7/23 Meeting Notes

Announcements

District Governor Sherry Chamberlain will be here next week.  The Club Leadership Team (officers, board, committee chairs, and anyone else who is interested) will meet with her at the Thai Restaurant at 4:30 on Monday. Then Sherry will be our program at our Tuesday morning meeting (get ready to sing "O Canada").  Bring your spouse, family, and guests to meet her and hear her story.  This year's Rotary theme is "Be the Inspiration", and Sherry will inspire us to serve, share, and get involved.

Our first concert at the Gorge is Aug. 3-5.  We will have several volunteers working to raise funds for our club and our projects.

August 4th is the back to school supplies giveaway at Columbia Elementary School.  Shifts are from 7:45-9:30, and 9:30-11:15.  If you didn't get a chance to sign up, you can just show up anyway.  We can use all the help we can get.  This is one of our club service projects, and we help out that day, along with contributing $1000.

Our youth exchange student from France will be arriving in late August.  We need a second host family.  Contact Taro or Joel if you would like to enhance the life of this student, and the lives of your family.  We will also need members to do things with him during the year.  This a life-changing experience for our students, as those of you who hosted Elza last year can verify.  Also, Isaiah Banken has returned from his YE year in Thailand, and had a great time.  He will be giving more of a program at a later date.

The program committee will have a suggestion box available at each meeting.  This is your chance to share or request a program.  Drop in an index card with your idea, and any contact information you may have so the committee can communicate with potential program people.

Program

John McDarment gave a quick membership update, and introduced our club membership committee members, who talked about various aspects of club membership.

Ethan talked about why (at the age of 20) he joined Rotary.

Alan stated why we focus on friendship, and why we need to share this with others.

Ruth discussed how projects help get and retain members.

Leslie emphasized how to get involved, and why we should engage our members.  Our committee will be calling members who miss a few meetings to check on their well being.

Wayne talked about how we fit into inter-nationality of Rotary, and the wide reaching friendships we make at district and international events.

Jim A. introduced two new incentives for our members.  The first will be to give a gift card to every member with perfect attendance for the first half of the year (ending in December), and again for the second half (ending in June).  This includes make-ups (see options in the right hand column).
The second is the B.A.G. (bring a guest) program, which encourages members to bring guests (any adult).  Guest cards will be filled out and dropped in the B.A.G. bag.  A card will be drawn each quarter, and the winner presented with a $25 gift card.  The membership committee will follow up with guest who are potential members (non-family).

John concluded, and let the club know that we have asked for a $4000 budget, because membership is that important.  Membership is also everyone's responsibility, so share with others why Rotary is important to you, and invite them to come to a meeting, social, and/or project.