Our club is well into 2020 and I am half way along in my term as your club president. This is a good moment to reflect on what has been accomplished and what is left to be done. Half full vs half empty; both are true.
I laid out an ambitious agenda beginning with some focus groups last spring. My goal was to evaluate key elements of our organization in order to develop a plan that would focus and energize us going forward. Membership, Communication, Finances and Programs are all essential components. There have been significant challenges with each.
Kate Sims has gotten us off to a good start with Membership. Our Corporate members and their Corporate Representatives are a real strength. We must be sure they are adequately engaged in all facets of our organization and they must feel their involvement in and experience with Rotary to be mutually beneficial. Kate is also mentoring our Interact program which will be attending our February 11 meeting.
Cathy Fogel has been inspirational in helping to develop and implement a multifaceted Communications agenda. It is here that the talents of our younger members, corporate members and their corporate reps are most necessary. Clearly a work in progress that will span successive terms.
Our club and foundation Finances are stable and well accounted for. The Treasurer’s report was recently presented to the board and will soon be shared with the club.
Fund Raising plans are moving forward with the Holes 4 Hope major fundraiser on May 13 led by Nina Kruse and a Mother’s Day Breakfast fundraiser spearheaded by Ken Golden and Lucy Hurston on May 10. Hope Igdalsky, our Foundation Chair, and I are encouraging your support of the RI Foundation. Full club participation in these activities makes everything else possible in delivering on our commitment of service to our community and globally.
So, that leaves Programs; meetings and service. With less emphasis on mandatory meeting attendance, our meeting programs need to be sufficiently interesting and compelling to stand on their own. Improved attendance has resulted in more energy, more fun and more camaraderie. Hopefully, this trend will continue.
Perhaps I should have led with “Service Programs” because this is the main reason we signed up – to provide “Service Above Self.” Who, reading this, can deny that visiting Charter Oak Park and seeing the kids at the Rotary Music Garden and now at the Rotary Pavilion/Michael B. Lynch Sr. Memorial doesn’t fill you with pride at being a Manchester Rotarian. I have no less of that feeling distributing dictionaries to our 3rd graders, ringing the holiday bell at Stop and Shop, presenting Laurel music camperships and financial assistance awards, presenting Camp Farwell summer camperships and providing financial assistance to dozens of worthy charities.
Sean Krueger, our Service Project Chair, is working with Ritu Goel and Goeff Naab on programs to confront community hunger. Ed Epstein leads our Deterra medication disposal project to help abate opioid addiction. Add to this list of remarkable accomplishments the free community summer Music and Arts Festival and the tri-club Rotary In Motion event. Globally, we continue to support Rick Lawrence’s Guatemala Water and Sanitation project.
How do 35 Rotarians pull this off? We work together for a common purpose with the help of a supportive community and our numerous community partners. I look forward to helping fill as much of the remaining glass as possible. I am confident that what doesn’t get completed in my term will serve as a good basis from which Lucy and Ed can continue.
