July 28 President's Message
Posted by Ron Searfoss
on Jul 28, 2015
Our meeting last Thursday was a distinct honor for me as your President to discuss the Morning Star Plans for the 2015-16 Rotary Year.
Membership goals are a targeted increase of 5%, planned to help drop the Club’s average age at least a little. The Club having been successful in achieving EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) for the first time last year, we will again pursue full 100% member participation for Foundation contributions. We will continue to grow our Rotarian Engagement in achieving goals for members participating in Club Roles, Service and Social Activities, sponsoring New Members and enthusiastically endorse involvement in District and RI events.
Service Projects & Activities occupy a significant portion of our efforts. With this being the 25th year of our 5K/10K Race, we plan on a worthy effort to make it extra special. We are expanding our efforts in conjunction with Celtic Classic. The annual projects will continue for Salute the Troops and the Spaghetti Dinner among others. We will partner with Bethlehem Rotary again on the Dictionary Project and Golf Tournament (again with the Bridges Foundation) and Four Way Test Speech Contest. We will conduct a “bike roundup” in support of the district grant ‘Sweat Equity’ requirements for the Bike Works Project.
Youth Service will see us engaged with more student scholarships for Camp Neidig and pursuit of expansion of Youth Exchange - including the summer exchange options and age criteria. Four Way Speech contest activities will commence shortly to achieve increased participation.
Committee Assignments have been completed as all Rotarians should be serving in areas of interest and inspiration to them. Exciting opportunities are planned in the areas of Vocational Service and Marketing where the objectives are to teach “What is Rotary?” in the community.
The 2015-16 Budget Summary was reviewed for both the Operating and Charitable Accounts for the members to provide an understanding of the Club’s costs of operations and where the funds are to be applied in helping our community.
The whole presentation is now available to members after logging in, please see “Club Documents” on the left side of the “Member Area” of our website. Please feel free to raise any questions you may have. Remember Santa Claus is a Rotarian.
Thank you to all who continue to make the Morning Star Rotary Club a shining example of ‘Service Above Self.’ A special thank you to the Officers, Directors, Committee Chairs and the many active members who help us to grow.
Golf Tournament a Success!
“We received very good news about the golf tournament held on June 22nd (after a stormy day canceled our original date). This year's net proceeds exceeded $14,600 (up from about $9,000 last year). This means that the beneficiary, the Bridges Foundation of the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School (BAVTS, will receive $10,000. The remaining $4,600 will be divided equally between the Bethlehem and Bethlehem Morning Star Clubs to support our service projects this year. Great news, and many thanks to the Golf Committee members for their hard work in making the tournament a success.” Golf info courtesy of Pres. Mike McGovern, Bethlehem Rotary Club. Thanks Mike, could not have said it better myself, so I didn’t.
Please join us this Thursday on July 30 when we will have our official visit from District Governor, Doug Cook.
Doug will talk to us on what is planned in the District this year. This would be a good meeting to invite a prospective member or for someone thinking about Rotary to come and learn more about our wonderful organization. Please feel free to ask DG Cook about “Why the COW!”
Reminder to Board members: Please plan to stay after the club meeting as the Board meets with DG Doug for not more than an hour. Thanks!
Please “Be a Gift to the World” - like Charity, it begins at home.
President Ron
