For some time the board of Rotary Club of Great Falls has been exploring a pilot project to expand membership by adding an evening meeting structure to accommodate new members. The board is divided on the following discussion draft proposal, but would like your feedback on it at this point. We would like you to read this draft proposal before next week's meeting with this timeline in mind:
At our May 22 meeting, instead of a program, this draft proposal will be discussed by the membership.
On June 12, the board will modify the proposal, as it deems necessary based on the discussion on May 22, and vote on it.
If approved by the board, the final proposal will be presented to the membership for approval on June 26, 2018. A simple majority would prevail on that vote, assuming a quorum (1/3 of the membership) is present.
The pilot project would extend for two years, after which a bylaws revision reflecting the changes will be presented to the membership for a vote. Two-thirds voting in approval is required for a bylaws change.
Evening Membership Details
Dues: $300 (includes no evening meals; 4 noon-meeting meals)
Meeting Dates: 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month
Meeting Time/Place: To be determined
Meals/Drinks: Not included in membership dues; out-of-pocket for each member
Access to Noon Club: Evening members can attend all noon meetings, with up to 4 meals/year pre-paid; after 4 meals/year, member would be charged $12.50/meal.
Evening Membership and Service Expectations
Membership Status: Full Rotarian with voting rights
Board Representation: Two seats added to board for evening members
Board Role: Evening representatives will co-chair EveningPlanning 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.
Please join us at next week's noon meeting to discuss this proposal.
Last Week at Rotary
Last week we had an impressive impromptu presentation from Annie Brown on nursing program innovations available through Montana State University.
Annie, herself an MSU graduate with both a bachelor's and a master's degree in nursing, heads up the university's online master's program. MSU also offers an associate-degree to master's program and an accelerated nursing program that allows an individual with a bachelor's degree in any field to take the coursework and clinicals necessary to sit for R.N. licensure in 18 months. Finally, MSU has converted its nurse practitioner master's program into a doctorate leading to endorsements as either a family nurse practitioner or a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Recognizing the difficulty of attracting physicians to Montana's many rural settings, Montana law grants nurse practitioners a scope of practice equivalent to that of a doctor.
With a last-minute cancellation in our planned program, we were fortunate to have such an interesting presentation provided on such short notice. Annie was equally impressed with Rotary. "What a great group of people!" she enthused. "Maybe I should join!" Ya think?
Contracts Inked for Harvest Howl Bands
In the announcement we're always keen to hear, Mike Wier and Tom Nelson announced the bands we now have under contract for Harvest Howl 2018: Sawyer Brown and Sister Hazel.
We're going in a new direction this year, away from classic rock bands that seldom have the same members as the popular original group to more recently popular bands that still have their basic members intact. Sawyer Brown is the more famous of the two bands, originating in Florida in 1981. They now have 20 albums under their belts, including 3 certified gold albums.
Sister Hazel began in 1987 as an alternative rock band, also originating in Florida. Their hit "All for You" topped the alternative rock charts in 1987, and they have a loyal following of "Hazel nuts" - one of whom, as luck would have it, was last week's guest speaker, Annie Brown! They've now got a more country sound, which has prompted a resurgence of interest in the talented group.
Both bands have agreed to a radius clause in the contract, which prohibits their performing in any of Montana's big venues within a 90-day time frame of Harvest Howl. That should build up the appetite nicely for this exciting pair of bands to draw to. Club kudos to Tom Nelson for his vision and his dedication to the cause! We are ready to to roll - and rock!
Camp Spruce-up Completed
Last weekend, some dozen Rotarians headed to Camp Rotary for the 100th time to prepare the camp for the summer season. They met at the 4B's at 8 a.m. and proceeded from there to the camp, where they got busy tidying things up. Extremely helpful in that effort this year the the stand-behind skid-steer loader donated by Hoven Equipment and transported by Art Taft. The loader handles 850-pound lifts with ease and was operated efficiently by Mike Rausch.
Which brings up something else. Mike Rausch volunteered his time on Friday afternoon, putting together the military care packages discussed in last week's newsletter, then turned right around the next day for volunteer duty at Camp Rotary. Then there's Art Taft, who is another example of tireless service, always going the extra mile ... in this case, literally. And there's Brian Hoven, who made the equipment available that shortened the duty day considerably. We are so fortunate to have such selfless and dedicated Rotarians! Thank you!
Milestones
Best of wishes from all of us for the happiest of birthdays for Ryan Miller and Kimberley Hawn this week!
Weekly Wisdom
“That’s the problem with your generation. You all want happy endings.”
I was so stunned I think my eye stopped twitching momentarily.
“We don’t, actually,” I said. “We want endings that leave us with a sense of hope ....”
