August Board Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Gallipolis Rotary Club met on Tuesday, August 4, at 8:00 am in the Doctors’ Dining Room of Holzer Clinic. Attending were Resty Alonzo, Paul Koch, Shirley Doss, Debbie Rhodes, PDG Mel Simon, VP Lou Ellen Werry, Secretary Chuck Clark, and President Bonnie McFarland. Missing were Marlin Rose Debbie Saunders, Shawn Siders, and Jodie Anderson.
In the first order of business consisted of a letter from Holzer Center For Cancer Care for support for a community for school backpacks and supplies for needy children in our county. After discussion Shirley Doss moved the club donate $100 to this worthwhile project. PDG Mel Simon seconded the motion. Motion carried.
The next item for discussion concerned the repair of the sidewalk at the Gallia Senior Resource Center. Director Shirley Doss indicated that several bids were obtained and the cost to the club would be $350.00. Resty Alonzo made the motion that the club move forward with the project and PDG Mel Simon seconded. Motion carried.
The board discussed the French 500 Free Medical Clinic which was today’s program at the club meeting. This is an important project that our club should be funding because it is local and helping local residents. Club members could be involved in some behind the scenes work, helping with forms, clean-up, etc. Resty Alonzo moved the club provide $500 to support this project and Chuck Clark seconded. Motion carried.
President Bonnie read a recent email from District Governor Ram Gawande asking that our DG be informed of any and all grants the club is pursuing. We have currently applied for a District Simplified Grant to continue our Books For Schools project.
Our President asked for each of the officers or directors to take a moment to report on their area of responsibility. Marlin Rose is our Membership Committee Chair and will be having a program this month regarding membership promotion. Under the By-Laws Committee, Bonnie asked Past President Deb Rhodes to clarify how club nominations and elections are handled. We are trying to get better organized and all committees should have a new member involved to help ‘learn the ropes’ about Rotary.
More effort will be focused on public relations and getting our club’s name out to the community. Chair Persons, Deb Saunders and John Ellison will be providing more pictures for the local paper and looking for new and innovative ways to bring attention to Gallipolis Rotary.
Paul Koch reported on the plans for the upcoming Bob Evans Farm Festival which is our club’s primary fund raising activity. Paul reported on some of the improvements which will be made in our tent. Having dedicated cashier positions worked well last year and will be implemented this year.
In our Treasurer’s absence, President Bonnie suggested it would be helpful to our members to have a brief report from our Treasurer at the meeting following each board meeting. This will keep everyone knowledgeable about the financial position of the club.
The Nominating Committee needs to work up a slate of candidates for officers and directors as the election will be coming up in November. The Presidents’ Council of the Gallipolis Rotary Club is a great resource of history for the board and should be tapped.
Chuck Clark mentioned the club should have a new web page shortly as Jodie Anderson has a design in mind. Be looking for the new site.
Finally, President Bonnie led a discussion about membership attendance and retention. We have a few folks who pay dues, but do not take part in any club activities. To have a successful club, we need members to attend regularly and make up missed absences at any of our neighboring clubs. Our club needs to move toward more stricter observance of attendance and our leave of absence policy. We want to avoid RINO’s—Rotarian in name only!
The meeting was adjourned.