Next week we're in for a special treat. The inimitable Ike Kaufman will be our featured speaker, and on the 80th anniversary of the Day of Infamy, he'll talk about how the world changed when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Join us at noon at the country club or on Zoom.
Last Week at Rotary
Last week we conducted the annual meeting required by our bylaws. A slate of candidates for officers and board members was presented to the membership. They include: Dirk Smith, President; Tom Nelson, President-elect; Jesse Mahugh, President-elect Nominee; Lacey Gallagher, Past President; Bill Bronson, Secretary; Tom Nelson, Treasurer; and Heidi Hockett and Kurt Baltrusch, Directors.
In order to provide the two-week notice required by the bylaws, voting on the slate of officers will begin on December 12 and conclude on December 14. For those who prefer to vote electronically, an electronic ballot will be emailed at around noon on December 12. For those who prefer paper ballots, they will be distributed at the December 14 meeting.
President Gallagher and Tony DiLello explained the dues increase that members will be voting on beginning tomorrow. (See related story in this bulletin.)
The meeting ended with the 50-50 ticket of Kaitlyn McArthur being drawn, but like so many others in recent weeks, Kaitlyn couldn't divine with her fingertips the wily 9 of spades. With $115 in the pot and counting, all eyes are on the prize!
Member Moment: Sheila Rice
When Jesse Mahugh introduced the deliverer of last week's "Member Moment," he observed, "Sheila Rice really exemplifies what it means to put service above self." Heads nodded throughout the room. Everybody knows what Sheila does for so many causes all over Great Falls. But not all of us know what Sheila does, through Rotary, all over the world.
Sheila began her membership with Rotary the way many of us do. At the encouragement of her boss, she joined Rotary in the late 1980's to make the connections Rotary offers and to be more active in the community. "Right away," she recalled last week, "some magic started happening." That magic was service above self. She joined fellow Rotarians - and they were, by and large, fellows -- in all their local efforts, particularly the sustained effort to improve Camp Rotary.
Then she was included in an international service project to encourage more girls in Mexico to go to school. She was amazed at what she saw, what she learned, and how Rotary helped. She later was part of a Montana group of Rotarians who visited Tasmania and was once again awestruck by the international reach that Rotary provides. She has been local host for national and international Rotarians ever since.
Sheila has been our club's international representative for many years now. She continually brings us news, information, and encouragement to get involved in service-above-self projects throughout the world. Meanwhile, she's no slouch locally. Whether it's planting our trees at NeighborWorks projects, cooking up the meals at Harvest Howl, or doing repairs at Camp Rotary, Sheila Rice thrives on service above self. With Sheila, it isn't a sacrifice. It's a way of living.
Vote on Dues Increase Begins Tomorrow
The dues increase proposed by our board of directors goes to a vote of the membership beginning tomorrow and ending at next week's meeting.
The dues increase is necessitated by the rising cost of meals at the country club. For over a decade now, the country club has proven to be a great venue for our club, offering a nice meeting space, as well as rooms for our various committee meetings. We'd like to keep meeting here, but that will require a dues increase. In order to implement the dues increase incrementally, the board proposes increasing the annual dues by $35 for the remainder of this fiscal year (i.e., January 1 through June 30, 2022), keeping dues at that rate for the next fiscal year, and then raising them by another $25 beginning on July 1, 2023.
Thus, if approved by the membership, the total annual dues for this fiscal year, effective immediately, will be $675. Beginning July 1, 2023, total annual dues will be $700. If you pay quarterly, the dues increase would mean your quarterly payment would be $177.50 for the remainder of this year and $168.75 for each of the four quarters, July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023.
Rotarians may vote on the proposal in two ways. A ballot will be sent out electronically at noon tomorrow (Sunday, Dec. 5.) Rotarians may vote YES if they approve the increase proposal and NO if they do not. Their votes must be returned electronically by noon on Tuesday, Dec. 7. For those who prefer to vote in person, paper ballots will be available at the Dec. 7 meeting.
Milestones
Happy birthday on December 6 to two remarkable Rotarians and Montanans, Ian Davidson and David Cameron. Also, a belated happy birthday to past president and eternal great guy Colin Lee, who celebrated another lap around the sun on December 1.
Weekly Wisdom: Day of Infamy
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island. And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves ....
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.
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