CLUB NEWSLETTER for February 2,  2005
February is Rotary World Understanding Month

Present: Pres. Walter, Bart, Janet, Judy, Alden, Dietrich, Don & Carol, Karen Kelly, visiting Rotarian Lewis Burridge from Middlebury, VT.

Absent: We miss you Jack and Beatrice. We miss you too, Ben and Bill, but know you have fled the trials of Humarock for a few sunny weeks. Hurry home.

This month's Board of Director's meeting focused on membership rather than the usual agenda. We have moved into a danger zone - only 14 remaining active members were reported on the RI Semi-annual report. Our President-elect, Dietrich, wants 30 members by the end of his term of office. The effort begins NOW. In light of that we are beginning to update our by-laws to encourage growth. The following items were discussed and will be incorporated into our by-laws in order to (1) motivate potential mew members and (2) encourage current members to be more active. We need a broader base to do our good works and members need a broader base to stay interested and effective. The following item were agreed upon:

  • In cases  of hardship determined by the Board, the club may waive the dues (or portion thereof) and /or other specified expenses of a new or existing member for an unspecified period during which such hardship exists. out of funds contributed by club members or raised within the club. No funds from outside the club may be allocated to such club expenses.

  • The club will allow attendance credit (1) at the website of eClub, set up for make-up meetings (duly documented to the Secretary of this club as required by the website of eClub to qualify as a makeup meeting,) or  (2) at the website of this club set up for make-up meetings (duly documented to the Secretary of this club as required by the website of this club, to qualify as a makeup meeting; or (3) by attending committee  work/meetings on behalf of this club, all of which are in accordance with the intent of the Constitution of the Rotary club of Scituate, MA, article VIII, section i. It is the expectation, however, that each member will attend at least 25% of the weekly meetings held by the club. 

It is well noted that there exists concern about diluting regular club meeting attendance. We believe that the existing core will not disintegrate over this and that the base will be enhanced if good speakers are engaged and our meeting are interesting.

There also remains the issue of day and time of meeting. We will certainly be switching to a breakfast or lunch meeting in the NEAR future. Our guest Rotarian spoke to us about this.

Did anyone get a new mobile phone for Christmas? We are collecting old mobile phones for the same organization that is supporting The Children's Hospital in Cambodia. Ask me about it! Keep an ear out for family and friends sporting new cell phones!

"Rotary club members are ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things . . . our bicentennial is not just a time to reflect upon our past accomplishments. It is also a time to look to the future, to set new goals, and to face new challenges. We must continue to dedicate ourselves to world peace, promote high ethical standards, and seek new opportunities for service." Glenn Estess, RI President

Food for thought from our Guest Rotarian Mr. Burridge. He is past President of a large club of some 50+ members in Vermont. He had 21 suggestions for us, several of which we need to think seriously about: 

  1. Change to a breakfast club.

  2. Make a list of past members and visit them all.

  3. Organize a reunion of past members once a year.

  4. Set up an Interact club.

  5. Publicize everything that the Club in the past has done for others.

  6. See it it that there are programs that no one wants to miss. 

  7. Have a dinner for our Paul Harris Fellows once a year and try to have every member be a PHF. 

  8. Have a joint meeting with neighboring Rotary clubs and one with the local Lions/Kiwanis (for us that means Marshfield.)

  9. Give Club awards to members who deserve it and have it published in the local newspaper. 

  10. Have members who have to be away participate online.

  11. Have a major happening in each season, 4 times a year.

  12. Have a good newsletter (we have that).

  13. Organize committees, in which the work is done (we have that.)

    Finally he gave 8 examples of different projects that his club has done:

    1. A dance for a local hospital

    2. A Fair

    3. A covered bus stop

    4. Shoveling show for elders (Rotaractors)

    5. Collecting Christmas trees after Xmas

    6. Internationally: build a school in Honduras.

Yours in Rotary,

Janet and Bart

 

UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  

Feb. 9 -  Our own Dietrich Bilger

Tues. Feb. 15 - District’s Centennial Celebration – Providence

Feb. 16 – Ms. Nuzzo, principal, Scituate High School

Sunday, Feb 20th Cambodia Evening – Newport / Middletown

Feb. 23 – Ceremonial lunch – R.I.’s 100th Birthday (this is just my fantasy...) Actually we have a guest speaker planned - Bob Walgreen. Topic to be announced.

Feb. 28 – Board of Director’s meeting time & place TBA

March 16 - Governor's Visit

March 20 – St. Patrick’s Day Parade – funding Donna Green’s Courage Project

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