President David Runk called the meeting to order with the following Rotary Board Members present: Harold Bischoff, Paul Crow, Anne Decker, Peggy Ehora, David Frost, and Tracie Sanchez. Also attending were Treasurer Kevin Bill and Secretary Rita Brown.
The following Board Members from the Lima Rotary Foundation attended: President Scott Schafer, Jeff Fitzgerald, Jonalee Schmidt, Jeff Sprague, Dale Lewellen and Judge Richard Warren. Also attending was Secretary Dave Collins.
Guest: Jill Ackerman and Linda Hamilton. President Runk indicated Jill Ackerman will be replacing Dean Wittwer on the Board of Directors effective July 1, 2016, when Dean and his wife retire and relocate to South Carolina. The unexpired term will continue for two years until June 30, 2018.
Rita Brown provided an update on attendance for Jan 2016. Membership at the end of January is at 175. Attendance reflected 40.43% of the members attending the meetings in January. Ten new members have joined since last July and sixteen have resigned. Five new members went through Orientation and were inducted last week so the current headcount is actually at 180.
Financial Report – Lima Rotary Foundation
Scott Shafer provided a Financial Report from the Lima Rotary Foundation for the time period of July 2015 – December 2015. Scott indicated the Beginning Balance of $488,255.93 in the Endowment and $29,929.74 in the General Fund reflects the $100,000 for the Abilities Baseball Field. The money was pulled out quarter by quarter last year and is currently held in a Money Market Fund. Grants are paid from the General Fund. The Buenos Noches, Hulsken, Scholarship and Drum Line funds are earmarked funds. The Foundation currently awards about $5,000 each quarter in grants. To-date donations are in the amount of $17,184.15 at the half year mark. Rotary Club Treasurer Kevin Bill indicated the Club has caught up with commitments to the Foundation. The last payment of $26,000 will be made by the end of this week.
Financial Report – The Rotary Club of Lima
Kevin Bill provided the following detail from the Balance Sheets:
- We have approximately $43,000 in cash
- We received about $3,000 more today - February 9,2016
- The Club will pay approximately $26,000 to the foundation for 2014 Golf Outing by end of week
- We currently have $28,000 in outstanding Accounts Receivable (Dues)
Past due Accounts
Kevin stated the Finance Sub-Committee has been making a concentrated effort to collect and clean-up the past due account balances and has come up with an active plan that is currently in place.
Decker made a motion to approve the Financial Reports as submitted. Crow seconded the motion. Boards approved.
- Lima Rotary Foundation Guidelines for Expenditures (Draft)
Scott Shafer stated after the $100,000 contribution to the Abilities Field, taken from the Principal of the Endowment Fund, was approved during the term of former President Esther Baldridge, Baldridge formed an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of the Past President, Shafer and Phil Hayne. Scott indicated The Foundation Board had been discussing its expenditure policies and had expressed a desire for guidelines. As a result of the committee’s work, Shafer has prepared a draft of Guidelines for Expenditures for the Lima Rotary Foundation. The purpose of the guidelines is to inform and manage the expenditure process and help the Board know and understand limitations. The guidelines address the Endowment Fund and guidelines focused on accessing principal. The guidelines also outline the source of income in the General Fund which averages approximately $5,000 a quarter along with guidelines for spending more than income with focus on international district projects and community projects, when leveraged, to get more bang per buck. In addition, the guidelines focus on multiyear grant request. Scott indicated he had dropped off a copy at Attorney Don Witter’s office but had not heard from Don to-date. Scott also briefly discussed the scoring process in place.
Runk stated the draft should be put in place and placed on the web site. The Foundation meets again before the Annual Meeting to finalize and adopt. Questions and comments should be emailed to Scott. Fitzgerald make a motion to move forward with the Lima Rotary Foundation Guidelines for Expenditures and have the Draft finalized. Decker seconded the motion. Boards approved.
Annual Meeting Draft Agenda
Runk shared the draft of the Annual Meeting Agenda scheduled for April.
Resolution #1 Fund Raising Projects. Goals and Purposes Projects will include:
- Rotary International Service Fundraisers – it previously was the Mesa Bike ride and was changed to International Fund Raiser.
- Rotary Christmas Auction – split with the Salvation Army
- Rotary Blood Clinic Spring/Fall Runk mentioned the current process includes Phlebotomist doing the blood draw at no charge – this process may change and they won’t be providing the free service in the future.
