As you probably already are aware, as dutiful readers of the Rotarian magazine, the 2016 – 2017 Rotary year marks the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Foundation. At the 1917 Rotary Convention in Atlanta, Arch C. Klumph proposed the idea of starting an endowment to help finance Rotary’s endeavors of good. Later that same year, the first contribution to the Rotary Foundation was made by the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, in the amount of $26.50. That concludes my short historical synopsis, which most of you previously knew, so thank you for continuing to read!
I just sat down at my computer after a very short run. Please don’t take that as any sort of bragging, because I hate running! But, as I stumbled alongside Carrie, who was chatting and dancing to the music from her phone (and yes, running) I was trying to envision how we, as a club, could participate in this celebration. In between gasping for air and wondering where my next breath would come from I managed a few ideas. Mind you, these ideas are not new nor original, so maybe we should look at them as more of a challenge to you, from myself, on behalf of the Rotary Foundation.
The 100th anniversary celebration officially started on July 1, 2016, which is by some scheduling miracle of the universe, the same day that I became this Club’s President, and the same day that John Germ became the president of Rotary International. One of the ideals that Germ wants to press upon the individual clubs is the continued support of the campaign to end Polio. Germ would like each club to contribute $2,650.00 (yes, read that first paragraph again and see if you can find the common theme) to the Polio portion of the Foundation giving.
As noble as Germ’s request is, I think that the Bar Harbor (MDI) Rotary Club can do better than that, so, here is my challenge. It consists of three parts and the first is the most basic and the one which members hear every year. I want to send the Foundation more money this year, than we ever have. As I write this, I only have access to the last five years of Foundation giving from our club. That five-year high was $6,402.00 and the first part of our challenge is to surpass this mark. This is very easily accomplished if every club member gives $50.00 to the Foundation. I use $50.00 as the benchmark because the club will match your giving up to $50.00 so why not maximize your giving! Of course, if you routinely give more than $50.00, PLEASE continue to do so. Our membership usually hovers around 70 (although it will go beyond that this year) and if every member gives $50.00 and the club matches it, well, we have given roughly $7,000.00 and met challenge #1. Yay team!
The second and third parts of the challenge are this; firstly, raise an additional $2,650.00 to support R.I. President Germ and donate it directly to Polio eradication. Secondly, raise another $2,650.00 and donate to the Foundation, on top of the $7,000.00 we will raise by EREY. Beginning at this week’s meeting, I will be placing the blue plastic change cups on the tables and you can put whatever you like in them in the way of spare change or spare paper money (or checks) and we will collect this throughout the year as the base money for meeting goals two and three.
I am not the best motivator or cheerleader in the world, but I know that our club can meet these challenges, easily. I will bring my check for $50.00 on Wednesday to give to Ron. If you bring yours as well, then we will have that challenge out of the way and we can work on two and three for the remainder of the year.
Thank you,
Shaun
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