Building Communities - Bridging Continents
Rotary is having a birthday again this year. 105 years old!! Celebrating 105 years of service to the communities where we live and the global community has attracted more than 1.2 million people on all continents to the greatest service organization every created.
The Rotary Club of Williamsville is also kicking off a new year with much excitement and enthusiasm. The Rotarians that serve in leadership roles have spent countless hours building a Bigger – Better – Bolder club. The talent on this team is enormous. Now, as our plans begin to gel, each member will become a leader. This year is a transformational year. We will build on the foundation and successes of those that came before us. We have set up some lofty goals.
We will grow our membership with community and business leaders that will become force multipliers to
our current members. If you think you may know such a person, please do not wait for the right time to invite them. Do it now, time is precious. Imagine if there were 75 active members in the club. Paul Banas will soon detail our membership objectives for the year and will share the plans with us.
The need for our services projects have grown substantially through the years - however our fund- raising has not. We need to find ways to raise a minimum of $1k per member. Our services this year will focus on more hands-on, high-profile projects that we can affect with a paucity of funding. Each of us should understand the 5 avenues of service and reach out pro-actively to our services' committee chairs with ideas, participation and encouragement. Kathy Behan chairs the services committee.
Our public relations will focus on getting the message of Rotary out to the community. We will continue to build our messaging about how Rotary is helping Williamsville, Amherst and the world. We will be using new media to get this message across to a broader audience. PR will be tied to our services projects, our fund raising activities and membership initiatives. Barb Tschamler leads our public relations.
The humanitarian effects of the RI Foundation are profound. For the last several years, we have not yet been able to contribute on the scale that is reasonable and appropriate for us. RI Foundation will have a higher profile this year than in the past. I recommend we all become more familiar so that we can support them and in-turn, they will support our activities with grants. Past president Vicki D'Angelo will elevate our participation with RI.
Three things that will help us. Much more participation in Rotary events beyond the club level, a completion of a strategic plan for club continuity and the integration of all of our committees under the leadership of our president-elect, Tim Henderson.
My final thoughts are for serving the members themselves. This always was and will continue to be a fun organization. Our club administration, led by Paul Harris recipient Vern Anderson, is charged with driving more fellowship activities than ever before. This includes activities that welcome our families and friends. Bring your loved ones to Rotary events. If you are an older member (more than 3 years) then make it your mission to get to really know all those members that came after you joined.
We are our best when we can work side by side for the object of Rotary. Each member has his or her own reasons for being a Rotarian. We must be proud of our club and our contributions. Whenever practical, tell friends about our club and our work. Wear your pins at other times besides our weekly meetings. Express your excitement and enthusiasm. Invite people to be our guests hearing some of the most interesting people in town.
As community and business leaders do what comes naturally..lead. Lead with ideas for the committees, lead with your time and your energy, lead with your hearts. Let's Build Communities and Bridge Continents together.