Blair Rotary Newsletter
"SERVICE Above Self"
General News
Club Assembly - Tuesday, September 27th. Club Officers please prepare your quarterly reports and plan to meet at 11:30. Items for the club to discuss will be the trail marker project, youth exchange, nominees for Nebraskan of the Year and club membership.
Congratulations to our newest Paul Harris Fellow, Jim Nelson. Jim received his recognition at the September 20th meeting. Club members are reminded that there are matching funds available from the club to become a Paul Harris Fellow - contact Sarah Chatt for details.
A sign up sheet will be available at club meetings to help at Joseph's Coat. Please check your schedules and be prepared to sign up for a time and date. Any time that you might have to volunteer will be appreciated. Also, you are encouraged to bring along food for the food pantry when you work at the store. Please remember this is a club sponsored project and will count as a make-up if you volunteer to help out.
In addition to helping out at the store, Joseph's Coat is also looking for volunteers to help with delivery of items. If you have the ability to help please contact LuAnne Patak.
The Blair Lions Club has accepted our offer to help with marking on the Blair Trails project. The project will be discussed at the upcoming Club Assembly.
Club members are reminded they can do make-ups on the web: http://www.rotaryeclub7890.org/makeup.htm
Foundation News
Our district leaders have been working on creative ways to boost interest and giving to the Rotary Foundation Annual Programs Fund (APF). District 5650 fell short of its goal in 2004-2005 and there was wide disparity in giving among the clubs. Statistics show that one-half of the district's membership failed to contribute to the APF last year.
In response to this lower than desired giving, an Annual Giving Club Challenge has been established which will create a competition among clubs in the district. Clubs have been matched based on their past annual giving, location and size. The Blair Rotary Club has been paired up with the Ashland Rotary Club. Points are earned for contributions to the APF only. Points are awarded to the club which has contributed the most, per capita, to the APF. Last year our club contributed $2,293 to the APF, the Ashland Club's 16 members contributed $2,014 - needless to say we have a significant challenge ahead of us.
Thoughts to keep in mind: Rotary International has a $100 million budget. There are currently 1.22 million Rotarians worldwide, which means every Rotarian would need to contribute $82 per year to meet the budget. In order to be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow a person must contribute a cumulative total of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation, this amount has not changed since 1954. Adjusted for inflation that amount would be approximately $7,000 today.
Blair Rotary Student of the Month
Chris Reznicek, son of Tamera and William Reznicek of Blair, was recognized as the Blair Rotary Student of the Month for August. Chris has been involved in numerous co-curricular activities at the Blair High School including: FBLA (President 2005); National Honor Society (Treasurer 2005); Band Member (numerous awards, medals and superior ratings in competition); Church Band Member; Spanish Club; Science Club; Tri-M Member; Quiz Bowl; Jazz Band; UNL Math Day; Cornhusker Boys' State; Peter Kiewit Institute Academy of Excellence and a volunteer in the community with over 100 hours of service per year. Chris plans to attend UNO next fall and is interested in majoring in chemical or electrical engineering in addition to music. As a Blair Rotary Student of the Month, Chris will receive a $300 scholarship to be used for educational expenses next fall.
Notes from the September 20th Meeting - Program Chair - Mark Rhoades
Mark's gust for the day was Terry Gilfry, Executive Director of the Blair Family YMCA. Terry grew up in Fremont and has had a connection with the YMCA organization his entire life. Prior to coming to Blair, Terry served with the YMCA in McPherson, Kansas and Beatrice, Nebraska. Terry feels that Blair is very fortunate to have the size and quality of the Blair YMCA program. However, we can't become complacent in what we do and we must continually look for ways in which we can improve.
The YMCA is a mission driven organization as evidenced in its mission statement:
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for Blair and the surrounding communities, regardless of ability to pay.
In addition to the mission statement the YMCA promotes several core values, among them are caring, honesty and respect.
The Blair YMCA is available to all Blair citizens and particularly the local youth. For example, no Blair youth will be turned away for inability to pay and one of the goals of the Blair program is to teach all 2nd graders how to swim. Another popular program, serving over 100 local youth, is the "Before and After School Day Care".
The current total membership in the Blair YMCA is between 4500 and 4600 individuals and families. This number has remained steady over the past several years and there is currently a membership drive in place. Additional membership is needed to help provide support for the programs and operational needs of the facility. In the next three to five years there will be a need to expand the facility due to growth and program needs. Additionally, there will continue to be the need to replace and repair exercise equipment.
If you would like additional information on the Blair Family YMCA please call them at 533-9622 or visit their website at: www.blairymca.org
Rotary Question of the Week
What are the goals for District 5650 for the 2005-2006 Rotary Year?
Rotary Fact of the Week (from the RI Website)
The following are the District 5650 goals for the 2005-2006 Rotary Year:
Thought of the Week
"Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have." H.
Jackson Brown, Jr.
September Birthdays
Bob Hill, 20th
SERVICE Above Self!