- Rotary Rex Perry Memorial Golf Outing
Resolution #2 Club Projects Projects will include:
- Dictionary Distribution – Runk questioned if the $2400 is an annual or biannual expense. Runk will speak with Dave Cockerell, Project Manager, to clarify
- Scholarships will remain the same.
- International Service project for water
- Unrestricted funds for the Foundation is money left over at the end of the year
Resolution #3 Club Partnership Projects will include:
- Salvation Army
- Barbers Give Bikes - Added
- High Octane Drum Line
- River Walk Maintenance (will be in 3rd year of 5 year commitment)
- Rotary Special Needs Christmas Party (Hulsken Fund)
- Abilities field - $100,000 one time commitment
Resolution #4 Community Service Activities will include:
- Salvation Army Kettle Drive (Bell Ringing)
- Lima Rotary Rottery ($4,000 - $6,000)
- Family Promise moved to Resolution 4 from Resolution 3 last year
New additions being proposed
- Rally in the Square ($1,500 - $2,500) (Artspace)
- Concert in the Park ($1,000 - $1,500) (Council for the Arts)
Resolution #5 District 6600 requests for support of MESA
- MESA Warehouse in the amount of $2,000 (minimum)
- MESA Operating Costs in the amount of $1,500 (minimum)
David Frost reported on the following committees.
- Membership Sub-Committee
John Ficorilli is chairing it. The goal is to retain Rotarians.
- Sergeant at Arms
Kelly DeLong and Lesley Fry will co-chair the committee for 2016 - 2017. They have been given the list of new
The Collections committee consists of Dave Frost, Paul Crow, Kevin Bill and Tracie Sanchez
- Vice President Report (Service Projects)
Tracie Sanchez reported on the following projects:
- Social Committee met Jan 15 and is planning the following events.
- Monthly meetings will be at the Met on the 4th Tues of the month from 5 PM – 6 PM. These meetings count as a makeup. The first meeting is scheduled for Tues February 23, 2016.
- Bowling at Westgate Sun March 13 – change date because of conflict with LSO family concert– new date will be set.
- Rally in the square on 7/15 - The Committee is looking to buy Rotary cozies with 4-way test printed on them. Cost to sponsor the event will be $1500 - $2500. Club members will serve beer. It offers the Rotary Club exposure to the community.
- Memorial Day Parade. The Club will participate. Details will follow.
- Mystery Monday 2/29 It will be a networking event for members to get to know each other. It will be a Hollywood game night. There will be no formal program on Mystery Monday days. These will be quarterly events.
- Local Projects:
- Rex Perry Memorial Golf Outing will be Wed June 15th at Hidden Creek. The first committee meeting will be February 29 with Matt Otto managing the event.
- Spring Blood Clinic will be held on May 7, 2016.
- International Service Update
Harold Bischoff provided the following report.
A grant writing seminar will be held in Findlay on Feb 20th. Bob Ruehl, Dave Frost and Rita Brown will attend.
The Lima Club is currently participating in an International Project with other local clubs with the Celina Rotary Club being the lead club for the project. The goal of the project is to provide cataract surgeries for patients in Costa Rica with Dr Pajka leading the surgical team. The club discussed inviting Dr. Pijka to speak after the International Project is completed.
- Nominating Committee Report
David Runk presented the slate of candidates for the Rotary Board. They include:
- Roy Baldridge
- John Ficorilli
- Leslie Fry
- Dr Susan Hubbell
- Paul Swartz
- Jeff Tracy
- Jeff Unterbrink
Ehora made a motion to approve the slate of candidates. Frost seconded the motion. Board approved.
Scott Shafer presented the slate of candidates for the Foundation Board. They include:
- Jay Begg
- Elizabeth Brown
- Drew Fields
- Linda Hamilton
- Shelia Schmitt
- LaShae Torres
Dale Lewellen made a motion to approve the slate of candidates. Jeff Fitzgerald seconded the motion.
In addition, meeting guest and incoming Rotary Board Member, Jill Ackerman expressed her approval of the slate.
Board approved.
A new member application was received for Heather Rutz.
One resignation was received from Barry Rydell.
Paul Crow made a motion to approve the application of Heather Rutz and to accept the resignation of Barry Rydell with regret. Anne Decker seconded the motion. Boards approved.
There being no further business, Frost made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Crow seconded the motion. Board approved.
Respectfully submitted
Rita Brown, Rotary Club Secretary.
