General News                                                                                                                   

Please reserve the date of June 22nd for the annual Blair Rotary Golf Tournament.  Begin now to form your teams!

Reminder: attendance should be at least 60%, if you can't make a meeting you can do a make-up on the web at the following address:  http://www.rotaryeclub7890.org/makeup.htm 

Notes from April 24th Meeting- Program Chair - Mark Rhoades

Mark's program guest was Terry Gilfry, Executive Director of the Blair Family YMCA.  Terry talked about the Blair YMCA's current capital fundraising campaign to raise $2.5 million in gifts and 3-year pledges.  A campaign feasibility study undertaken in the fall of 2006 indicated that a capital campaign was necessary and that a goal of $2.5 million would be reasonable.  Accordingly, the Blair Family YMCA Board of Directors has commissioned Capital Campaign 2007 with a goal of raising the funds to retire the debt on the facility which was opened in 2002 and provide funding for several additions and improvements.

The current 46,000 square foot facility features a large (10,200 square foot) double gymnasium, an L-shaped swimming pool with a zero-depth entry and a 6-lane competitive swimming area, a large Fitness Center including free weights and cardio equipment, an aerobics room, women's and men's locker rooms, an infant care room, a children's activity room, a senior center/community room, and a Board Room/meeting room.  The cost to build the facility was $5.1 million.  At the present time there is a mortgage of $1.9 million which needs to be paid down over the next 3-4 year period so that the YMCA can operative more effectively.  In addition to the debt retirement the campaign also provides funding for additional parking, enhancements to the pool and hot tub, and improvements to the Youth Activities Room.

The Blair YMCA is a vital component of the community and provides a multitude of services for local citizens.  Membership has grown from a total of 2006 in 2002 to currently 4,900 total members representing 1,600 membership units. The Blair YMCA offers dozens of programs including day camp for kids, development programs for healthy lifetime recreation, before and after school programs - in total there are more than 100 programs available for youth, childcare, adults and seniors.  If you would like additional information on the campaign please contact Terry at the YMCA 402-533-9622.  Additional information regarding the Blair Family YMCA can be found by going tot he following website:  www.blairymca.org.                  

Rotary Question of the Week

What program did the 2007 Council on Legislation vote to continue as Rotary's corporate program of the highest order?

Rotary Fact of the Week (from  the RI or District Website)

Rotary’s parliament determined to hold fast with Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio in its second full day of voting at the 2007 Council on Legislation in Chicago, where representatives from 530 Rotary districts around the world gathered to discuss and vote on more than 300 items that affect all Rotary clubs.

RI Director Kwang Tae Kim proposed, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, to maintain PolioPlus as Rotary’s corporate program of the highest order. “Until it is eradicated, we should not select another corporate program,” he told Council members. “So far we have 99 percent eradication. We have only one last percent.”

Thought of the Week

"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." Henry Ford (1863-1947)

April Birthdays
Lana Pleak 7th
Mary Jean Rahlfs 5th
Chris Boswell 17th
Mick Jensen 27th
Janet Philipp 29th