Louisville Rotary Club

Meeting Minutes

August 10, 2022

Aided by members singing and the jaunting lyrics of the Beach Boys 1964 song I Get Around, Songmeister Mark Sigler introduced Michelle Charles, this year’s Rotary District 6650 District Governor. Governor Charles has made it her pledge to visited all 45 of district 6650 clubs. Today is her 18th visitation. Mark chose the Beach Boys song to highlight Charles’ “getting around” to the various Rotary groups. Governor-Elect Rich Tupic quipped, “There are two types of persons who like the Beach boys — those too young to know the lyrics and those too old to remember them.”

Club Business & Happy Dollars

* Joanie Aljancic was first with a buck as she congratulated Randy Starr for his 3 gold medals in Senior Olympic competition. In Columbus, Randy picked up a gold for tennis in singles competition. Earlier this summer he won 2 golds for singles & doubles competition in West Virginia. This summer’s winnings now give Randy 12 golds. A side note: In 1976, Randy was captain of LHS’s first tennis team.

* President Eva Roshong announced that next week we will gather for our noon meeting at Metzger Park for a Picnic in the Park. Hamburgers & hot dogs provided. There was a sign-up sheet for sides. Bring your own beverage.

* Cynthia Kerchner gave a pitch for volunteer workers for this week’s Second Friday/Farmers Market. “Wear your Rotary shirts,” she said. “The band Shouts Out is supposed to be very good — they play between 8 & 10.”

* Greg Anderson made a request for members to support the RI Foundation. “Every donation counts toward a Paul Harris Fellowship,” he reminded members.

*   Garry Tausch announced his pledge to the Principal of Northwest High School, Louisville’s football opponent September 2, an away game. The challenge, called the Red Zone Challenge, is competition between both schools to raise money for America’s Homeless Veterans. More information will be forthcoming.

The Program

Secretary’s note: I was privileged that Michelle shared the written copy of her message with me. I copied it edited it to fit our space.

            “I am excited to be here today,” she said. “The road to become District Governor is a long one and I have been anticipating my club visits for many months. Every former district governor says that was their favorite part of the job. It is so wonderful to be able to meet the members of our district.

            This year, we are celebrating the first female Rotary International President. The Rotary Board set a goal to be at 30% female membership worldwide by the end of 2023. Globally, female membership is 25%. In Zone 30/31 it is 31%. In District 6650 it is 33%. This year, as we “Imagine Rotary”, Rotary International will turn 118 years old. Few organizations or institutions can say that they have been around for over a century, but our commitment to “Service Above Self” sets us apart as we focus on local and global projects centered around promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies and supporting the environment. 

            The logo for this year’s theme was created by an Australian artist and graphic designer. The circle signifies our connections to one another. The dots around it represent people and there are seven because of Rotary's areas of focus. The circle and the dots together become a navigation star – our guiding light. The solid line underneath is what is referred to as a digging stick and it is used when doing hard work. And since Rotary members are people of action – it represents a tool for getting things done. There are several ways to interpret the colors: Purple stands for polio eradication, green the environment, the newest addition to our areas of focus, is white for peace, our core mission. Together, they are the colors of the women’s movement. There is a subtle nod to the history of the Suffragette movement as Jennifer becomes the first female RI president.

            Jennifer Jones said “Imagine a world that deserves our best, where we can get up each day knowing that we can make a difference”. To me, that captures my vision for the Rotary year. It opens up so many possibilities. It gives clubs the ability to chart their own course and imagine what you can do for your members, your community, and the world. We have all taken our own path to become a member of Rotary. Some of you may have joined because your father was a Rotarian. Others because an employer asked us to. Yet we all entered one way - through an invitation. And each one of us has the same opportunity - to extend an invitation to someone else. I joined Rotary in 2011 because I needed to network. I was new to my job and to Canton so I figured this would be the best place to do it. My reason for staying, however, was different. I loved the people, but I also really loved the impact that Rotary has in each community and the entire world.

            It wasn’t until I was a President-Elect and attended training in Columbus that I truly grasped what it was like to be a part of an international organization. Attending the international conference in Toronto and again in Houston, is an experience like none other. Meeting like-minded people from all over the world is truly special and really gives you the perspective of the global impact that our organization has. That’s the power of Rotary.

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            For those clubs that have lost members, I would suggest looking at the Club Health Check that can be found on the Rotary International website. Using that tool can really help clubs focus on areas that matter specifically to their club.

            Rotary has an important role to play to ensure that the club environment and experience is welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable for all of its members. Surveys show that comfort and care is the single biggest driver of satisfaction and our most powerful tool for retention. We need to stop the revolving door of membership. So many of our new members leave within the first two years because they are not happy with their club. It is critical that we listen and understand what each member wants and needs. Jennifer Jones is suggesting “entrance interviews” to better understand the needs and expectations of new members at the outset and to regularly survey all existing members to make sure they have an opportunity to share thoughts about their membership experience. Engage new members as soon as they join. We need to listen to new member’s ideas just as closely as those with many years of membership. Rotarians need to feel they’re in a club that is relevant and filling their needs. etaining members.

            But making an experience where people feel included is more than just making our membership more diverse. It’s about making our meetings and events places where people can speak openly and honestly with each other.

The Rotary Action Plan has four areas:

           Increase our Impact

           Expand our reach

           Enhance participant engagement

           Increase our ability to adapt

        This year, youth exchange is back! After several years of no youth exchange, it is great that we are sending some of our students abroad and welcoming students to our district. We have 7 clubs hosting 8 inbound students this year and 7 clubs sponsored students to go abroad. 

            We also are bringing back RYLA. You will be receiving information from the committee with information on how you can send a local 11th. grader to this wonderful leadership program. 

            Finally, we will have a four-way speech contest. I was so impressed with the quality of the 14 students at the district competition last year and I am hoping to see at least half of the clubs participate this year.

            I am asking every club to strive towards 100% participation in giving to the Rotary Foundation. My District Goal for the year is $200,000 to the annual fund. With this money, we have supported numerous projects worldwide including projects in India, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Singapore, and Africa. Locally, our Clubs have sponsored 128 projects to make a difference in our communities through our Local District Grants. 

            Our big event this year will take place on Nov 5. Our goal is to raise $100,000 to support Ukraine relief, but I would love to see us get to $250,000. Former RI President Barry Rassin will be in attendance. I am asking each club to contribute/raise a minimum of $2,500. In addition, for every club that raises or contributes at least $2,500, you will receive a Paul Harris Fellow to give out to a member in your Club. The event will be in Canton and is called “A Night for Ukraine”. The committee is hard at work lining up Ukrainian entertainment and food, great auction items and more. We have an amazing menu and three types of Ukrainian entertainment. I  hope that you will support this event not only through sponsorships but also through attending.

            In conclusion, please remember that I am here to support you. Please invite me to your events and fundraisers. 

            Imagine a world that deserves our best, where we can get up each day knowing that we can make a difference. Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe in our communities and in ourselves. 

            Although we all have dreams, acting on them is a choice we make. When an organization like Rotary dreams about big things like ending polio and creating peace, it becomes our responsibility to make them happen. Don’t imagine yesterday - imagine tomorrow.

Imagine what Rotary can do for you.

Imagine what you can do for your membership.

Imagine what you can do for your community

Imagine a world without polio.

Imagine what you can do for the world.

 

Submitted by Allen Gress, Secretary