A Message from President Steve Ban
It is an honor to serve as president of the Rotary Club of Bellingham this year. Our Club is re-energized after the difficulties caused by the COVID pandemic. Our membership is increasing again, the weekly in-person meetings are fun and informative, and our service projects and fundraising efforts are improving lives locally and internationally.
Attending the annual Rotary International Convention in Singapore this past May, I experienced first hand the energy and substance behind Rotary’s slogan that its members are "People of Action”. The substance is an Action Plan, consisting of four priorities, which our Club is following:
1. **Increasing Our Impact**
- Example: Undertaking a community project that significantly benefits an underserved population, such as our support of the successful Starfish Weekend Food program for needy public school students.
- Example: Undertaking a community project that significantly benefits an underserved population, such as our support of the successful Starfish Weekend Food program for needy public school students.
2. **Expanding Our Reach**
- This involves partnering with neighboring Rotary clubs or collaborating with local businesses and organizations to expand the scope, or reach, of our club’s projects. Two examples are the Club’s contribution to the new Lighthouse Mission building and to the new Wheelhouse building at the local Community Boating Center.
- This involves partnering with neighboring Rotary clubs or collaborating with local businesses and organizations to expand the scope, or reach, of our club’s projects. Two examples are the Club’s contribution to the new Lighthouse Mission building and to the new Wheelhouse building at the local Community Boating Center.
3. **Enhancing Membership Engagement**
- Our Club is having a Membership Engagement Challenge during this Rotary year in order to incentivize members to participate in all of our Club’s activities. Every member keeps track of his or her Club related activities, earning points along the way, and receives a prize upon reaching the goal of 150 points. A Member Satisfaction Survey will also help to tailor activities to members’ interests and priorities.
- Our Club is having a Membership Engagement Challenge during this Rotary year in order to incentivize members to participate in all of our Club’s activities. Every member keeps track of his or her Club related activities, earning points along the way, and receives a prize upon reaching the goal of 150 points. A Member Satisfaction Survey will also help to tailor activities to members’ interests and priorities.
4. **Increasing Our Ability to Adapt**
- An example is embracing digital tools and platforms to enhance communication, project management, and member collaboration. Another example is the use of regular training
sessions or workshops to equip members with new skills and knowledge that align with emerging trends and technologies. An excellent resource for this is The Learning Center on the rotary.org website.
- An example is embracing digital tools and platforms to enhance communication, project management, and member collaboration. Another example is the use of regular training
sessions or workshops to equip members with new skills and knowledge that align with emerging trends and technologies. An excellent resource for this is The Learning Center on the rotary.org website.
One of the most important aspects of the Rotary Club of Bellingham is that, while we are engaged in all of these important activities, we have a lot of fun! Although our members come from
widely divergent backgrounds, there is a strong sense of camaraderie and respect during our meetings and other Club activities.
widely divergent backgrounds, there is a strong sense of camaraderie and respect during our meetings and other Club activities.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or ideas.
At the Rotary Convention with a delegation from Hungary, including Hungary's District Governor!
Visiting with Rumbi, our 2018-2019 Rotary Youth Exchange Student from Zimbabwe, visiting her sponsoring Club in Harare, Zimbabwe