Rotary Log: July 25, 2013 (Our Rotary Club)

President Dave Underhill brought our meeting to order and was appreciative of the various notes and tunes he heard for our opening song. Rev. Allen's presence was felt with an invocation thanks to the use of smartphone technology compliments of past President Peter.

Andrea Herold is on seven day notice to join the club and we had two visiting rotarians: Dave Considine from the Hampton, NH club and John Wheeler was visiting from the Dade City, FL club. On the issue of new members, please see the following new ritual for welcoming new members:

This week, as we induct our first new member of this Rotary year, we're introducing a new fellowship ritual to welcome each new member.  EVERY Rotarian will participate, and here's how it works:

The new member gets a copy of our beautiful, newly printed club directory.  She needs to bring it with her every week to the meeting.

Every member of our club is asked to introduce him/herself to the new member, please shake her hand and then sign your name next to your picture in the new member's directory.  You have up to eight weeks to do this, but please don't forget.

She does not have to seek you out....you need to go meet her!

If you're so new that you're not in the printed directory (attention Brannon Claytor, Tiffany McKenna, and in the future Andrea Herold and others....) please write your name on the last page under Richard Yeaton, or on the inside back cover, and sign it there. 

After eight weeks, the president will call for the book and read off the names of all who have not welcomed our new member, then asking the fine-master to assess an appropriate penalty for this fellowship-faux-pas. 

It's our chance to personalize the welcome to our new members, and it gives the new member a quick way to connect faces and names. 

Any objections?  Blame it on the president (but you can't fine me until July 2014).

Dave

Past President's Nancy and Neal provided the club with exciting news regarding a few recent donations. Past President Nancy announced a $1000 donation to the Friends of the Blind in memory of Catherine Jarvis and also announced a $1000 donation to Strawberry Banke in memory of Jeremy Waldron. Past President Neal announced two other donations from the William Cash committee. A donation of $8340 was provided to A Safe Place to pay for the labor for new siding to their building and a $2500 donation to Girls Inc. to help middle school age girls with the social experiences they will encounter.

Club dues are due on August 1st. If you decide to wait after August 1st, 1 $25 late charge will be assessed.

Justin Finn provided an update for this Thursday's Thunder Chicken 5k. He also thanked ALL of the sponsors. Rick Page is asking for additional monitors for the race course. Please contact Rick if you can volunteer.

Leonard announced that Friends Forever will be welcoming groups from Israel and Northern Ireland on August 11th. The groups will be visiting for seven days and additional groups will be arriving in October.

The program for the day was orchestrated by President Dave Underhill and Past President Tony Delyani. The goal of the program was to educate new members and re-educate legacy members on all the opportunity that Portsmouth Rotary club provides. Rotary International’s slogan for this year is "Engage Rotary, Change Lives." The club continues to see active involvement from a majority of club members and hopes to increase involvement at all levels.

A new committee was formed for this Rotary year. The Member Support and Compassion committee will provide rotarians support during difficult time and will be chaired by David Contarino. The basic needs committee now has a $2 million endowment. The finance committee is always chaired by the Vice President of the club and has many "numbers" people involved. The finance committee will make decisions on what to do with earnings from the endowment.

The William Cash committee was funded by a community member who was not a rotarian. Tony explained his estate planning attorney recommended he leave the money to Rotary since the gentleman did not like his only sibling. Sounds made up, but we'll roll with it....

Christmas Tree sales continue to generate larger earnings so Rotary can continue to support the community.

The scholarship committee provides over $20,000 in scholarship every year and is expected to increase this amount by $10,000 in the coming years.

Thanksgiving dinner has been provided by Rotary for many years and serves less fortunate community members.

The golf tournament is one of the largest fundraisers for the club. Five years worth of proceeds will go to the basic needs committee.

The Thunder Chicken road race is another important fundraiser for the club and typically occurs every August.

Interact is Rotary's high school initiative. Interact Club members meet weekly to strategize on how the club can benefit the community. They volunteer at the Salvation Army soup kitchen, hold beach cleanups, help with Christmas tree sales, volunteer for the auction, and hold various fundraisers at the high school throughout the school year.

The attendance committee keeps track of the obvious. Rotarians are required to have 50% attendance with makeups and lunch in a six month period. The lunch meeting attendance requirement is 30%. Two rotarians have 27 and 35 year perfect attendance records.....

Rotarians homework is to take the sheets that were left at the tables and consider the committees that need help. What do you want to be involved in?? The district is now sending a weekly newsletter and will contain information on new initiatives and programs.

Lynn Mclearen was the 50/50 winner last week, but the bonus was missed so it is up to $650 next week.