8-2-2012 meeting of the Rotary Club of Chickasha

The 8-2-2012 meeting of the Rotary Club of Chickasha came to order after a prayer, pledge and song.

Guests included Assistant District Gov. Carter Wade and Peggy Moss.

Prayer concerns included Bill Hodges and Bill and Janice Mcvey.

Steve LaForge was congratulated on his recent marriage.

Mitch Williams was announced as a prospective numbers. He was proposed by Rotarian David Sikes.

Rotary District 5770 Gov. Phil Moss was our guest speaker.

Moss described his role as being the lead volunteer in the district for Rotary service.

He said Rotary has been successful at levels because it is a team effort.

Moss said Rotary International Pres. Sakuji Tanaka has established the theme for the 2012-13 term as "Peace Through Service." He said service is what the organization it built on -- Service above Self.

Moss aid when Tanaka talks about peace is not necessarily talking about resolution of conflict but the "peace" of mind people need to lead a comfortable life.

"Rotary does projects to help other have better lives," Moss said. "The peace we want is giving people hope."

He said Rotarians can have a peace of their own by serving others.

Moss said it is a time of transition for the organization, with changes coming within a year in how the Rotary International Foundation operates and the implementation of a strategic plan called "Future Vision."

He encouraged more programs and projects at the club level to help build he foundation.

An area of concentration in the future will  be membership and extension by recruiting men and women to join Rotary and to help build new clubs.

A new membership development program called Ignite will be the subject of a district conference on 8-11. Four Chickasha Rotarians are expected to attend.

Moss said a another avenue of service for Rotary will be to expose more young people to Rotary through RYLA, RYE and Interact Clubs.

He said Rotary needs to build its image through social media such as Twitter, Youtube, Facebook and Linked.

He said a Rotary Showcase website is being developed to where clubs can exchange ideas and see what projects have been successful elsewhere.

Moss encouraged our club members to be more than just attending a weekly meeting.

"That is not how your Rotary should be defined," he said.

Moss said that a Rotarian from District 5770, Ron Burton of Norman, will be Rotary International President in 2013-2014.

Also, he urged club members to consider applying to be part of Rotary Study Exchange with Tuscany next year.

Moss end his presentation by giving President Cody White a district pin. He was going to give us an International banner but he lost it on the way to Chickasha and will present it a later date.

The meeting adjourned after recitation of the Rotary 4-Way Test.