ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.
Don Saracen presented the club with a banner from the Rotary Club of Hamilton, MT where he recently made up.

 

Boston Pops is coming up 6/6/19 and tickets are going fast. Please see Paul Segal or Walter Adamowicz if you want to attend. $85 includes bus, light dinner and great seats for the music of Nat King Cole.

 

Pete Brock introduced Susan Kaplan (wife of longtime Rotarian Richard Kaplan) as chairwoman of our new Gala fundraiser. The dinner event will be held at the Marriott, date to be determined this Fall. There will be a meeting for those interested in volunteering for the event next week following our club meeting. If you are interested in volunteering, see Pete or plan to stick around after the meeting next week.

 

The District Conference will be held in Danvers on May 3 and 4. This will be a compressed schedule and will be a combined conference with 4 other districts. Details and registration at www.Rotary7950.com 

 

HAPPY BUCKS
Margaret Kane back from FL.

  

Don Saracen--$ great to see Susan Kaplan and thanks for agreeing to chair the gala.

 

Pete Brock--$5 for Susan Kaplan’s chairwomanship and his new grand puppy.

 

Walter Adamowicz--$ to thank volunteers Pete Brock and Holly Applegate for stepping up to take over the annual Boston Pops event.

 

Bob Murphy--$20 for thank you’s from 20 kids to whom he delivered dictionaries.

 

Avram and Maxine Cohen--$ each for Liz Messier and her work on the latest Barker Playhouse show.

 

Barry Fain—enjoyed $recent trips to CA and FL

 

Geoff Gaunt--$ to praise the care his stepfather is receiving.

 

Richard Applebaum--$$$ for Susan Kaplan, our speaker, Billy Roberts, and for a weekend with Hilary.

 

District Membership Chair Billy Roberts opened by asking members to stand and tell him one thing they like about Rotary.  Several Rotarians responded that they enjoyed gathering with friends at weekly lunches, learning new jokes, the educational and speaker programs, a connection with others around the world, and service above self. 

 

He then asked why we were not sharing this with friends and colleagues and inviting them to join Rotary. He noted that if we don’t start growing now, we will slide towards nonexistence in the not-to-distant future.

 

Billy asked us to challenge barriers to growth that may remain as part of our legacy. Examples included our membership process, which is cumbersome and slows down the acceptance of those who are interested in joining the club, as well as attendance requirements. 

 

He encouraged us to make Rotary inclusive rather than exclusive. We have a great story to tell, but in order to grow, we need to get out there and tell it.