Posted by Rita Brown on Mar 21, 2019
Here are the highlights from the joint meeting of the Boards of Directors of the Lima Rotary Club and the Lima Rotary Foundation on March 12, 2019.
Call to Order                                                                                                Paul Swartz
Swartz called the meeting together at 11:35 AM with the following Rotary Board Members present:  Ken Dysert, John Ficorilli, Susan Hubbell, Jed Metzger, Tracie Sanchez, Catheryn Sarno, Theresa Schnipke, Jeff Tracy and Secretary Rita Brown.  Also present from the Lima Rotary Foundation:  Elizabeth Brown-Ellis, Jay Begg, Drew Fields, Linda Hamilton, Jeff Unterbrink, Andy Wannemacher, Leslie Fry, Beth Seibert, Joe Watson and Treasurer Jared Walsh. 
 
     Secretary’s Report                                                                                        Rita Brown
     Attendance report
Brown shared the February 2019 attendance report.  The month ended with 167 members.  There were no new applicants with three members resigning.   Attendance for the month was at 40.88% - up from the previous month.    Brown also shared reports on the makeup of the membership in the following categories. 
  • Age distribution: 29 and under – 2%.  Age 30 – 39 – 11%;  Age 40 – 49 – 20%;  Age 50 – 59 -  31%;  Age 60 – 69 – 21% and Age 70 and over - 15% 
  • Gender: 26% Female and 74% Male                                         
  • Years of Service:  under  1 year 2%;      1 – 5 years  33%;    5-10  years - 19%;  10 - 20 years; 25%;   more than 20 years  - 20%.                           
 
      Presidents Report                                                                                        Paul Swartz
  1. Small Project Committee Update
The Small Project Committee is currently working with Habitat for Humanity.  They will also partner with the Red Cross in a Smoke Alarm Project.   The project is part of the American Red Cross National Project.   Volunteers will work alongside the fire departments and other local groups to install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing ones and educate families about fire prevention and safety.
  1. The club is on track to receive the Presidential Citation again this year.  
  2. District Conference May 10-12 Kalahari Resort  If interested, go on district web site and sign up.
  3. International Conference June 1-5 Hamburg, Germany
  4. Kendrick Woods Boardwalk Project
Swartz reported hearing from the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District Manager Kevin Haver.  The materials for the Boardwalk cost more than originally thought.  Total cost for the Boardwalk will be $25,000.  Swartz suggested putting in a grant request for $5,000 at the next Foundation Meeting.  Walsh suggested the additional request of $5,000 be made part of the Annual Meeting.  Walsh will speak with Attorney Don Witter before the Annual Meeting about the possibility of using funds from the Hulsken Account.
 
     Lima Rotary Foundation President’s Report                                                  Elizabeth Brown-Ellis  
To-date this fiscal year, the Foundation Board has reviewed 15 grant applications, and made 9 grants totaling $19,640 (does not include the non-grant items, such as the Dictionary Distribution, the Riverwalk MOU or the Rotary Showcase.) Grants have been awarded to traditional partners and new organizations as listed: 
  • ArtSpace/Lima -- $1,500
  • Haiti Clean Water -- $1,000
  • Allen Lima Youth Leadership, $2,500
  • Boy Scouts of America – Exploring, $1,000
  • MESA, $5,000
  • Shelterbox contribution, $775 (+ the $225 raised by the club = $1,000 for a Shelterbox)
  • LSO -- $3,865
  • DARE -- $2,000
  • Soldiers of Honor -- $2,000
 
Lines of credit in the Foundation’s name were established at Superior and State Bank, totaling $320,000, which facilitated the purchase of the land for the amphitheater project.   In addition to grant activity, the Foundation has revised the Code of Regulations and will present that for ratification soon. They are also undertaking a review of the Investment policy, which was last updated in 2000.
 
             Lima Rotary Foundation Treasurer’s Report                                            Jared Walsh
Walsh shared the Statement of Fund Balances, Receipts and Distribution Report – July 1 through Dec 31, 2018
Fund Balances – December 31, 2018 are as follows:
  • Amphitheater                   $2,745.00
  • Buenos Noches                       85.64
  • Endowment Fund           $475,782.31
  • General Fund                 $  56,160.28
  • High Octane Drumline   $    1,839.37
  • Hulsken Fund               $  59,300.33
  • Scholarship Fund           $  83,876.79
  • Total                             $679,789.72
 
Lines of Credit have been established with Superior Credit Union and State Bank in the amount of $320,000.  Walsh shared a Transactions by Account for the Amphitheater Land that totaled $478.503.20.  He stressed the importance of the Fund Raising to cover this cost so The Rotary Foundation does not have this amount of debt.  Hubbell made a motion to approve the reports of the Foundation President and Treasurer.  Hamilton seconded the motion.  Boards approved. 
 
As Bill was not present, Sanchez presented the following report for the Rotary Club.  The checking account at Superior Federal Credit Union has a balance of $24,380.42 and all liabilities are paid down.  The Polio Plus liability will be paid to Rotary International by the end of the month.  Wannemacher made a motion to approve the report as submitted.  Dysert seconded the motion.  Boards approved.      
 
            Annual Meeting                                                                                     Paul Swartz
The Annual Meeting will be held on April 22, 2019.  Swartz and Dysert will be organizing planning meetings with Brown-Ellis and Wannemacher.    
                                                                                               
President Elect Report                                                                        Ken Dysert
New Ideas & Projects
Dysert  just returned from the two-day President Elects’ Training.  Rotary Connects the World  will be the theme next year.  The sessions included Break Out sessions with clubs of similar size.  Dysert complimented members of the Board and The Club on all that the Lima Club has done or is doing.  
Fund raising projects – get ideas
Dysert has been proactively filling the 32 Committee Chairs for next year and stated the response has been great.  Almost all are in place.  Dysert’s goal is to keep the club vibrant. 
 
Vice President Report                                                                         John Ficcorilli
            Polio Plus
Currently $3,800 has been raised for Polio Plus which is behind goal.  The auctions will continue until the end of March.  He has a goal of growing membership and is looking for options for the members to get involved.  The Social Committee is looking at other options that will allow member involvement.  The Young Professionals are also being involved. 
 
New Business:                                                                                   Rita Brown  
  •  
Alberta Lee resigned in January 2019 due to family member health issues.  She has now requested returning to the club as an active member.
            Applications
Applications were received from the following three candidates:
  • John Guagenti, First Insurance Group – Benefits Consultant - sponsored by Dave Frost and Drew Fields.
  • Richard P. Kortokrax, Huntington Corporate Membership, sponsored by Dave Frost
  • Heather M Jordan, Huntington Corporate Membership.
Hamilton made a motion to approve the request of Alberta Lee to rejoin and to approve the applications for membership of John Guagenti, Richard Kortokrax and Heather Jordan.  Seibert seconded the motion.  Board approved.
  •  
Resignations were received from the following three candidates:
  • Dale Gisi at Mercy Health 
  • Harold Bischoff, Cornerstone Alliance
  • Sam Halker, Smith Boughan Mechanical
Brown-Ellis made a motion to accept the three resignations with regret.  Hubbell seconded the motion.  Board approved. 
 
            Golf Outing                                                                                      Andy Wannemacher
Wannemacher discussed the upcoming Rex Perry Golf Outing and stated plans are underway.
 
The meeting ended with general brainstorming on ways to improve the club!  It was decided to add this feature to future joint board meetings.
 
There being no further business, Swartz adjourned the meeting at 12:51 PM.
Respectfully submitted
Rita Brown, Club Secretary.