Rensselaer Rotary 8-19-2014

Hello Rensselaer Rotarians!

 

Eighteen members present today, plus guests Bob Evans and Brian Egan.

 

After the singing, John Ahler's fellowship questions yielded the following answers: Fall Festival is this weekend; George M Cohan wrote "Give My Regards to Broadway;" Little Cousin Jasper Festival is always the first weekend after Labor Day; James Whitcomb Riley is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery; Little Cousin Jasper Festival replaced 1973's Good Neighbor Days. John paid a Happy Buck because he has only 24 more years of children's college bills.

 

President John announced some of today's Board decisions: Rotary will support the Ministerial Association's Backpack program which will provide weekend food for children in need. Kristen Ziese, Executive Director of the Jasper County Community Foundation, was approved for membership. Also, relevant to our 50/50 drawing: 3 tickets for $2.00. Because we have fewer members and therefore less ticket revenue, the weekly "drawer" will no longer receive a $5.00 "consolation prize." Funds from Fellowship and the 50/50 all go to the Rotary Foundation, whose biggest project is the total elimination of polio worldwide.

 

Mindy Beier and John Ahler presented a thought-provoking review of what our club is and does, in response to a feeling that perhaps our club doesn't "know itself." Here follows their Rensselaer Rotary Club Information Sheet:

When were we formed? 1926

When do we meet? Noon every Tuesday, at eMbers

Cost? Weekly $8 meal, $4 dues, about $560 per year, owed regardless of attendance.

Charities supported: Boy Scout Troop 152, Food Pantry, Crisis Center, Families of JCYC, RCMS Washington D.C. trip, SJC scholarship, 4H Boosters, and others.

Fund-Raising projects: Pork Burgers, Run for Warmth, Miracle Tree, Trivia Nights.

Number of registered members: 35

Desired attendance = 50%, but every meeting matters

The weekly newsletter is an informative followup.

Finally: What is Rotary? A global network of community volunteers.

Brief discussion during and after their presentation dealt with member retention.

 

There is sometimes confusion or misinformation regarding Rotary billing. The Board is working to obtain more consistency and transparency on this. There are currently some sizeable past-due accounts. The Board reminds you that Rotary International's Constitution, Article 12, Section 3 deals with non-payment of dues:

"Any member failing to pay dues within thirty days after the prescribed time shall be notified in writing by the secretary at the member's last known address. If the dues are not paid on or before ten days of the date of notification, membership may terminate, subject to the discretion of the board."

 

This policy has not been enforced, but greater compliance and cooperation would be appreciated. If you are not receiving your bills, please notify Matt Robertson.

 

Hope to see you next week!

 

Anne-Marie Egan

Secretary, Rotary Club of Rensselaer