BULLETIN – February 12, 2025

By Tim Dempsey

 

President Jon Robb called the meeting to order, Elliot Pinsel gave the Pledge, and Greeter Bill Taranowski led us in prayer.

 

There were no brags.

 

-Howard Jaffe gave us a fundraiser update. We sold 362 tickets. 312 left to be sold out. If everyone talks to 10 friends, we will reach our goal. Raffle ticket sales are weak. The silent auction is progressing nicely. The Second City cast is set, and they are going to the after party. Tickets can be picked up starting next week. On Wednesday tickets will be at the morning meeting, and on Fridays they can be picked up at Mickey Finn’s from 3:30 to 7pm.

Premium and value seats are going fast, and the center section is already filled. We are sending out mass emails and posters and tent cards are available. Volunteers are needed to set up and be available up to show time. Every 100 tickets equal $10k to charity.

 

Elliot Pinsel entertained us with a Super Bowl quiz.

 

Today’s program was a Club Assembly. Various committee Chairs reported.

-Community Service Chair Patricia Bleck gave us a schedule of service projects. She is trying to have a project every month. Robin O’Connor is the incoming Chair.

-Vocational Service Chair Scott Hezner reported that the focus is on education and scholarships. Everyone has a vocation, and we help students advocate for themselves. We contribute up to 5 $1500 scholarships to worthy students in many vocations yearly. We also have contributed tool bags to IBEW apprentices over the last 5 years.

-Next up was Bill Taranowski reporting on New Generations. Interact is a club sponsored by Rotary and our Club for high school students at LHS. The Interact Club is run by students and conducts projects the students are passionate about. They do Valentines for seniors, support aid efforts for hurricane victims in North Carolina, cook dinners for the Haven to name a few. We also give scholarships for the RYLA program that promotes student leadership. We are also starting a Club at Carmel High School. We also give out 2 service scholarships for deserving students (Hornberger and Kastner). Rotary also promotes foreign exchange students. The exchanges can be high school or college students and can be short term or year long.

-International Service Chair Rich Schoeneman reported on the worldwide humanitarian efforts of Rotary. Global Service grants of $291 million were awarded last Rotary year. We recommend projects using DDF funds and 3 years later we get the money back in the form of credits for future projects. We also do local projects with other clubs. Grants can be $50k to $500k. We currently have $4k in DDF funds remaining this year. We also contribute to polio eradication and groups such as Shelter Box.

 

-Daily: $25 won by Tom Zengler who donated his winnings to the Food Pantry.

-Progressive: $412 (39 cards). Jon Robb drew the 9 of clubs. ROLLOVER!

 

-Greeter & Prayer: Kim Smith substituting for Tim Klein who is resigning from the Club.

-Fun & Frolics: Pete Govorchin.

-Program: Brandon Cooks who is a flight attendant for United Airlines.

 

Ron Lapins took Jon Robb’s coat by mistake. As Sergeant at Arms, he pardon himself in the spirit of recent Presidential pardons.

 

Rotary issues disaster response grants up to $25k.

 

Tom Zengler led us in the 4 Way Test.

 

“Becoming number one is easier than remaining number one”. Bill Bradley