Our Greeter today was Jean Masiko and she did a marvelous job.
President Amir Famili rang the bell at 7:30 A.M. to open the meeting and welcomed all. Then Pastor Jean Masiko gave a very nice invocation including a special mention for Ronnee Klotz.
Secretary John Scott. began the meeting having the members recite The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Then he led us in reciting the Four Way Test. We all held a moment of silence remembering those who were lost on “9-11.”
John also reviewed some upcoming events.
GUESTS:
Dave Dries, Spring Township RC; Lou Poli, guest of Gary Heller’ John Friday, guest of Ralph Witcher; Joan Wickel, guest of Dale Heffner; Kelly, guest of Murtaza Jaffer; and Kathy Gallegher.
Kelly said a few words about the Literacy Center.
BIRTHDAYS & JOIN DATES:
P-E Ralph Witcher read aloud the names of members having birthdays this month, and the list of members who joined Rotary in September and the year.
SHELTERBOXES FOR THE BAHAMAS:
Barbara Kistler sent an e-mail to all members asking for emergency donations to buy replacement ShelterBoxes because of the Hurricane devastation in the Bahamas. Some members promised to match $250. We had almost enough for two boxes here at this meeting! Excellent.
DONATE TO POLIOPLUS:
Pres. Amir is pleased with the response so far with good donations to PolioPlus. But more are needed.
KINGDOM LIFE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Jean Masiko needs volunteers for this Friday evening to stock shelves.
LOWHILL FOOD PANTRY:
This great group still depends on cash donations from AW Rotarians. And volunteering for the produce pick-up and distribution on Saturday mornings is a very satisfying thing.
DINING OUT -- SEPTEMBER:
Thursday, September 26th, at 6:00 P.M., at Madeline’s in Fogelsville
THURSDAY EVENING MEETING:
TOMORROW, Sept. 12 at WEGMANS at 5:30 P.M.in the lounge across from the bar is our next meeting.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Sept. 18 with Gwen Pongracz as our Greeter. Our program will be Jim Martin, LLB District Attorney of Lehigh County.
Pres. Amir introduced Mitch Huston who conducted the drawings and collected Happy Dollars.
The door prize bottle of apple wine donated by Jean Masiko was won by Chris Blechschmidt.
The $12 pot of the 50:50 was not won by Chuck Ehninger’s ticket being drawn followed by a white marble. Ten marbles will be back next week.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Mitch Huston suggested that we consider asking for “complaint dollars” at $2 each. It did not get approved tho.
Ernie Boll is just happy.
Amir Famili is happy that he flew to San Francisco and spent two days with his son.
Bill Palmer is happy that right now there is a Rotaplast mission working in Guatemala City fixing cleft lip and palate problems with volunteers from our district helping.
Murtaza Jaffer wants brother Mustafa to actually RUN for the 5K distance this year.
Len Salines is happy to celebrate MaryFrances’ birthday.
Ralph Witcher is happy for his guest’s grandbaby’s birthday.
Al Lewis is happy that his daughter is celebrating her birthday.
Ihor Fedoriw and wife are celebrating 50 years of marriage.
Marlene Heller is happy to have her guest, Lou Poli, here today. And she is happy that their youngest grandchild started pre-K and prefers seat belts being used in the bus.
John Scott is happy to announce that his determined weight loss now totals 137 lbs !!
PLUG FOR NEXT WEEK:
Pres. Amir has met with D.A. Jim Martin and believes that next week’s program will be great.
Also next week we will be presenting Parkland Cares with a large donation.
PROGRAM:
Pres. Amir introduced our Speaker for today. PDG Doug Cook is a member of the Collegeville RC. Doug served as our District 7430 Governor for Rotary Year 2015-16. Doug and wife Mary have 3 children and have hosted 19 Youth Exchange students over the years.
Doug’s presentation explained about the RI Council on Legislation & Resolutions, and how WE can make a Rotary rule get changed. Doug is the Council Representative for our District 7430.
Doug reminded us of the RI structure which starts with our 35,681 RCs world-wide. Below them are 538 Districts, comprising 34 Zones led by 17 Zone Directors. Then there is the Board of Directors and the RI President.
And in Evanston, IL the two main groups are the Rotary Foundation and the RI Staff Systems.
The Council on Legislations has 538 Members -- one for each district -- with3 year terms, and the Previous Officer of RI. These are “Guardians of our Governance, our Future.”
The Governing Documents are:
RI By-Laws, 72 Pages
RI Constitution, 5 Pages
Club Constitution, 13 Pages
So What is The Council? It’s history includes:
1933 Created - Annually at the Convention
1974 Changed to Meeting Every Three Years
1977 Separated from Convention
2016 Two Parts Separated
Resolutions Annual and Electronic Voting
Legislation Tri-annually, Voting is in person
The Council on Resolutions is the Board of Trustees considering an Issue that is:
- Proposed by clubs, approved by Districts
- Due to General Secretary June 30 year prior.
- June 30, 2019 for RY 2019-20.
Some Resolutions considered:
RI Board Consider minimum 20 members in a club.
RI Board Consider video recording Board meetings.
RI Board Consider recommending to clubs to focus locally.
RI Board Consider recognizing EarlyAct.
The Council on Legislation works on “Enactments” change Rotary’s Governing Documents.
Proposed by Club, approved by District
Due to Gen. Secretary by 12/31 Rotary year before COL
12/31/20 for COL Spring 2022
Become Effective July 1 following the COL
What Happened at COL 2019?
117 Proposed Enactments
19 Hours in Session – Considered 6/Hour
13 Withdrawn, Rejected 55, Approved 47
Examples of Rejections:
19-33 Require clubs to meet 40 times in a year.
19-48 Change from 7 to 5 years in Rotary to be District Governor.
19-104 Pair Districts reduce by 50% COL representatives, 1 per paired Districts
Examples of Adopted changes:
19-40 Nominating committee will now select an alternate RI Pres Nominee. Sam Owari 18-19, Sushil Gupta 20-21.
19-62 COO & General Secretary becomes CEO & General Secretary, No change in compensation
19-72 Rotaract clubs join RI, rejected, re-considered adopted.
19-102 & 103 Pre-voting for COL, 80% in favor Adopted, 20% in favor Rejected – before the COL begins.
19-112 by 6 votes, BOD who can attend COL Reduced to 3 -Pres, Pres-Elect and one Director.
19-117 RI can register with the IRS as a 501(c)3, Non-Profit
Saves $400,000 in vendor purchases annually
Reduce property, sales tax by $275,000 annually
Attract corporate sponsorship
Approved by Board and Trustees based on an operating agreement between TRF and RI
Doug asked us what we want to be changed. Here is what to do:
Resolutions – Due 6/30 and the Club Approves
Then the District Approves by Vote of the Clubs
Enactments – Due 12/31/20 and the Club Approves
Then the District Approves by Vote of the Clubs
Your Council Representative Will Help You.
Doug responded to some questions.
VOLUNTEERING AT PHOEBE:
Joan Wickel from Phoebe Allentown told our members about opportunities for volunteering there. Dale Heffner had contacted Joan about projects for our Thursday evening group.
Their website says:
“Typical volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to:
•Companion/visitor
•Escort/transport residents
•Activity helper
•Activity or group leader”
Joan looks forward to working with AW Rotarians.
CLOSING:
Pres. Amir closed our meeting by our reciting the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
Good photos are by Gary Heller
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