Please join us at Odd Fellows Hall, 218 Concession Street, Kingston ON.
The Rotary Four Way Test
Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned
Rotary Reflection
For food in a world where many walk in hunger
For peace in a world where many walk in fear
For friends in a world where many walk alone
And for the opportunity to serve others through Rotary,
May we be truly thankful!
The Loyal Toast
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Queen of Canada!
Acknowledgement of Territory
We are gathered on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. we are grateful to be able to join together in Rotary Fellowship on these lands.
Makeups: Bernie Allard, Greg Mumford - Heritage Fair; Ana Sutherland, Heather Nogrady - Spirit Day celebration
Member Sharing
Fun Master - Bill Egnatoff
Before lightening our wallets, Bill noted a front page article of Whig - a story about a Queen's student he hopes in involve in Adventure in History. Bill also thanked Ana for her membership discussion – we know the stories of each other through membership. Then Bill offered up a quiz about the book Drawdown on climate change. We had to rank the solutions for climate change – some guessed right, some wrong, generating money for the coffers. To take the quiz yourself, go to
Bill offered his own for the start of Adventure in History planning.
Greg Mumford – 2 week cruise in the Baltic with Norway as a highlight. They are targeting 50 % electric cars in the near future
Ed– on a mothers day trip to Guelph their car died as a mouse chewed the air filter. But they eventually made it.
John Richards – Update Murray Cotton - he's still in hospital with a minor complication but should be home soon.
Rick Fiedorec– for Heritage Fair plaque, other thank-yous the club has received
Service Activities
Ana announced the Spirit Day celebration was a great success with Heather also attending. Also, the Heritage Fair was a great success as well, with Bernie, Greg, and others attending.
Club Business
Announcements
May 16th - National Committee meeting, The Sanctuary, 8 am
May 23rdGiggles, Grapes & Brew; Kingston Club fundraiser
May 23rd - Youth Committee meeting at Sizzles, 7 am
May 24th Almost Home Annual Charity Golf Tournament 1PM shot-gun start, $130 per golfer or per team
May 28th – Pat Brown classification speech - "A Life in Rotary"
June 11th - Mayor’s Address at Seniors Centre on Francis Street will replace our regular meeting. 7AM breakfast and your meeting cards can be used or cash at the door.
June 12thBoard meeting at Response IT at 7am
June 19th - Auction Committee, Kingston Dodge, 5 pm, cookies provided
August 1stCamp Merrywood BBQ
Chase the Ace!
Murray won the draw but no joy so the pot continues to build.
President-Elect Ana spoke on behalf of the Membership Committee this morning. Like other clubs, we have more members leaving than coming in. This is a club issue, not just a Membership Committee issue. We need to speak to people about our work in Rotary to inspire them to join. We have a nice new home, and need more members to do projects and give us the energy a vital club needs. And of course we learn from others when they become new members (and keep learning from them).
We have many unfilled areas teachers, lawyers (yes more lawyers) and many other classifications. How do we recruit effectively? We have a new invitation letter, which will be shared with club members. It is personalized and we can discuss the classes of Rotary Membership when a guest shows interest.
Several questions and suggestions from the membership followed;
Should the letter be a "cold call"? Maybe contact first the person first then use the letter as a follow-up a follow-up? (Heather Nogrady)
Bill Egnatoff – who should we contact? Can you give us suggestions?
Greg Mumford – personalize the letters so it doesn’t look like a form letter – agreed, it will be from the member personally.
Anita- why are we losing members? Health issues, relocation, long time members retire from Rotary – life has changed, and we do have the conversations (exit interview). There is usually a huge reason outside of not liking the club.
Ana - Friends of Rotary add a huge value to our club. Committee chairs can use their talents. We are already seeing that!
Greg Mumford – what could the club do to not have someone leave? How can we make Rotary higher priority in a busy world?
Ana - the situation was discussed at the District Assembly – we could give people choices? What club to belong to. Membership Committees from all clubs might meet to help with this.
President Rick – the next few years are going to be really exciting! National projects, Rotary 2021, local grants, International grants, Pathways project. We do so much as a club, and we’re reluctant to give something up. Could we go without Nut Drive and cash calendars? 10 Nut Drive meetings for Rick. We don’t get much from them.
Sitting at 29 members, 4 friends, 12 Honourary Members. 3 don’t attend at all. Maybe transition them to Friend of Rotary?
1 applicant for membership at present. Still need 24 paying each week to break even.
Bernie – wear your Rotary pin. We’re not known so much in Kingston.
John Gale – meetings are nice but we need to identify what motivates people. That’s what keeps members.
Ana – learning about Rotary takes a long time!
Greta – use Foundation Walks contacts to talk about our club? We would need permission first
Heather – mailing list of donors to send updates? Again, we need permission first.
Anita – we need to insist on promotion when grants are given through the recipients' networks.
Patty – ask them to please use our stickers/logo on website, plaques, naming things
Ana – let us know when you send out letters
All agreed the letter was a good start for recruiting.
