Saturday, July 28, 2007

Weekly Elixir - Week of July 30, 2007


What are other clubs doing?

Other clubs have posted on their websites the rules and regulations for membership. The Rotary Club of Barrie, Ontario, which is www.barrierotary.com, shows some very specific information. It would be helpful to make much of the same information available on the Rotary Parry Sound website.

The bylaws of the Rotary Club of Parry Sound should be made available so that they can be added to the website. New and current members of the Rotary Club of Anguilla would benefit from a review of the bylaws of the club.

Below, I’ve added some specifics that are included in the Barrie website. You may all may find them interesting. Of course, these are the Rotary International policies, but the Barrie Club strictly enforces them.

Making the Rotary Club of Parry Sound a little more official by publicizing these policies could be beneficial to all.

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Membership

The membership of any active member who is absent for four consecutive regular weekly meetings of this Club shall automatically terminate, unless such absence is made up as hereinafter provided, or he is excused by the Board of Directors for good and sufficient reason.

The membership of any active member whose overall percentage attendance is less than fifty (50) percent during the first or second six months of the Club’s fiscal year or whose attendance at his own Club is less than thirty (30) percent, shall automatically terminate, unless he is excused by the Board of Directors for good and sufficient reason.

Upon written application to the Board setting forth good and sufficient cause, leave of absence may be granted excusing a member from attending the meetings of the Club for a specified length of time.

Method of accepting new members is also very stringent. The proposed member is clearly informed of the obligations and benefits of membership before his/her name is circulated to the membership – with his/her permission. A 10-day waiting period must follow during which any current member may reject in writing the new member. However, if the member is accepted into membership, the Secretary shall issue to the newly elected member a copy of the Club By-Laws and Customs, Lapel Pin, framed copies of the Four Way Test and Object of Rotary, a Rotary membership identification card, name badge and the “ABCs of Rotary.”

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The Rotary Club of Parry Sound can become a very well organized club by following some of these policies. We all can help by volunteering our time in this year of “Rotary Shares."

Weekly Elixir - Week of July 23, 2007



Literacy

Literacy is a global challenge. Rotary International this year emphasizes the importance of literacy and the importance of clubs getting involved in literacy projects.




What can the Parry Sound Club do to promote Literacy?

A couple of years ago, the club donated books to fill the library at the high school in Anguilla. Perhaps volunteering – keeping in mind the theme for 2007-08 “Rotary Shares” – would be beneficial.

From the RI website, here is some information on Volunteering for Literacy Projects.


Volunteering

Service-minded Rotarians love hands-on projects like volunteering as reading tutors or mentors.

“Volunteering in existing tutoring or mentoring programs is one of the most effective and rewarding projects clubs can do,” says David Plater, a program coordinator at Rotary International who specializes in literacy. “Both volunteers and students benefit from the interaction, and all it really requires is time.”

Your club’s community service or literacy coordinator can serve as a liaison to the community and seek out opportunities for tutoring. Clubs also can work with local affiliates of the International Reading Association to get project ideas and contacts.


Literacy projects

Literacy projects allow Rotarians to make a creative contribution to building communities, reducing poverty, and opening opportunities for those in need.

According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), 98% of the world’s illiterate population is in developing countries. There are roughly 137 million school age children who are illiterate around the world. Sadly, over 64% of all illiterate people in the world today are women and girls.

So, “What can my club do to make a positive difference,” you may ask?
Perhaps you can invite a guest speaker to discuss literacy and education issues that are important in your community, or plan a community awareness campaign to promote literacy.

The important question to answer today is simply this, does my club have a Literacy Committee to plan and coordinate literacy projects and activities during the year? If yes…Super! If no…Now is the best time to get started.


Let’s Get Involved

Let’s get involved with hands-on projects in our local club. The community – the wonderful town of Parry Sound – will benefit.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Rotary Elixir - Week of July 16, 2007


Here is an example of what other Rotary Clubs are doing.

Greenville, Texas

Two individuals honoured by Rotary

Renee Francey was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Greenville Noon Rotary Club at a special awards dinner held Thursday night at the Webb Hill Country Club.

"Every year we nominate someone outside the Rotary Club who we feel exemplifies our motto 'service above self'," said Gloria Jordan, when announcing the award. "This year the person we selected should be a stranger to no one. Everywhere you go you will see this person volunteering.

Whether its at the DrugFree Walkathon, Fishing Friday, Rally Round Greenville, Halloween on the Square, Relay for Life, the Follies where she is equally entertaining both onstage and offstage helping on committees, New Horizons, Women in Need, at the fairgrounds when the Katrina victims hit town, picking up trash along the highway, reading to elementary school children and entertaining seniors or anyone else for that matter."

Ms. Jordan went on to point out that she had nominated Ms. Francey for the award because, "Everywhere I went I saw her helping out, doing something."


Rotarian also honoured

Rotarian Jordan was also the subject of special honors at the same banquet as she was named Rotarian of the Year. This award is for the same "service above self" recognition, but is given to a person who is a member of Rotary.

"The things she does for the Follies and the Veterans of Foreign Wars are really outstanding," said Rotary President Tom Swanson, who nominated Jordan along with Bill Rolston and James Handley. "She's one of the main drivers in this area for the Fisher House (a home in Dallas open to the families of veterans who are receiving medical treatment). All the things she does for the community and for Rotary, she really gives of her time and her talents. Honestly, it would be kind of hard to remember them all."

Weekly Elixir - Week of July 9, 2007


Vocational Service

As business leaders, Rotarians share their skills and expertise through vocational service, one of the Four Avenues of Service.

Your vocational service efforts can play a vital role in improving the quality of life for those hardworking members of the community who need direction and expertise. By participating in any of a number of vocational service activities — mentoring, career days, vocational awards, business assistance, or even talking about your job at a club meeting — you can turn your experience into an invaluable resource for others.


-- mentoring
-- career days
-- vocational awards
-- business assistance, or
-- even talking about your job at a club meeting


Project Areas

The focus of vocational service has expanded from individual vocational excellence to providing service within the workplace and to the community. Vocational service can be accomplished in various areas:


-- Vocational awareness. Give classification talks and conduct tours of members' businesses.

-- Vocational awards. Recognize vocational excellence and high ethical standards in the community.

-- Career development. Use members' professional experience to advance employment; develop and support apprenticeship programs; organize career-planning programs in schools; and retrain adults for new vocations.

-- Vocation at work. Generate new jobs within the community; work with retirees; address drug, alcohol, and literacy problems in the workplace; create vocational opportunities for the disabled; develop and implement HIV/AIDS education and policy; and promote high ethical standards.


Vocational Awareness starts at home

Do you know what the other members of your Rotary Club do for a living? Would you be interested in learning about what the others do? Would you be willing to share with the club members what you do for a living? This sharing is an important part of a Rotary Club fellowship!

Sharing vocational service will enhance Rotary in many ways. Schedule a classification at a club meeting to share what you do in your community. Through sharing and communication, Rotarians can become better community leaders.

Do you have a hobby or interest that you can share with your club members? Perhaps you are interested in joining a Rotary Fellowship and would be willing to share that information with the others in the club.