It was a crisp, COLD morning for our gathering on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, with the sun peeking through here and there. We were a smaller group than some days, probably due to the extreme temps. Nineteen Rotarians were greeted by Frank and we had no visitors today.

 

Jack greeted us and we stood for the Pledge. Jack chose a beautiful song in honor of MLK - Let There Be Peace On Earth. Our invocation was a quote from MLK: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

 

Announcements: District Conference registration is open. It takes place May 2-4 in Corning. * District Golf Tournament is here at Reservoir Creek in September. * BACA Spaghetti Dinner is Sunday, 2/2 at the Moose Lodge in Henrietta. * Dues for January to June are due. 

 

Jack reviewed the highlights of the Board meeting today: Our finances are in good shape, $20,000 is being transferred to the Naples Foundation. * Bella Leach will be singing for the Rotary Vocal Contest. She is the granddaughter of a late member, Jill Hotelling. *

The District Learning Assembly is April 5th at Midlakes High School. We will advertise our activities and events in the program. *  We are revitalizing our Community Service Committee to help facilitate and organize Rotary event committees in the areas of member engagement, club image, document processes and improved revenue. Sherry and Jo Anne will chair. * We will donate $500 each to disaster relief efforts via Rotary Clubs in Asheville, NC and Altadena, CA. * Hospeace is sponsoring a Euchre Tournament on 2/16, 2 pm. at Engine 14.

 

John presented an update on the programs for the next few months. They are listed here in the column to the right as Upcoming Events. Additional suggestions for programs are encouraged and always welcome - let Liz Yee know of your ideas!

 

We welcomed our new member today! Kristina Saucke was officially inducted. She is sponsored by Carrie, who gave her the Rotary pin and badge. Welcome Kris!

 

Jack spoke of our club goals for 2025 saying that Naples is considered a vibrant club by the rest of the District 7120 clubs. Diversity of vocations was a focus of earlier Rotary clubs but not as prominent today. In planning our goals, Jack asked three questions of the group:

1) Why did you join Rotary?

2) What do you enjoy most about being a Rotarian?

3) What was your most rewarding experience so far?

 

Carrie, Nancy, Blanche and Kelli shared their answers with us. Carrie was born into a Rotary family and came to meetings with her grandfather, Bruce Clawson and then her dad, Skip Miller. She most enjoys getting involved with youth activities - youth exchange and RYLA. Nancy watched a group of men gathering at the Naples Hotel when she worked at a bank nearby. In 1987, Rotary started accepting women members and she became the first one in Naples, then was elected as club President in 1991. She continues to volunteer in any way she can! Blanche joined Rotary in the mid 1990s when she was Naples librarian. Her dad was a Rotarian and she was an exchange student to Bogota, Colombia - a very rewarding experience. Kelli is a new member, recently retired from a very busy career. She was looking for volunteer opportunities and learned of Rotary when helping at Naples Open Cupboard. She was excited to find she would not be a lone female in a mostly male club! She looks forward to participating in enjoyable and rewarding experiences. We will continue to explore these three questions in future gatherings.

 

The Ace of Hearts was $66 today. Jack had #6394 and Sharon drew the card for him - Ace of Clubs.

Happy Bills gave many welcomes and congratulations to Kris. Congrats go to those who were elected to the Board last week. Nancy became a great-grandma and Jo Anne has a new great grand-dog this week. Prayers go out to Judy who has pneumonia and Skip with Covid.  Kris thanked the group for welcoming her to Rotary, she looks forward to getting very involved. John acknowledged the roast of his poor memory for names! 

 

Rotary moments were Jack seeing Mary Stone, who spoke of her Rotary scholarship and exchange trip to England where women were not allowed membership but she attended meetings as an American student.

Kelli mentioned seeing a news clip from California where the town official endorsed the great efforts of the Altadena Rotary in relief for the devastation from the fires. Rotary proud!

 

 

Jack closed the meeting with the Four Way Test and adjourned at 1:03pm.