Our meeting for May 21, 2020 was a Club Assembly presided over by President Marty Behr. The three topics of discussion were: (1) proposed amendments to the Club’s Bylaws, (2) the Sunrise Foundations new Service Fund, and (3) a possible return to live meetings. This Zoom meeting was aided by Zoom’s “polling” function, which allowed us to take contemporaneous votes on the amendments and provide feedback on ‘reopening’ issues. (Many thanks to our Zoom genius Peter Hoberg).
President Marty called the Assembly to order and announced that a quorum of members was in attendance (via Zoom). President Marty had circulated the proposed amendments by email on May 5, 2020, including a detailed description of the specific changes and the rationale for those changes. The first proposed bylaw amendment was a change in Article I, Section 1 and Article II, Section 1 to increase the maximum number of directors for the Board of Directors from 12 to 13. The second proposed amendment was to change the bylaws provisions for attendance and termination for non-attendance. Current Bylaw Article IV, Section 7 deals with termination of club members for nonattendance and non-payment of dues. The proposed bylaw change split Section 7 into two sections, 7 and 8. Under proposed Bylaw Article IV, section 7, the Board is empowered to terminate the membership, at its discretion, of any member who has not paid dues within 10 days after notification of the dues. Under proposed Bylaw Article IV, section 8, the old rules for mandatory attendance requirements would be replaced in favor of guidelines under which the Club strongly encouraged participation by members at a variety of Rotary-related events. Under the proposed guidelines each member is encouraged to attend a minimum of 30 events per year, at least 15 of which should a club meeting. Both proposed amendments were passed with nearly unanimous approval (34 in favor, 1 opposed).
President Elect Paul O’Rear discussed the new Santa Rosa Sunrise Foundation Service Fund. Paul’s presentation was aided by a powerpoint discussing the Service Fund. The Fund will be managed by the Rotary Foundation as a Donor Advised Fund. We make a gift to the Fund by check, online or through estate planning. We then watch the Fund grow (the Foundation Board has approved a “growth” strategy of 75% equity index funds and 25% bond index fund). Approximately 4.25-5.00% of the Fund will be distributed to the Club once a year for our community and international grant programs. The Service Fund is projected to be a long-term driver of Sunrise community and international support (the slide shows that if we could come up with $1,000,000 into the Service Fund by 2027 the Fund would generate annual earnings of $45,000 forever, thus vastly improving our shared goals of community and international involvement). SO, DONATE!
President Marty summarized the feedback he obtained from Club members and Gesine and John at Franchetti’s about when and how we could return to live meetings. It’s complicated. The state/county need to allow indoor eating, which will not be until mid-June or even July. We would likely continue to Zoom the meetings as well so that members could choose to attend live or online. Indoor seating will be limited to 30 people (with another 20 outside). The food service will be an enhanced continental breakfast (buffets will not be allowed). We would probably prepay for breakfast. Social distancing and masks (when not eating) would be required. In other words, different but a step in the right direction.
In a poll taken during the meeting, 22 members said they would attend live meetings, 3 said they would not, and 10 were unsure. 22 members said they would most likely attend meeting twice/month; 9 said they would attend weekly, and 4 said they would attend once/month. Finally, Marty discussed the option of charging for each meeting, whether or not a member attends. 21 members said they would pay $10.00 per meeting, 9 preferred $5.00 per week, and 5 believed that there should be no charge if no live meeting was provided. The feedback from this meeting will be invaluable in our planning for a return to live meetings!
A huge thank you to Pres. Marty, Pres-Elect Paul, and to the Directors and everyone who has participated in this process of amending bylaws, setting up this amazing Service Fund (and especially to Rich and Betsy Randolph for their amazing contribution to get the Fund up and running), and investigating the feasibility and conditions of live meetings. Terrific meeting!
