Notes from Rotary Meeting of September 23, 2013
President Tyler Smith called the meeting to order and led members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test of Rotary. Mike Sutton offered the invocation. Leigh Morris led in singing.
Happy $$$’s – Tyler Smith, Mike Seitz, Ron Gigliotti, Vern Sikora, Gene Burrows, Marv Goad, Fran Milo, Brad Hinsley, Beth Irwin, Judy Hamilton
Sergeant-at-Arms – In celebration of October Fest, Kregg Van Meter raised money for the club with questions about beer. Mike Arnett handled the collection basket.
Announcements – Tyler Smith reported that the repairs to the grounds surrounding the Rotary Gazebo in Soldiers Memorial Park have been completed and look great. Painting the gazebo will be a spring Rotary service project.
Rotary Ramble Grocery Scramble – Tyler announced that once again it is time for Rotarians to focus on their biggest fundraising event of the year. Tickets will be $5.00 each which gives the ticket holder a 5% discount on a grocery purchase at Al’s. It also places them into the drawing for 10 prizes. The grand prize winner will have 108 seconds to race through Al’s East store and put as many grocery items as possible into his/her cart. Three billboards promoting the Scramble will be up around La Porte from October 7 to November 3. Tickets for Rotarians to sell will be available soon.
President Smith also reminded Rotarians of the invitation from Michigan City Rotary to attend an after hours gathering on Thursday, September 26 from 6pm to 8pm at Vegas, Baby at the Blue Chip Casino.
Sunflower Fair – Mike Seitz announced that $363+ was raised by the Rotary corn roast at the Sunflower Fair on Saturday. He thanked all Rotarians who came to help with the event.
Program – Rotary International Foundation
Leigh Morris, La Porte Rotary’s chair of foundation giving, summarized the dramatically increased levels of giving Rotarians have made in recent years. For the 2012/2013 year, Rotarians contributed a total of $8405 and every Rotarian made a contribution (one of only seven clubs in the district to have 100% participation). The club also has 13 current Paul Harris Fellows who have each contributed at least $1000 to achieve that distinction.
Mike Crabel, Chair of District 6540 Foundation giving and a member of the Elkhart (morning) Rotary club, explained that the Rotary Foundation began in 1917. Mr. Crabel explained that people make charitable donations for many reasons, including recognition, a sense of affiliation with the cause, or from the good feelings they receive from giving. A ll monies given to the Foundation go toward projects, with half returning to the district for investment in local projects. Monies are used for the ambassadorial scholar program, group study exchanges, grants to address issues of health, hunger, or humanities, and the Polio eradication project. The “Every Rotarian Every Year” initiative asks each Rotarian to give to the Foundation every year with the suggested gift of at least $100.
Rotarians in attendance were: Mike Arnett, Gene Burrows, Ron Gigliotti, Marv Goad, Judy Hamilton, Bill Hedge, Brad Hindsley, Beth Ingram, Norm Juday, Fran Milo, Leigh Morris, Dale Parkison, Mike Rosenbaum, Joseph Rosenblum, Keith Schwingendorf, Mike Seitz, Andy Serafin, Vern Sikora, Tyler Smith, Mike Sutton, Thor Thordarson, Kregg Van Meter, Deb Varnak, and Ed Volk. Guest: Dan Blevins, guest of Marv Goad.