Gerry reported that the Board has revised our meal billing policy. Effective July 1, meals actually consumed will be billed at the end of each quarter. Previous policy was to pre-bill for the upcoming quarter. This policy change makes meal costs fair for those who are unable to regularly attend meetings. It should also make it easier to recruit new members. Because unused meals were a significant income source ($6,000/year) for the club, the Board has raised dues to $125/quarter to help offset the lost income. For most members, this will actually result in a lower overall cost of being a Rotarian. The Flex Group is also investigating possible fundraisers to increase club income.
The Board also voted to donate $100 to a Twin Cities Rotaractor for a service mission to Lebanon and $250 toward a District Matching Grant for a Women’s Center in Guatemala.
Remember that on July 14th at 2:00PM the Rotary Picnic/Bocce Ball Tourney will be held at John and Marla Ordway’s home on White Bear Lake. Food, wine and beer will be provided. BYOB if you prefer a mixed drink.
Sue Ager reminded us that Roland Martinson will present his talk: Elders Rising – “The Promise and Peril of Elderhood” on Thursday June 28th, 4PM in the chapel at Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck. There is no cost to attend and refreshments are provided. Seats are limited, so RSVP today to nicole.ulrich@bhshealth.org.
Jason Slama said the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf will be moving to a new location on Monday, July 9th. They could really use some help with the move so watch your email for a Sign-Up Genius.
Remember that neither the Noon Club nor the Flex Club will be meeting next week due to the Independence Day holiday. Be sure to attend on July 9th however, when the program will focus on Rotary Youth Exchange. You’ll remember that Maria, our Norwegian exchange student, will be arriving in August.
The Happy Buck highlights for today’s meeting were:
- Gerry gave $38 dollars ($1 for each club member) to recognize our contributions to his year as President.
- Cindy admitted to reaching 59 years young this past week. Cindy paid $5 to avoid the Dreaded Birthday Hat (I thought we had retired it) but she couldn’t avoid the Birthday Song serenade.
Many thanks go to MaryAnn Bawden for the delicious cake to celebrate Gerry’s successful year and the beginning of the reign of John Marg-Patton and Cindy Carlson as co-Presidents.
Paul Fournier presented two nicely framed displays of the many certificates and banners we received at the District awards ceremony this year.
Chris Ledbeter used a Powerpoint presentation to generate reaction and discussion of club highlights from the past year. Here are the highlights:
- Eight new Rotarians inducted, primarily due to the addition of early AM meetings.
- Great variety of interesting programs
- Harvest Pack event
- Provided three $1,500 scholarships
- Another successful, if frigid, Egg Hunt
- Financial Literacy Program kickoff
- 4:01 Happy Hour Socials
- Supported CPY’s Bouncy House Fundraiser at Stockyard Days
- Remember Niger District and Global Grant support and scholarships for Maman and Charifa
- Eight bed sets donated, delivered and assembled for homeless high school student at Life Prep Academy
- District Awards – Public Image Club of the Year, Club Service Club of the Year, International Service Club of the Year Runner Up as well as the District Governor’s Citation.
WOW! We should all be proud of what we’ve accomplished under Gerry’s leadership. It’s only appropriate that we would celebrate our success with a champagne toast, below.
Following the toast, John and Cindy presented Gerry with his Past President’s Pin, Gavel Plaque and an engraved paperweight (below).
In turn, Gerry presented president’s pins and passed the Gavel and Bell to John and Cindy (below).
Cindy and John presented the slate of officers for the coming year and there was a significant change in the pathway to the presidency. Jason Slama was forced by an employment conflict to delay his term as president by a year. Dennis Connolly agreed to step in as President-Elect (President in 2019-20) and Jason becomes the President-Elect Nominee (President in 2020-21). The slate of officers and board members was approved by a voice vote of the members present.
Cindy and John are looking forward to their Co-Presidency and propose the following “Big Picture” for the coming year:
- Do Good
- Have Fun
- Celebrate
Enough said!