike it has been given to Kris and you should not be billed.
Mike thanked the committee: Donna, Michelle, Eliott and Kris provided financial information. The Special Projects fund has approximately $20,000 and we hope to raise another $9,000 through the Hustle next month. The committee received four suggestions for projects.
Small Library Boxes – Karolyn was asked by the committee her thoughts on the idea. She thought the Friends of the Library would want to take the lead on this kind of project, and if Rotary wanted to assist in another way that would work. Rita Fletcher mentioned that the Park District was approached by another group to put a little library box in a park (they agreed) but we should be aware that there is another group doing this project. Committee recommendation is to support the Friends of the Library but not through the special projects fund.
Bring Back the Ring – Immanuel United Church of Christ has a 609 lb. bell that dates back to 1893. The bell is silent because it has some stabilization issues and broken mechanization. They are raising funds to repair the bell. There is some confusion on the costs. Their go fund me page states their goal is $9,200 and they have raised $2,870. However, in discussion it was thought that more had been raised. Confirmation needs to be made with the church. It was also a concern that other churches would ask for support. The members were comfortable with helping fund the bell project because of the uniqueness of the project and that we have similar issues donating to the high school. The members agreed that applications can be made, but we consider each individually. The Committee recommends donating $5,000 to the bell project.
The Rotary Clock – A four sided clock that could be in a prominent place like by the train station for maximum visibility for the club. Photos were distributed. James noted that Rotary International has approved designs for the clocks and helps guide groups in working to place and establish the clocks. There are many local examples of these clocks. Villa Park has one. This would be a multi-year project and required a sub-committee to see it through and cooperation of the Village or land owner. Issues like site selection, utility connection, maintenance and landscaping should be considered, but the Special Fund Committee wanted to leave those kinds of details to the sub-committee. The Committee recommends $20,000 toward this project for the clock itself understanding that it will cost more to see the project completed.
A Rotary Scholarship fund- . This would be a fund that eventually become self-perpetuating. It was discussed that a large amount of money may not necessarily be needed to seed the fund and it could grow before the first scholarship is awarded. The committee membership has experience with other community scholarships and noted that there are several organizations that already distribute scholarships. The Committee decided to set this suggestion aside and not recommend funding.
These were the ideas under consideration and a vote will be taken on the Special Projects Fund Committee’s recommendations at the meeting on Feb. 7.
