District Governor Tom Gump presented his agenda for the coming year via a power point.
Highlights:
Minnetonka Rotary Club is one of his favorite clubs and appreciates the friendships he has made over the years.
Tom and his wife Catherine have hosted 7 Rotary Exchange students which has been a wonderful experience.
FY2020-21 Rotary theme is Rotary Opens Opportunity and Rotary will be encouraging each club to concentrate on:
Create new clubs - Rotary membership is down. RI has had 1.2 mm members for the past 25 years. Need to turn trend around by creating new clubs and keeping current members engaged.
Strategic planning meetings – all clubs need to plan for the future
Select new members carefully and assure they are committed and want to get involved. New member orientations are very important.
Continue to pursue the eradication of Polio as Rotary continues to make a difference.
Maintain continuity within RI and each individual club. Work together!!!
Focus on environment and continue to award district and global grant projects that protect the environment.
Racial equality is an ongoing issue that must be resolved. Let the recent unrest be our wake call and take action.
Several programs will be put on hold this year due to the pandemic to include the Youth Exchange Program and District Conference
Questions:
Ron U. asked where the current hot spots for Polio? Afghanistan and Pakistan
Chris C asked if the Gates Foundation has approached us to help with COVID-19 vaccine in addition to continuing our efforts with the polio vaccine. No.
Nancy D. asked whether the issues with the WHO will impact funding for polio. Yes, it would be a problem. All we can do is continue to give as each dollar we give is matched multiple times over.
Cathy C. asked what each dose of polio cost? $.12 per dose and 2 doses are need for a total of $.24
Lenny N. asked why membership numbers are so staggering and if they have uncovered a common cause? Most members leave between their 2nd and 3rd year.
Friendship is the biggest value of Rotary and they lose members before they figure this out.
We must keep our members passionate about Rotary.
Also, consider changing time and location of meetings or start a satellite club (only need 8 people) to accommodate members needs (work, family…)
Bob H. asked if we had a strategy for inviting people back. He mentioned he joined Rotary and then left after 10 years as he was busy with work and family. He came back to the club because several members encouraged/invited him to back.
We don’t have a strategy but Tom G thought it was a fabulous idea. He stated that exit interviews ware very important in determining why someone is leaving.
Tom Gump thanked all of us for the work we do and looks forward to attending a future meeting in person.
