Jack Pratt, representing the New Member Committee, takes the group through the New Member Orientation program to both inform members of the current process and to refresh our memories of the club's origins, obligations and opportunities.
Jack, along with the rest of the New Member Committee (chaired by Lee Johnson), have put together an extremely informative and useful presentation to take new members through the X's and O's of Rotary. Though it would be worth it, to avoid including the entire presentation in the newsletter, we've decided to include only some of the pertinent and informative highlights below:
* Guiding Principles
- High ethical standards; worthiness and dignifying of all occupations
- Rotary provides us with the opportunity to apply the "ideal of service" to personal, business and community life. It also aides in the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a united international fellowship.
* Polio Plus
- One of Rotary's primary international projects
- Dr. Jonas Salk proposed a program to eradicate Polio in 1988. In response, Rotary raised $130,000,000!
- Worldwide cases dropped from over 700,000 in 1988 to 100 in 2010.
- Only 21 reported cases in 2018!
- Still endemic in Pakistan & Afghanistan (there's still work to do)
* Club Origins
- Chartered in 1926
- Meetings were first held in the St. Charles Hotel, and later relocated to the Bluebonnet Hotel
- Initial initiation fee = $1 / Annual dues of $2
- Club founded Troop 1 of the Boy Scouts
- Early club members included well known Kerrville names such as Schreiner, Comparette, Real, Eastland, Salter, Pampell, Peterson, and Palmer
* Rotary Districts
- Our district is District 5840
- 57 clubs are part of our district
- Approximately 2,500 Rotarians call District 5840 home
- Our club has produced six different District Governors!
* Our Club (Currently)
- Membership - approximately 170 members (including Satellite Club)
- We have a sister club in Toluca, Mexico
- Second largest club in District 5840
- We have helped start 4 clubs in the Texas Hill Country
- Junction, Fredericksburg, Medina, Kerrville Morning Club
* Officers & Directors (2019-2020)
- President - Charlie Mcllvain
- Past President - Robin Miears
- President Elect - Tammy Prout
- Secretary - Jeff Harris
- Treasurer - Gena Carter
- Directors -
- Janelle Peralt
- Todd Odom
- Paul Anderson
- Ingrid Painter
- Phyllis Ricks
- Kristy Vandenberg
- Note - a new board is elected to take office on each July 1st.
* Avenues of Service
- Club Service - making the club strong (relationships/active membership/development plan)
- Community Service - serving the public interest and improving the quality of life for our community
- Vocational Service - working with integrity and contributing expertise to address problems and needs of society
- International Service - promote peace and understanding through volunteering on international projects, seeking partners abroad, etc.
- New Generations - empower youth and young professionals through leadership development programs (Interact, Rotaract, Youth Exchange, Youth Leadership Awards)
* Committees
- Club Service
- Programs (includes speakers)
- Sergeant at Arms
- Families in Rotary
- Historian
- Memorials
- Finance
- Nominating Committee
- Technology Committee
- Website Administration
- Membership
- Classification
- Fellowship
- Membership Development
- Member Retention/Attendance
- New Member Mentoring
- New Member Orientation
- Satellite Clubs
- Public Relations
- First Responders Recognition
- Grant Review Committee
- Mentoring Books
- Military Affairs
- Public Relations
- Scholarships
- Spoke Newsletter
- Service Projects
- Blue Santa
- Cell Phone for Soldiers
- Christmas Lighting Support
- Habitat for Humanity
- Highway Cleanup
- Pinewood Derby
- Fundraising
- Typically one a year (Superball for 2018-2019) to raise just about everything necessary to support our programs
- Programs supported in last Rotary year
- College Scholarships - $24,000
- Habitat for Humanity - $10,000
- Youth Services - $5,000 (Interact, Rotaract, Youth Exchange, etc.)
- International Projects - $3,000
- New Generation
- Citizenship Awards
- Early Act
- Interact
- Literacy & Education
- Rotary Youth Exchange
- Rotaract
- RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)
As you can see, there are MANY, MANY ways to participate with Rotary!!
* Other Important Info
- Maintain at least 60% attendance
- Wear your badge and have it scanned at each meeting
- Perfect attendance awarded at end of Rotary year
- Makeups!
- Attend another Rotary Club meeting (register w/ their club Secretary and bring record to our club administrator)
- Attend committee meetings
- Attend a Rotary Club function
- Attend a board meeting
- Other opportunities online!
- Fees - $255/Quarter ($130 meals & $125 Rotary dues)
- Due quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1
- Can be paid via check, or credit card (including automatic card payment)
- Paul Harris Fellow
- Donate $1,000 to the Paul Harris Foundation (in recognition of an individual)
- Can donate $100 per year (or $25/quarter) toward your Paul Harris Fellow
- Donate $1,000 to the Paul Harris Foundation (in recognition of an individual)
* Opportunities & Obligations
- Get involved & actively participate in at least one committee of your choice
- Network and get to know your fellow Rotarians by sitting a different tables
- Take advantage of fellowship opportunities
- Attend regular meetings & events!
Thank you Jack, Lee, and the New Members Committee for putting together such an informative and helpful presentation!!
