Dear Friends,

I hope you will join me in welcoming back our Club Bulletin - initially planned to come out semi-monthly.  Don Polk has agreed to take on this task and will be looking for your input on what you would like to see.  Please let him know and offer any help that you can.

 

Since I am away much of the year, it was felt that I really needed to serve as President for 2 years to make up for lost time.  As a result you are stuck with me until the end of 2024!  If you have not done so in the recent past, please consider serving as a future President (only 1 year required).  Our bylaws do require you to have previously sat on the Board, so this would be a first step.

 

We continue our monthly meeting format established last year of; Pub Meeting, Speaker Meeting, Community Service Work Meeting, Speaker Meeting and, when there is a 5th Wednesday in any month, something fun for us to do together.  Speaker meetings will start at 6:15 while the outside meetings may have an earlier start.  Check the calendar on our website (kfrotary.org) or load the Club Runner App on your phone to have access to upcoming events.  If you dread loading one more app on your phone, one of our members can help.

 

In spite of some funding challenges discussed below, we are looking forward to a revitalised program in 2023-24.  Don Polk has begun implementation of some bold new ideas for Youth Service, Greta and her committee are exploring new International projects in Nepal, South Africa and Brazil while continuing to support our current partners in Tanzania, and Arja is looking to form stronger relationships with existing local partners while welcoming new requests under both Community Service and the Environment.  Our Service projects will be supported by our traditional fund-raising efforts of Bingo, Nut Drive, MaxSold, Cash Calendars, and our Spring Fling event (Specifics in the works).  Don Taylor will continue to stick-handle our club operations to keep things running smoothly.

 

Reduced fundraising in the Covid years required the Board to set an initial Services budget approximately 25% less than in previous years, reducing our financial donations across the board until we can better-evaluate our fundraising in the first part of the year.  Our Canada Day BBQ (set up by Douglas) was our first such initiative and strong Bingo revenues in the first half have enabled us to increase funding to near-normal full year levels for both Community Services and Youth Services projects.  In the second half, Aggie plans on having a few more fundraisers to help keep our financial position healthy.

 

We are down to 25 active members, although we're already benefiting from our dynamic new members.  Increasing active membership is a regular task of every club, and requires all of us to make it happen.  Please think about who you would like to have in our club and ask them out for a Wednesday evening.

 

Finally, in January, we recognize the Rotary anniversary of 3 dedicated and long-serving club members:

Congratulations and many thanks for your years of distinguished Rotary service in the Kingston-Frontenac club!

 

Peter