President’s Message August 8, 2011
Dear fellow Rotarians,
Ralph, Joe, Megan, Judy, and I attended the Rotary Seminar at Pellissippi State Community College on Saturday. We received a thorough review of Membership, Rotary Foundation, and New Generational avenues of service. The pertinent takeaways are listed below and I commend them to your attention.
MEMBERSHIP: August is membership month. Rotary International membership is lagging, as is our club membership. Membership is the mainstay of our club-we need to build a strong team of Rotarians to do the work of the club. I am calling on Jeff, Rhonda, Joe, Bob, and Tifton to recommend a strategy that will enable the club to get behind their committee and increase and maintain our membership. Our focus will be on identifying solid qualified and diverse candidates, and providing the support they need to become ROTARIANS, and not just members of Rotary
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION: A Group Study Exchange trip to Thailand, District 3350, is planned. Team leader applications are due Sept. 23 and Team member applications on Oct. 11 of this year. One District 6780 Rotarian will lead the four member team selected to visit Thailand, leaving on May 1, 2012 and returning to Tennessee on May 28, 2012. Rolf will search our community for eligible team members.
If you know of any one that you think would be interested in this opportunity of a LIFE CHANGING event, please recommend them to Rolf. Rolf will have all the pertinent qualifying info, as well as application forms for applicants.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards: RYLA is a seminar program designed to encourage and recognize leadership abilities of youth and young adults. Megan has firm control of the annual trip to Crossville and would be delighted to share with you the personal rewards of association, sponsoring and traveling with these bright future Rotarians. Don’t wait for her to solicit your help. Reap the JOY of volunteering and serving your community. There are also opportunities to participate through “Goody Bags” and Door Prizes”. Check it out on Facebook, RYLA District 6780. These kids are our future.
Youth Exchange: The value of a sojourn to a foreign land cannot be over estimated! It broadens the scope of any persons practical education. Rotary offers the opportunity of exchange travel to youth between the ages of 15 and 19 years old. A year abroad before entering college is an amazing opportunity. Shorter trips are also available. This is another way to get involved and to enjoy the fruits of volunteering.
Ron Lukat will help any of our youth who qualify for the experiences to take advantage of the Rotary Youth Exchange program.
These service programs offer some hands opportunities for building relationships with our community from ages 15 through 40 just by extending the hand of Rotary and adding value to young lives. I hope you will add that same value to your Gatlinburg Rotary lives.
As ever,
Jim E