Pres. Elect Jean Requests Your Ideas!

Pres. Elect Jean Requests Your Ideas!

I am looking forward to becoming president of Morning Star Rotary this July 1. My “canned” description of our club? “We have a lot of fun while helping people locally and throughout the world!”

To help with planning I’d like to talk with each of you individually for a few minutes, and will email you to find out whether before/during/after a meeting or by phone is better for you. If those aren’t workable, we can do it via email.

As a club member for almost 19 years (and board member for about half of that time), I value many Morning Star traditions. I hope we can rekindle our camaraderie, sense of “family”, and fun as we keep be the best of the old while embracing the new. New members, new technology, and possibly some new projects and events.

Over the past 5 years our membership has declined about 15-20%, with the severe economic recession adding to the usual factors of people moving and experiencing other life or career changes. To continue our many good works, I’m asking each and every Morning Star Rotarian to be a truly “Active” member. Now, Rotary is not a one-size-fits-all organization, and “Active” encompasses many ways of supporting the club, the Bethlehem area, the district, and Rotary International. Some functions require time throughout the year, while others are concentrated around the date of a particular event.

I will be asking how you would like to be active in Morning Star during the next Rotary year. How can your time, talent and experience help our club? If you have a passion for a particular cause, would you consider leading an effort to benefit it? Would you like to participate more with local projects, or help us learn ways to reach out more beyond our borders? I hope to explore opportunities to partner with other Rotary clubs in our area on projects of mutual interest.

Morning Star needs to increase Publicity, including traditional media, but in particular to establish a social media presence. Would you help us get started on FaceBook?

Vocational Service is a Rotary “Avenue of Service” which may warrant more attention – maybe brief intros of “veteran” members, a meeting devoted to exchanging business cards, resurrection of our VoTech awards, or holding an occasional meeting at a member’s place of business. If this is important to you, would you help?

What types of social events appeal to you? Family picnics, sporting events, or an evening gathering for cocktails or dinner? Going to a play, concert or comedy show? We’re open to your ideas, and are very interested in what would engage our newer and younger members.

Please keep an eye open for my email. I ask you to carve out a few minutes to share your views so we can make 2013-14 a terrific year! 

Many thanks, 

Jean

Jean Searfoss, President Elect 2012-13

jsearfoss@cementemployers.com  Cell 610-504-1455