Board Highlights

Posted by Rita Brown 
on Oct 16, 2015
 
Here are the highlights from the October 13 board meeting.
 
The Lima Rotary Club Board of Directors met Tuesday October 13, 2015.  Highlights of the meeting follow:
 
·         Secretary’s report
Brown also shared information on the demographics of the club.
The Club has 79% male members; and 21% female members. 
Membership by length of time includes 7% under one year;  23% at 1 – 5 years;  18% at 5 – 10 years;   25% at 10 – 20 years;  and 27% over 20 years.
 
·         President’s Report
Rotary’s Lake Erie Watershed Crisis Conference                                                                                                                           
David Runk informed the Board that three Lima Rotarians have signed up to attend the Rotary Lake Erie Watershed Crisis Conference scheduled for October 23 and 24, 2015 in Toledo.  Runk’s plan was for the Club to send up to 5 if the attendees stayed overnight.  As the three are not planning to attend the full event, the club can afford to send additional members if there is interest.
 
                Board of Directors and Lima Rotary Foundation Memorandum of Understanding 
During John Rockhold’s term as President, the Memorandum of Understanding and what it should include was undertaken.  Meetings were held but an actual document was never produced.  Though the concept existed in the Annual Meeting, it was not finished.  Runk decided to pursue the process and, with the assistance of Attorney Don Witter, a document has been drawn up.  The document was presented to the Lima Rotary Foundation and President Scott Shafer suggested a couple of concepts.  As originally written, the document is written from Rotary Club to Foundation.  Scott suggested the Foundation may take on projects and funds as well.  In addition, the Foundation may want to do something themselves.   Also there could be a donor or bequest that comes directly to the Foundation.  Scott has added verbiage including Anonymity and Donor Intent - Under Section C.  The Board also discussed section A 7 and the timeline for any year-end surplus to be given to the Foundation.  The Board agreed to adopt as stated with a date of September 30th for transfer of surplus funds from the Club to the Foundation.  The Memorandum of Agreement will clarify the process in writing and the Annual Meeting will be continued to define the agreement.  Scott stated the Foundation will meet on Monday October 19 to approve the MOU.
  
Board Subcommittees. 
Runk discussed adding additional members to the subcommittees.  His goal is to have all members of this Board active on subcommittees.  
                                                               i.      Finance      Treasurer Kevin Bill chair.  Add David Frost, Traci Sanchez and Paul Crow.
                                                              ii.      Membership / Retention      Peggy Ehora will chair. Anne Decker and Dean Wittwer will join John Ficorilli. 
                                                            iii.      International   Harold Bischoff will chair     David Runk and Esther Baldridge will join.
 
·         President-Elect Report                                                                                                   
Past Due Policy 
David Frost stated he plans to have the Past Due Policy draft ready for discussion at the next board meeting. 
 
                District Grant for Dictionary Distribution
Runk stated the applications for district grants have been passed on to Rotary International for approval.  The Club requested an $800 grant for the Dictionary Distribution.  The District had a total of $95,000 in requests with $58,000 to award.  Bischoff indicated most likely, the club will be awarded a partial amount of the $800 requested.
 
·         Vice President Report (Service Projects)                                                                               
Tracie Sanchez reported on the following projects:
ii.       Dictionary Distribution 
The date has been set for Wednesday October 28th.   Books can be picked up on Monday and Tuesday Oct 26th and 27th .  Dave Cockerell is looking for 30 – 50 volunteers.  Currently he has 15 volunteers.
 
iii.     Abilities Field 
Currently $285,945 has been raised toward the needed $400,000 cost of the project.  The prints have been drawn by Bassitt Associates and the paperwork will be going out for contractors to start bidding the job.  We are on track for a Spring 2016 ground breaking project at UNOH.
 
iv.      Blood Clinic 
All volunteers are in place for the November 7th event at the Senior Citizens Center on West Elm Street from 6:30 - 9 AM.
 
v.         Special Needs Christmas Party 
Esther Baldridge has set the first meeting of the committee for Monday October 19th at 11:00 AM prior to the noon Rotary meeting.
 
vi.      Christmas Auction
The Auction will be December 7th during the regular meeting. An early start time of 11:30 AM will be suggested.  Cindy Wood and Annette Swisher are making arrangements for music by a local school group.  A flyer postcard will be mailed this week to solicit auction items with a turn-in date of all items by November 2nd.  Raffle tickets will be mailed around the 1st of November with a reminder card about donating items or money.  Every Rotarian is expected to either donate items or money for the auction. A table will be set up at noon meetings starting the 2nd week of October to receive items.  Anne will be doing some social media to get the word out for donations.  The committee is talking of involving the Chamber for promotion.  Jay Begg would like to start the silent auction two weeks before the actual auction so Rotarians can start to bid early in case they can’t make the December 7th meeting.
 
vii.    Social
The Club had its first Social Meeting Monday October 12th at the Met on Main Street.  A 50/50 drawing was held and raised $186.00 toward hors d’oeuvres for future meetings.  Eventually when there is enough in the fund, money will be donated to the Rottery to be given to a local charity.  It was a fun night just to get to talk and get to know one another.  Future meetings are scheduled for Tuesday November 10th and Wednesday December 9th. 
 
·         International Service Update                                                                                                  
Harold Bischoff shared information on the International Service Committee’s Fall Fund Raising Bicycle Riding Challenge Project scheduled for Saturday October 31st at the Lima Mall.   Harold will promote the project on TV and at Mayor’s News Conference.  Josh Unterbrink with Activate Allen County is working with Harold on the project.   Dan Best will be the event Chair for the day.  The stationary bikes will be located on the floor for safety reasons.  The banner used during the Labor Day Parade will be part of the display on the stage.  Harold stated he has started placing flyers on the tables requesting a $20 donation per member as part of the fundraising.  Also a business fundraising campaign will be held.  The club will be making a $10,000 contribution to the Global Water Project.  $6,000 has already been raised.  The club needs to raise $4,000 but is hoping to raise more to cover the Global Water Project and have additional monies for other projects.  A map from Villa Peniel, Honduras has been requested to show the scope of the project.  Harold indicated water purification management in the United States was actively being pursued about 100 years ago.  Central America is experiencing what we did last century.  He indicated we have a very positive story to tell.
 
·         District Governor Nominations
Runk stated that the District is requesting nominations for District Governor.  Past President Esther Baldridge has expressed interest in becoming involved at the district level.  Runk will nominate her for District Governor. 
 
·         New Business                                                                                                                                             
New member applications were considered for:
                Derek Stemen  - West Central American Red Cross
                Matt Macklin – Baton Rouge Health System/Plus Management
                Pam Stricker – The Lima News
A Motion was made by Peg Ehora to approve the applications and David Frost seconded the motion.  Board approved.
Anne Decker made a motion to accept the resignation of Colleen Morris with regret.  David Frost seconded the motion.  Board approved. 
Georgiana Saffle has requested a 90 day Leave Of Absence for business reasons from October 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015.  Harold Bischoff made a motion to grant the leave.  Anne Decker seconded the motion.  Board approved.
 
                There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
 
                Respectfully
                Rita Brown, Secretary