Today was an In-Person meeting at Madeline’s in Fogelsville where we had 20 people gathered, plus 6 people on zoom.
Treasurer Chris Blechschmidt did Registration and the 50-50.
GUEST:
Nick Millward, friend of the club.
OPENING:
Pres. Gail Micca at 7:30 rang the bell and started the meeting.
Jill Kearney gave a very nice invocation.
Then Ron Coleman led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the U.S
CELEBRATIONS:
Pres. Gail displayed the list of May member celebration events.
AWRC ANNUAL CHANGEOVER:
Our changeover will be on June 22nd at Madeline’s in Fogelsville.
DISTRICT CHANGEOVER:
Celebrate our 2021-2022 Rotary Year under District Governor Bob Hobaugh and Welcome our new 2022-2023 District Governor Len Gieseler
The Rotary District 7430 Changeover Dinner is on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from 5:30 pm- 9:00 P.M.
Location is Brookside Country Club- Pottstown, 850 N. Adams Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
NWL VETERANS MEMORIAL DEDICATION:
Monday, May 30th at 11 A.M. at Ontelaunee Park. You are welcome.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD BANK DATE CHANGE:
The next distribution is THIS SATURDAY on May 28th. After that the dates are”
June 11 July 16
August 13 September 10
October 15 November 19
December 10
SNACK PACKS:
TODAY is the next snack packing at Parkland H.S. AND at Northwestern Lehigh.
Diana Dunn will lead this starting in the next Rotary year, and she needs a co-chair.
FIFTH WEDNESDAY MEETING:
Pres. Gail said that on Wednesday June 29th we will meet in the evening at The Green Thumb Garden and have a pot luck supper.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday June 1st VIA ZOOM starting at 7:30 A.M. Come on at 7:15 and tell stories.
Our program will be Helen Papathanasiou giving her New Member Classification Presentation.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
We skipped these today/
The 50:50 prize of $36 was won by Helen Papathanasiou. The door prize was won by Ron Coleman.
PROGRAM:
Pres. Gail Micca lead us through an AWRC Assembly. As a start Gail e-mailed us the following:
We are looking for feedback. Here's the main things we are covering today:
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
KEY POSITIONS:
SERVICE CHAIR
STUDENT OF THE MONTH CHAIR
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE/CASINO NIGHT
Our Club:
Family of Rotary
Technology
Meeting Room Set Up
Community Service:
Rodale Park Clean Up/Mulch
Highway Clean Up
Lehigh Valley Zoo
Food Insecurity:
Snackpacking
Kingdom Life Food Pantry
Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Produce
Meals On Wheels
Garden Projects
Events:
Cornhole Event
Casino Night
Dining Out/Club Social Events
Student support:
STEM YEA
Camp Neidig
Student of the Month
OTHER –
NEW PROJECT IDEAS:
FUTURE GRANTS:
SPEAKER SUGGESTIONS:
HELP NEW MEMBERS GET AQUAINTED - LEARN/TEACH CLUB RUNNER
Do we want an evening meeting option? Circle your choice:
a. Yes, Zoom on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 (same); second Wednesday at Madeline’s 7:30am (same); fourth Wednesday 5:00/5:30 happy hour at Madeline’s followed by club meeting (could be committee meetings/club business etc/occasional speaker, networking), serve appetizers (light)
b. Yes, same as option one, but gather at different locations, same 4th Wednesdays
c. No, don’t offer an evening meeting
What is working well with our club?
What is missing from our club that would make it better?
What is NOT working?
Potential Speakers?
Fundraising Chair, Len Salines, described our AWRC two-part budget.
We have an Operating budget that pays for the club expenses e.g. ClubRunner software, RI Dues and District 7430 dues. The other piece is the AWRC Foundation which is a 501-C-3 account and donations are tax deductible.
Our current membership dues at $200 pp have been the same for at least 11 years. In that time the RI dues have grown to $93 pp, and the District dues at $45 pp. These come out of the $200 members pay.
A calculation of money needed for RY 2022-23 shows we are $66 pp short. At a recent AWRC b.o.d. meeting, after much discussion, it was decided that the dues for the next Rotary year are $250 pp.
Incoming Treasurer, John Scott, explained that the dues statements for the next RY will be sent using ClubRunner to each member in a few days. A new feature of ClubRunner is the ability to pay your dues using their new routine.
WE REQUEST THAT DUES ARE PAID BEFORE JUNE 30th.
Pres. Gail noted that in recent years our operating budget has donated $25 pp each year to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund. This procedure made our RC an E.R.E.Y. MEMBER.
There was considerable discussion about continuing this procedure, since we are out of money. Also many members donate to TRF on their own. A show of hands had 18 of the 20 members present in agreement to not donate this year.
It was added that if we have enough funds next June 2023, we can donate $25 pp for only the members who have not already donated.
We then heard feedback about the questions asked by Gail. Each table had a spokesperson report, and we started with Marlene Heller from the on-line “table.”
Their conclusion is to leave our current meeting times and places as is, and add a once-a-month evening meeting similar to our Dining Out meetings pre-pandemic.
Len Salines suggests that the monthly evening meetings do not include a full dinner.
It was noted that we have 4 months a year with a 5th Wednesday that can be the evening get together.
Jeff Kistler explained how we conducted the pre-pandemic Thursday evening meeting at the Holiday Inn. We charged $5 pp which got us some snacks. We bought our own drinks and talked for 30 minutes. Then we moved to a quiet space and had a 30 minute business meeting, sometimes with a speaker.
Gail Micca said we might consider holding committee meetings instead of having a speaker at our regular Wednesday morning meetings.
Katrina Sundstrom said evening meetings are difficult for her young family.
Next, Jill Kearney explained the Service Opportunities sign-up chart and the use of Post-its. Members were asked to sign their name to one -- or more -- Post-its and put it on one or more of the groups that are of interest to you to work with. The GREEN post-it is only to be used if you will furnish financial support.
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto “One profits most who serves best.”, rang the bell and adjourned the meeting.
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