We'll have no meeting on July 3, but we will still be gathering next week. We have an entry in the Fourth of July parade, featuring incoming President Todd Neighbor's upcoming duck race fundraiser and a vintage automobile driven by Kurt Baltrusch. Come celebrate our nation's independence and our club's togetherness!
Since there is no meeting next week (and since your editor is attending a family wedding next weekend), there will be no Rotary bulletin next weekend.
At our July 10 meeting, we will install our new officers and we will begin the ballot process on the evening membership proposal. (The specific proposal is reprinted in this bulletin for your convenience.) For those who prefer to vote by paper ballot, ballots will be available at the July 10 meeting. For those who cannot attend the meeting, your vote will be solicited online by 1:30 p.m. on July 10 and the voting period will end at the same time on July 12, in accordance with our newly amended bylaws.
Finally, we are in urgent need of a driver or two to take kids to Camp RYLA July 10 or July 14. If you can help, please contact Sydney Blair and 406-781-6852 or sydneyb@center4mh.org.
Last Week at Rotary
Last week, Brenda Peterson, CEO of Wendt Advertising, gave a presentation on Leadership Montana, a nonprofit leadership development program begun about a decade ago. The program recruits leaders from business, labor, healthcare, education, nonprofit, and government entities all across Montana to learn skills and work together to improve our state. Leadership Montana offers participants a program that strengthens leadership skills while fostering personal growth and reflection.
Brenda said her own leadership has been particularly enriched by the "gracious space" concept taught in Leadership Montana. The concept reinforces the importance of civil dialogue by creating a spirit and a setting in which all participants feel invited, respected, and able to "learn in public."
Participants also gain a deeper awareness of issues affecting Montana and build powerful personal connections with their classmates and network of committed alumni. Brenda encouraged Rotarians to apply or to encourage a developing leader they know to apply.
Two upcoming events are Leadership Montana programs that also include a public audience. The first is "The Confluence," a conference that brings LM alumni together but also welcomes the public to explore a current issue or issue in Montana. The Confluence this year is scheduled for Sept. 13 in Kalispell. The second event is for developing women leaders in Montana. Women Leading Montana is scheduled for Oct. 15-16 in Great Falls. Brenda highly recommends them both!
Lessons from Rotary International
President-Elect Nominee Cari Yturri attended the Rotary International Convention in Toronto last week and found the experience highly educational. The breakout sessions she attended were high-quality and primarily focused on membership attraction, engagement and retention.
Warren Buffett reminded attendees that “Price is important, but building the value of being a Rotarian should be a focus. Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” With respect to young professionals, Rotary offers (1) global citizenship in an organization that is developing solutions to problems by involving those who benefit from the solution, (2) board experience in governance, leadership and skill development, and (3) unique experiences and opportunities that other clubs do not offer such as RYLA, Dictionary Project, Friendship Exchange, Youth Exchange.
One speaker suggested offering continuous training and personal development because it not only encourages members to understand the benefits of Rotary, but also gives them added value. Another suggestion is to offer a lower membership fee and have members contribute the balance plus meals. Yet another suggestion with clear connection to Great Falls was that should seek potential members who have recently retired from military or civil service.
There were several suggestions about how to revise membership types so that we are more accessible to more members. Presenters strongly suggested offering corporate membership for large organizations who want employees involved, but who cannot all attend all the time. Offering family membership where spouses are offered to join but do not always want to attend every meeting was also a common theme.
Cari was particularly impressed by the suggestion to survey current members to ensure the current meeting agenda is fitting their expectations. Another suggestion she was impressed with was strengthening our efforts to communicate value to members and potential members. What is our “why?” We need to share the power of Rotary to deepen and strengthen the commitment of our members and, through them, to improve lives across the globe.
Clearly, Cari has come back from Toronto brimming with ideas and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. A conference well worth attending!
The Evening Membership Proposal
Last week the membership voted, 34-2, to amend the bylaws to allow electronic voting on matters brought to the membership by the board. The first item to be voted on under the new bylaws is the evening membership proposal. Below is the proposal you will be voting on -- at our July 10 meeting by paper ballot if you prefer, or via email between July 10-12.
Evening Membership Details
Dues: $300 (includes no evening meals; 4 specified noon-meeting meals)
Meetings: Twice a month on dates to be determined
Meeting Time & Place: To be determined
Meals/Drinks: Not included in membership dues; out-of-pocket for each member
Access to Noon Meetings: Can attend up to 4 noon meetings at no charge for meals; after 4 meals, would be charged $12.50/meal.
Evening Membership and Service Expectations
Membership Status: Full Rotarian with voting rights (except as noted in the last bulleted item below on the issue of making the pilot program permanent)
Board Representation: Two non-voting seats added to existing board for evening liaisons
Board Role: Evening representatives will co-chair Evening Planning Committee
Service Opportunities: Evening members will organize volunteer events and membership drives in partnership with existing club committees
Service Requirement: Evening members will join at least 1 existing club committee and support club events (camp clean-up, Harvest Howl, etc.)
Noon Membership Clarifications
Current dues for noon members will continue to include pre-paid meals, (which accounts for the difference in rates between noon and evening memberships)
Noon members will have unlimited access to noon and evening meetings.
Existing club members have volunteered to oversee the evening club to promote Rotarian values and structure and ensure that the evening members are aligned with club direction and strategy; all members are encouraged and welcome to assist in these efforts.
Term of the Pilot Project
If the evening membership pilot is approved, it will begin on September 1, 2018, and conclude on August 31, 2020. If the club wishes to continue this option as part of its permanent structure, bylaws changes would be proposed in August 2020. Only Rotarians who were members of the club at the time the pilot was approved would be eligible to vote on these bylaws changes.
Milestones
July has been kind to Rotary Club of Great Falls. Celebrating birthdays during the first half of the month are Aaron Weissman on July 6, Sydney Blair on July 7, and Jeff Albrecht on July 8. Join me in wishing them the best birthday ever.
Weekly Wisdom for Independence Day
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Founding Fathers
Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
Abraham Lincoln
To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Nelson Mandela
Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice may be a hard one. The road goes upward towards the light; but the laden traveler may never reach the end of it.
