Meeting Notes February 13, 2024

The Tuesday meeting of the Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Club was brought to order by President Craig Reese.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by President-Elect Rebecca Lyons.

Club member Becky Cummins led the club in a brief prayer.

Announcements

President Craig announced that this would be a service day at the club, and we would be talking about club business, instead of having a speaker. (This occurs once each quarter.)

Our Youth Exchange student from Denmark, Laerke, introduced our club's out-bound student Abby, who will be going to Spain next year.

Youth Exchange Coordinator Julie Banken discussed the recent trip to Merritt, BC, in-bound and out-bound YE students. Many Native cultural events and foods were experienced by all. Several "rebound" YE students, who have already been abroad and returned, spoke at the event. Some of them have joined together to form a club called Ro-Techs. For the last two years, our District 5060 has not had any "rebound" students because of CoVid travel restrictions. The YE students in Merritt attended a hockey game between two 1st Nation teams, and then enjoyed time in a heated pool. Laerke said she had very little exposure in school regarding 1st Nation people.

Both Allen Walker and Jim Adamson sent reminders of tonight's Rotary Social at the Taproom in Pybus at 5:01 pm, Tuesday, Feb. 13th. Food and beverages are available. Please attend if you can.

Rebecca Lyons had tickets for "The Greatest Piano Men" at the PAC but could not attend as she would be in SeaTac for PETS (President-Elect Training Seminar). She auctioned off the tickets. Wayne Massing gave her $20 for them. The money goes to the club's treasury. 

President Craig announced that Pybus was increasing our room rental rates by $20 per meeting, from $50 to $70. He also said we would be charged a $35 cleaning fee unless we put our chairs on the chair cart at the end of the meeting. We agreed we could do that. Pres. Craig reminded us that within our budget we have allotted $100 for room rental and set-up. We are well below that amount now.

A major fundraiser for the club has eluded us, but we will keep our eyes and ears open for one. Contact Craig if you have ideas.

Earl said that Allie Schank is working on Road Apple Roulette t-shirts for those who have ordered them. The delay is because we want to get the logos for our sponsors on the back of the shirts and Allie is waiting for some sponsors to provide those. The t-shirts are work-in-progress.

Sargent-At-Arms

Wayne Massing asked Emma CrowE for $1 for forgetting to bring the Road Apple Roulette ticket "thermometer" to the meeting. Jennifer Moraski was asked to pay $1 for being late to the meeting. Several 49er fans were asked to donate $1 each to the club for their team's losing the Super Bowl. Wayne Massing was fined $1 by President Craig for asking him to buy Road Apple Roulette tickets at dinner at Wayne's house. (Craig bought $250 worth and gave Wayne a check for them.)

Road Apple Roulette

Milt asked why the prize for the Road Apple Roulette wasn't lower at $5,000. Earl said they wanted it to be a significant prize and $10,000 was agreed upon. Also, he said the ticket price was set at just $5 because a $10 ticket is a bit high. We want to sell out all 5,000 tickets for RAR this year, then we MAY increase the number of tickets in each section to beyond 1,000.

Tickets are now available from either of the club Wayne's. If you need more tickets, bags, rules, map, flyers, let either Wayne know. Also, bring your sold tickets stubs and payments for them to either way at the social or at the weekly Tuesday meeting. Please use the small white money slip to indicate how many tickets were sold by "your name" and how they have been purchased (cash, check or credit card). The Wayne's keep the stubs to enter into the drawing, they enter the names into the RAR spreadsheet, then pass the monies on to Treasurer Earl.

Sell, sell, sell!!!

Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Club "Challenge Scholarship Program"

Pres. Craig opened a discussion about our Challenge Scholarship Program. "Finish high school" has always been the main goal of the program. Several club members (some mentors) asked about which high school(s) the students have come from and why only from Westside High School? David Barshes, co-program director with Craig Reese, said that repeated requests to Wenatchee HS and Eastmont HS went unanswered, so only Westside students were entered into the program.

President Craig acknowledged that we needed to have more discussions about Challenge Scholarship Program overall in the near future.

Club Goals for Rotary Year 2023-2024

Pres. Craig reviewed two of his major goals for his presidential year: club membership levels and member donations to The Rotary Foundation.

His goal is to have 45 members in the club. We have lost a few members, and we have 2 honorary members who can't be counted in the membership.

We currently have one club member who has bequeathed $10,000 to The Rotary Foundation. Another donation suggestion is to give The Rotary Foundation $1,000 over the course of a year. See Craig if you wish to donate.

Raffle

Carl French was the lucky member to get his raffle ticket drawn, but failed to find the silver ball worth $41 today.

Mark VanHorne closed the meeting with a Dad Joke and a groan! Meeting ended at 8:00 am.