Call to Order
President Tracie Sanchez called the Joint Board Meeting together at 11:37 AM with the following Rotary Board Members: Jill Ackerman, Ken Dysert, David Frost, Susan Hubbell, Jed Metzger, Catheryn Sarno, and Paul Swartz. Also present was Secretary Rita Brown and Treasurer Kevin Bill plus guest Julie Bassitt. The following Trustees from the Lima Rotary Foundation were present: Jeff Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Brown-Ellis, Drew Fields, Linda Hamilton, Butch Kirk, Andy Wannemacher and Richard Warren, Also present was Secretary Heather Rutz and Treasurer Jared Walsh.
Secretary’s Report Rita Brown
Attendance Report
Brown shared the Club Attendance Report for February 2018. The club ended June 2017 with 166 members and now at the end of February, the club showed 166 total members. Five new members were inducted into the club in March. The Club currently has a 71% male and 29% female mix. That is a 3% increase in female members over the past year. Also looking at the tenure graph, we have - Members with less than one year - 2%; 1 – 5 years - 37%; 5 – 10 years - 14%; 10-20% - 24%; and over 20% - 23%.
President’s Report Tracie Sanchez
Reverse Raffle
The Reverse Raffle fundraiser raised $23,886 with expenses of $3,472 for meals, $1,246.70 for the VMCCC, $10,000 for the purse resulted in profit of $8,867.30 which is about half of last year’s profits. The committee is evaluating if the Club should make it an annual or every other year event. Another option to consider is lowering the price for tickets.
Homeless Project
The goal was to raise $15,200 to provide a warm shelter and beds for the population that does not fall under State or Federal guidelines for shelter and to provide a single point of access line to services in our community headed by WOCAP. The goal has been met with the District Grant in the amount of $5,000 and the generous contributions of club members. The Club will provide a check to Jackie Fox from WOCAP next Monday March 19, 2017.
Amphitheatre Project
Rich Rudolph started this project last July and is currently working to purchase land in downtown Lima. The amphitheater will provide a large green space with the outdoor amphitheater that can be used for concerts, rallies, festivals, YMCA free yoga and kickboxing classes, and a place for students to study, kids to play and the Community to have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rich will be asking the Foundation for a $100,000 commitment for the project. The remaining amount will be raised by fund raising.
Presidential Citation
The club is on-track to receive the Presidential Citation for fiscal year 2017-2018. The club still needs to have 160 trees planted and needs to raise $195 for the trees.
District Conference
The District Conference will be held May 18-20 at the Toledo Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Toledo.
International Conference
The Rotary International Conference will be held June 24-27 in Toronto. Registration can be online and there is an expense reimbursement of $1,000 for those who choose to go.
Sheriff Department Purchase
When speaking at the Club, Sheriff Matt Treglia mentioned wanting to purchase a commercial grade treadmill for the Department. The Lima Rotary Club may assist with the purchase and may submit a grant request to the Foundation in the amount of $4,000 - $7,000.
Committee Reports
4-Way Speech Contest & 4 Way Essay Contest Jill Ackerman
The contest in Lima was held on March 3, 2018 with Bath and Lima Senior participating. The winners will do Club Presentations on April 9, 2018. The District 6600 contest will be held in Van Wert on April 14, 2018. The Rotary Essay Contest is also ongoing with Esther Baldridge managing it.
Lima Rotary Foundation President Report Jeff Fitzgerald
President Fitzgerald provided a breakdown report of the Grant Distribution Dollars for calendar year 2017 and 2018. The total grants awarded in 2017 are $28,603.00 and total awarded in 2018 to-date is $6,000. Grants have been averaging from $5,000 - $7,000 per quarter. Wannemacher made a motion to approve the Foundation Report and Brown-Ellis seconded the motion. Board approved.
Joint Board Discussion
Treasurers Report Lima Rotary Foundation Jared Walsh
Walsh provided a report for the time period July 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017, of the six funds that the Foundation oversees. Walsh stated the Riverwalk MOU is in the 4th year of the 5 years period with one more payment to be made. The payment is calculated from a portion of the Blood Clinic Proceeds and the Christmas Auction. Current fund balances are as follow:
Buenos Noches Fund $ 2,335.64; Endowment Fund $483,557.28; General Fund $ 61,480.26;
High Octane Drum Line $ 1,839.37; Hulsken Fund $64,013.71; Scholarship Fund $81,491.45
The Boards discussed the balance of the Hulsken Fund and if additional funds could be available from it to enhance the Children’s Christmas Party. Walsh will review the bi-laws governing the Hulsken fund. Warren made a motion to approve the Foundation Treasurer’s report and Ackerman seconded the motion. Board approved.
Treasurer's Report Lima Rotary Club
Bill discussed the liabilities due to the Foundation including:
Lima Rotary Foundation Dues $2,095; Lima Rotary Scholarship Fund $1,733;
Reverse Raffle Fundraiser $6,289 which will more in the $8,000 range according to Sanchez
Dysert made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report as submitted and Swartz seconded the motion. Board approved.
Annual Meeting Preparation Tracie Sanchez/Jeff Fitzgerald
The Annual Meeting will be held Monday April 23, 2018. Club President Sanchez and incoming President Swartz along with Foundation President Fitzgerald and incoming President Brown-Ellis and Secretary Brown will begin meeting to prepare the agenda and discuss projects for the upcoming year.
Board Seat Nominations
Board Secretary Brown and Foundation Secretary Rutz met before the meeting to open and count the ballots for positions on the Lima Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees and the Rotary Board of Directors. Club Members selected to join the Lima Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees include: Leslie Fry, Beth Seibert and Joe Watson. Members selected to join the Rotary Club Board of Directors include: Peggy Ehora, John Ficorilli and Theresa Schinke. Fields made a motion to accept the report and approve the new members’ elections to the Boards. Metzger seconded the report. Board approved.
President Elect Report Paul Swartz
Swartz indicated working on new ideas and projects for the upcoming year.
Swartz discussed a possible extension of the Rotary Riverwalk from the Ottawa Metro Park to the OSU Lima Campus but stated there are obstacles and that would be a project for the future. One project of interest would be replacing the All People’s Trail that was originally donated by The Lima Rotary Club in Kendrick Woods. The boardwalk trail is 30 years old and needs to be updated and replaced. Kevin Haver of the JAMPD will determine cost. Swartz also discussed doing service projects that would last maybe a day or two in the Park District.
Swartz also discussed club website changes that are taking place with Anne Decker’s assistance. New features include an updated calendar feature and members listed by category. Also it now includes links to Mesa, RI, District 6600 and Facebook in two different places. The goal is to have members more involved with Club information available on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Swartz is also reviewing club dues. Chuck Wolfe will be heading the Program Committee next year. Bill and Frost will also be serving on the Membership Committee.
New Business Rita Brown
Resignation
Ty Lotz from Dominion East Ohio Gas Company is resigning from the Club. A motion was made by Brown-Ellis to accept the resignation with regret and Hubbell seconded the motion. Board approved.
Application
An application for membership was submitted by Rob Nelson. Kirk made a motion to approve the application and Warren seconded the motion. Board approved.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Sanchez adjourned the meeting at 12:37 PM.
Respectfully submitted
Rita Brown, Club Secretary
