A MOMENT IN ROTARY
FOR DISTRICT 6580
NOVEMBER 12, 2007
Dear 6580 Rotary Leaders:
I have not written a Monday memo for a few weeks since I had a health matter that required my attention and some surgery. During that process I often thought about my Rotary friends and I admit I missed not sharing with you the Rotary items that were crossing my desk and piling up waiting for me to share them with you. So forgive me for piling it on you today. I hope you will take the time to read everything and then take action to share with your appropriate leaders, board and committee chairs. Much of this I hope will be of interest to your entire membership. So here goes:
Official Visit Schedule: Only a few visits remain. We have loved each visit.
November 13 in North Vernon ,
November 19 in Greensburg
November 20 in Jeffersonville
November 27 in Corydon is still pending.
Lee and I hope you will consider inviting us back for your special events, presentations, parties or just because occasions. We have very much enjoyed meeting you and learning about your club activities. Please contact me and your AGs if you need information or want to discuss anything. We stand ready to Share and To Serve.
NOVEMBER IS FOUNDATION MONTH! A REQUEST ~ I am asking you to present the Foundation Minute during each of your November meetings. This is part of our ongoing effort to educate Rotarians about Our Rotary Foundation.
FOUNDATION MOMENT: Become a benefactor. A Rotary Foundation Benefactor is a person who has notified The Rotary Foundation that he/she has made provisions in their final estate plans, or made an outright gift of $2,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation’s Permanent Fund. Benefactors receive a commemorative certificate, a letter of appreciation and a blue and gold recognition insignia that I call my wings to attach to their Paul Harris Fellow pin. A $1,000 gift to The Foundation creates a legacy of helping people around the world lead better lives. There are over 68,000 Benefactors in the Rotary world today. Are you one?
CLUB ELECTIONS: It’s hard to believe that so much of our Rotary year is already past and that the information on new club officers is due by December 31, 2007. As your club picks the President, Secretary, Treasurer and Directors for next year, make sure to notify not only RI, but also District Governor Elect Bill Ryall and myself.
The North American Rotary Emergency Disaster Initiative Workshop will be held December 14-15 in Franklin , TN. This conference will focus on Rotary’s role in disaster relief. For information or to register for the conference, visit http://www.naredi.org/.
MEMBERSHIP MOMENT: We District Governors in Zones 29/30 share information and materials with each other all the time. I’d like to share with you an article that comes from Governor Scott Harness in District 6060 that includes part of Missouri . His Membership Chair, Mary Sue Thompson shared Membership Loyalty Excerpts from a presentation by Valerie L. Scanlan, PDG. ~~~~~~~ Membership loyalty is important because today our members have so many choices. It is also important because it costs 6 times more to get a new member than it does to keep an existing one. Membership loyalty will set your club apart and generates priceless WOMA (Word of Mouth Advertising). Member lifetime value (MLV) is a compelling justification, also.
Suggestion – set the following as your club’s vision statement: Every member is treated in such a memorable way that when the interaction is complete, the member tells someone else how GREAT it was!!
Member loyalty comes from stronger member relationships…1) the quality of club meetings is important and 2) the quality of the projects also attracts members but it’s the relationships that really ties members to the club.
LOYALTY is built one member at a time. Each member is different, unique and valued! Have a great Rotary week!
DSG: Does your club have a community project that needs funds? District Simplified Grant monies up to $1,000 to be matched by your club are available. Please consider applying to help your local club project. The easy to complete application is available on our district website. Send to Bob Browning, District Grants Chair.
CLUB HISTORY: Have you considered including your club history on your website? I just had a friend who was wondering if her father had been a charter member of a certain Rotary club. The club hadn’t included their history so the question couldn’t be answered. I’m not suggesting including current membership information but many of us are interested in who was instrumental in starting our club. Our history is important so consider SHARING.
Speaking of History and a THOUGHT TO SHARE: “Is it not a miracle that Rotary has brought together good and influential men (and women) of all civilized countries?
And is it not gratifying to know that there is a platform broad enough for all men (and women) to stand on?
And is it not heartwarming to know that men (and women) of diverse faiths and allegiances can find so much in each other, which is wholesome and good?
Rotary is an integrating force in a world where disintegrating forces are far more numerous.”
What Paul Harris wrote in the June 1944 THE ROTARIAN
District Governor Nomination selection coming soon: Shortly clubs will be receiving a request for clubs to consider recommending outstanding Rotarians for consideration to become District Governor for our district in 2010 - 2011. It is important that each club ask: Does our club have an outstanding Rotarian that should be asked to lead us? If the answer is yes contact PDG Steve Richards for more information.
THANK YOU! To the many clubs that sponsored the students who attend RYLA!
To the clubs that recommended our future GSE TEAM members!
To the Rotarians who gave of their time to drive students to RYLA, sent the weekend as
chaperons and spent the time getting the RYLA program organized – especially chair
Pam Blasdell.
To the Rotarians who gave of their time to assist with the selection of our GSE TEAM
including Dan DeBard, Ken Harker and Paul Bippen.
To PDG Peggy Peter and husband Merrill who kindly shared their Mitchell home for the
quarterly AG meeting.
To the Assistant Governors who are always available to the clubs.
To the Finance Committee members who met for their quarterly meeting this past
weekend including DGE/Finance Committee chair Bill Ryall.
To the clubs that are including at least one program about our Rotary Foundation and
who have invited or will invite Annual Giving Chair PDG Peggy Peter or Foundation
Chair PDG Steve Richards to their club.
To PDGs Peggy and Steve who still have dates available for your club.
To those who planned, presented and attended the Membership/Foundation Seminar
especially DGN/Membership Chair Bettye Dunham, PDG Steve Richards, Susan
Richards and Darleen Fox and the Bedford Rotary Club.
To every single Rotary Club in the district that has kindly hosted the District Governor and
her spouse during her official visit with you!
Rotary is definitely alive and well in Southern Indiana because Rotarians say “YES”!!!
DATES TO REMEMBER & PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CLUB!
March 7-8 – President Elects Training Seminar (PETS). I just talked with a PE who didn’t have this date on
the calendar. This information has been included in this publication since July. Please SHARE!
April 25 – 27 – joint Indiana/Ohio district conference at the Belterra Casino near VeVay , IN
May 17 – District Assembly in Columbus for ALL club leaders – especially for PE, Secretary, Treasurer,
Board members and Committee Chairs
June 14 – 18 – Rotary international convention in Los Angeles – Where The Stars Come Out
Have a GOOD FOUNDATION MONTH! Invite a new person to Rotary with you and please Provide Service Above Self.
DG Judy