El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel January 21, 2010

Editors:  Gary Buffon

Week of January 21, 2010     

(www.rotary5160.org)

www.elcerritorotary.org

President Tracy welcomed everyone to the Friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club. Sonja led the flag salute and Gary B provided the thought for the day.

Secretary John:  Asked Marty to introduce his friend Erica and Paul K to introduce his visitor Detective Scott, Gary B to introduce his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter Zoey.  Visiting Rotarians included David B of Danville Sycamore and Gary Boyle Asst Gov of the Hercules club.

4-Way Test Presentation:    Mark F. led us in reciting the 4-Way Test

Announcements:

•  Paul reminded us of the Crab Feed fundraiser for funding for the k-9 for ECPD asking for anyone who wants to provide raffle prizes for the 300+ attendees
• Jack reminded us of the GGFs crew for the Jan 24^th and the need for more people for the Feb 21^st date.

Happy dollars:  Mark F is $5 happy that he was able to get back to shore in a small boat during the storm yesterday.  Marty is $5 happy for the surgery on his dog had a positive effect.  Paul is happy for the storm because it is bringing snow to the ski areas.  Sonya is $10 happy that her Crimson Tide football team winning the National Championship.  Jack is $5 happy that Michael D is back with us.  Nobuko had a happy dollar for each of her twin grand babies for their 1^st birthday.

Sgt at Arms Nancy:  Not on duty today 

Paul Harris Fellowship presentations

DG Kilmer agreed to help Lee hand out the PHF awards for our club.  There were 15 of the awards because Lee had a November ½ price sale as many Rotarians took advantage of this opportunity. 

The awards were as follows:

First time recipients:  Blaine Davis, John Hoagland, Marty Kaliski, Karen Nierlich, Michael Chang, and Jane Del Simone

Second time recipients:  Tracy Giles, Pat Todhunter, Carol Freethy, Mark Scott, Kanti Patel, Steve Sadler, and Lee Prutton

Third time recipient:  Gary Buffon

Seven time recipient:  Jack Freethy

Family Recipient:  Zoey Ruth Backes Diaz – Gary Buffon’s granddaughter parents David and Sarah Diaz.  Charlie Weaver’s family

Group picture if the PHF’s who were in attendance

Today’s Program: 

President Tracy introduced DG Earl Kilmer who is a member of the Fairfield Suisun Noon club.   Earl in making his official to our club met with our club board and conveyed some very important information that I have summarized at the bottom of this bulletin.

Earl began his speech by providing us with the notion of how important it is to understand the relationship of the District leadership to our club.  In Rotary the clubs are where the action is and the District is there to provide support for the clubs.  The two main areas of focus for the 2009-10 year are Membership and the R/I Foundation.

Membership:

We are in a district that has sixty seven clubs and we all do the same things but do it in sixty seven ways.  What this means is that every club has a unique culture.  One thing we all do is retain members and find new members for our club.  Earl use the title of a book by Cliff Dochterman call the ABCs of Rotary. The book is available on the R/I website www.rotary.org and choose shop and search for ABCs of Rotary- it costs $3.50.  The ABCs stand for:  Activities, Bodies and Cash.  These major resources all Rotary clubs use that makes Rotary such a great organization.  Earl’s message, if you love Rotary then share it with others.  Bring a guest to lunch.  The data about the results of bringing someone to lunch is 50% results. 

Foundation:

How the money flows through the R/I Foundation is key to us all.  The example is as follows:  A Rotarian gives $100 to the R/I Foundation.  This money is kept for three years in the foundations investments and then $50 is sent back to the District from where it came for the clubs in the District to use for projects.  The other $50 is used for International projects.  What this means is that the R/I Foundation provides the cash that clubs can access for larger community and international projects.  Earl then concludes, if you love Rotary, you will make your $100 dollar (or more) contribution each year.

Tracy shows children’s book for a school being given in DG Earl’s honor

Today’s Lottery Winner:   Sonya had her ticket drawn and pulled a cat’s eye marble.   Next meeting the pot is $165.  In addition there were centerpieces on the table raffled of to Michael C, Sonya, Don, Dr. John and Gary A.

Thought for the Week:

It is necessary to the happiness of a man that he be mentally faithful to himself.

--Thomas Paine

Key Points of Info shared by DG Earl Kilmer at the meeting with Club Board:

-        There are many changes being made in Rotary so we will have to stay on top of these changes.  Our District is part of a zone that is piloting a lot of new projects. 

-        You can update your own information on the R/I Website

-        Check out the District 5160 website and see what is being developed.   We are one of the District’s that is a pilot working with R/I on a Global Update of websites -– The login is your email address and the Rotary ID number is your password

-        It is a good idea for every new Rotarian to have a Mentor along with their sponsor to help them get engaged in the club

-        Conduct an exit interview with every member we lose.

-        There are some significant changes being made to the Rotary Foundation Grant management process.  All grants of less that $25000 will ultimately be managed by Districts to make that process easier and less bureaucratic.

-        The District Assembly are no longer for training, they are facilitated meetings for information sharing so everyone is kept up to date changes taking place.  Be sure and attend the District Assembly so you can stay up on all things Rotary.