February 16th, 2022 Newsletter
President Mona started with the Rotary Minute:
The motto of Rotarians is “Service above Self”. It reminds Rotarians to think of how they can help others instead of selfish thoughts. The motto originated when Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, asked Rotarian Frank Collins to address the participants of the second annual Rotary Convention. The year was 1911. Frank Collins, a fruit merchant from Minneapolis, in the impromptu speech, told how his club had used the phrase “Service, Not Self” as a motto and that it was fundamental to them as to what it meant to be a Rotarian. The speech and the motto struck a chord with all the Rotarians. It really did neatly sum up in their words what Rotary, at its core, was all about. The Convention participants took the motto back to their own clubs and soon it captured the imaginations of all Rotarians.
Over time, the motto evolved to “Service Above Self”. At the 1950 Rotary Convention, the motto was officially adopted. Frank Collins’ simple idea remains as evocative today as it was over 100 years ago.
Interestingly, Frank Collins’ Minneapolis Rotary Club was also one of the first clubs to have weekly luncheon meetings. They have become a fixture of most Rotary clubs the world over.
Quotes: “Rotary takes ordinary men and women and gives them extraordinary opportunities to do more with their lives than they ever dreamed possible.”
Greeter: Will Shakespeare
Sargent-at-Arms: Dan
Next Week’s Greater: KJ
Next Week’s Scribe: Nick
Next Week Sargent-at-Arms: John
Next Week’s Speaker: Sadie
March 2nd Speaker: Lisa
Birthdays: Staci (It’s me!)
Anniversaries: None
Student Rotarians: Ava Whitney & Bre Tczacky
Ava: Begins Youth at Work program today.
Bre: FBLA competition begins soon via Zoom. Will go to Atlanta for the national competition if they win.
Announcements:
We need to somehow replace Bethany since she’s fleeing to New Jersey at the end of March for what can only be nefarious reasons.
Toni will form a committee to coordinate splitting out the Secretarial duties.
These include:
Note taking during board meetings/Taking attendance/Maintaining memberships/Maintaining scribe list/Purchasing Rotary swag/Posting insurance forms/Acquiring the Paul Harris fellowship gift
Will and Staci will help Toni ensure these tasks are assigned or completed.
KJ and Katja will take over computer/Zoom responsibilities
Cards: Per usual, we’re all losers.
Brags:
Dan: Trivia and how challenging it can be
Staci: The Feb. 14th trivia was well attended and raised ~$450 for the CRC.
Josh (Shared with Noon Club): Refugee Project – Jim, Deb, Katja & Josh delivered treats to our sponsor family from Afghanistan. The family is lovely and settling into what will be their home for the next 6 months. Kids (7, 8 & 11) are learning English. If we meet the family around town, Josh recommends saying “Salam Alaikum” which means “Peace be upon you” in their language.
Katja will send out a Sign-Up Genius form to volunteer for driving duties of Refugees.
Club Assembly:
Welcome Center Event: We need a morning and afternoon crew for a total of ~ 8 people. We will request the June 4th, 11th & 18th dates and see what we get.
Suggestions for Additional Projects: Minimal since Covid has hit us hard and the majority of current members are active in other projects. However, most people are amenable to more social events.
As an example, we agreed that having one evening meeting per month is a good idea and will potentially give those with morning conflicts a chance to attend.
Josh sent an e-mail to all members to encourage us to bring in 1 person over the next 3 months. Rotarians should be active sponsors/mentors to new members.
Meeting End: Mona ended meeting with Four Way Test.