Rotary Club of El Cerrito

Upcoming Programs

Sep 9
Laurie Ann Lepoff, private dance instructor (Rotarian Host Nancy McCarthy)

Sep 16
Amanda Royal, League to Save Lake Tahoe (Rotarian Host Michael J. Dougherty)

Sep 23
M. Louise Stanley, contemporary painter (Rotarian Host Karen Nierlich)

Sep 30
Steven Van Yoder, Manila Poverty Project (Rotarian Host Marty Kaliski)

View previous Bulletins

Upcoming Events

Sundays January thru June
ONGOING Fundraiser at Golden Gate Fields

El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel March 20, 2009

 

El Cerrito Rotary
The Wheel
Editors: Gary Buffon & Michael Doughtery
Week of March 19th  
 
President Jack welcomed us to the friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club.  Neal led the flag salute and Pres Jack provided a thought for the day.
 
Introduction of guests and Visiting Rotarians: Sec John introduced visiting Rotarian Eric G from Richmond. Gary B introduced Stephanie Wong, Sec of our Interact Club.
 
Announcements:
  • Stephanie told us about the Black and White Dance and asked for chaperones for the evening of March 27th. She passed around a sign up sheet. They need about twelve chaperones so you want to hang out with these great kids on that evening please sign up.
     
  • Stephanie also solicited sponsors for the Bowl-A-Thon our Interact is participating in that will benefit a hospital fund for a hospital in the Congo that will primarily serve women. She collected $220 in sponsorships. Thank you Rotarians we are some of the most generous people in the world!!     
 
Happy dollars:  Jane was $5 happy for her nephew’s Eagle Scout award. Karen is happy that husband Tod is speaking and it is his birthday. Tracy is happy about the poster the club gave her at PETS. Charlie is happy to present $$ from Lee who had to work today. Eric G is happy to announce the project at NIAD and invited anyone who wants to participate to join in. Andy is happy to learn that the Monterey Sheriff caught the perp who broke into Andy’s truck. Michael D is happy to be back and brought pictures of Luke to show off how big he has grown. 
 
Sgt at Arms: Today we had Corporal Andy taking over the Sgt Jim. Andy played a game where people at a table would hum a tune that is common and the selected Rotarian had to identify it. This was similar to name that tune and pay $5.
 
Plaques for Rotarians: President Jack presented a plaque to Karen, Tod and Gary B for their work with the website and the bulletin which is now available on the site.
Pres Jack presents plaques to Karen, Gary B, & Tod
 
Today’s Program:
Karen introduced husband Tod Abbott, Principal of Almost Everything Communications to speak to us about ways to make website your more valuable to your business. 
Todd Abbott
 
Tod shared the two ways to make your website more valuable to your business. The first area includes: marketing, gaining new customers and retaining and upgrading current customers. There is the opportunity to add new customers. Also, there is the value added for providing customers with things that non-customers do not get. An example is the chiropractor who put videos and exercise diagrams for patients to use. The website can also be equipped with convenient ways for customers to record information and reserve or sign up for things they want from you company. In some cases you can allow people to create an estimate of pricing for goods or services that customer wants. 
The second area of value is ways to leverage your business assets to provide interesting things that will pique the interest of current or prospective customers. In addition, information rich companies can provide a sampler of what they offer to get people to subscribe to their services. 

Tod made an excellent presentation that generated many questions and increased understanding of some of the things associated with effective websites. Thanks Tod and Happy Birthday. Tod raffled a book that Tracy won.
 
Today’s Lottery Winner: Neal had his ticket pulled for a chance at winning the pot and selected cats-eye marble winning the bottle of wine.  Next Week the pot is worth $170. 
 
Interact Corner by Gary Buffon – Rotary Advisor to Interact: 
The Interact Club is busy with the Black and White Dance, getting the new board members up to speed and planning the next trip to a grammar school. Two Interact teams are going to the Danville Rotary Bowl-A-Thon to participate in the fund raiser for building a women’s hospital in the Congo.

Thought for Week:
The man who gets the most satisfactory results is not always the man with the most brilliant single mind, but rather the man who can best coordinate the brains and talents of his associates.
--W. Alton Jones