Local service club presidents join Rotary for a panel discussion.
Membership, collaboration and service were the topics of a panel discussion between President Russ and the presidents of four local service clubs: Stephanie Moos, Lima Exchange Club; Dr. Willie Heggins, Lima Kiwanis Club; Carol Fischbach, Lima Noon Optimist Club; and Stephen Welly, Lima Sertoma Club. All agreed that membership is a challenge. All clubs encourage members to invite friends and business associates to join. Clubs work to keep members engaged by pairing them with a mentor to help them stay connected, and finding out what they enjoy and channeling their energy into related projects and events. The presidents also discussed collaboration between the clubs. "The future of service clubs is to create some kind of synergy between our five groups," said President Russ. "Individually, I think every group here is doing some great things in our community, but if we could harness the power of all five groups to solve a problem or to take Lima to the next step, what a powerful tool that could be." All presidents are eager to collaborate and hope to work together in the future.
Also at Monday's meeting, we inducted Peter Flores from Kairos Employment Solutions as the newest member of the Lima Rotary Club. Please make him welcome.
Troy Elwer gave us a report from the Lima Rotary Foundation. So far this year, the foundation has awarded $2,000 to D.A.R.E., $3,865 to the Lima Symphony Orchestra, $1,500 to Goodwill Easterseals, $500 to match the $505 raised by club members passing the bucket to go to the relief fund for the Lorain police shooting, and support for the Rotary pavilion being built at Safety City.
We also drew the winner of the Buckeyes tickets. Those who have brought a new member into the Lima Rotary Club since July were entered into a drawing for two tickets to OSU/UCLA game on November 15. The lucky winner was Joe Watson. Congratulations!
