Excelsior Rotary Holds Club Assembly
Posted by Steve Frazier
The Excelsior Rotary Club held its Club assembly on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Guests attending the meeting and pictured with Noon President Dick Glover (center) were Austin Kraft-AM Club President, Chip Chenney-AM Club Fundraiser, Ted Waltz-Guest of Woody Love, and Ross McGlasson-Assistant District Governor. It was noted that this was Election Day and everyone was reminded to vote in the School Board Election.
I. President Dick Glover called the Club Assembly to order. Assistant Governor Ross McGlasson suggested a fundraiser for Kids Against Hunger. The idea would be to have a joint fundraiser between the two clubs to sponsor a given night of "Funny Money" play at the Old Log Theater. The fundraising idea will be discussed at the December Board Meeting. Ross reviewed the importance of Kids Against Hunger and how it only costs 14 cents a meal because all the workers are volunteers. He reminded the noon club members that they would be working at Mount Calvary on Tuesday, November 10th and that the group would not be having a meal and fasting and the proceeds would go towards paying for the bulk food ingredients to be packaged at the event. He also mentioned that the competition between the two clubs is on again this year and the AM Club has already completed their packaging and intends to beat the noon club this year! All kidding aside the food packaged by both clubs will go to feed the people of Haiti. So remember to meet at Mt. Calvary at noon on Tuesday, November 10th.
II. The second assembly item was this year's Warm Hearts, Heads and Hands Service Project. Rather than go with the District promotion Excelsior Rotary will do our own outreach. Just Prior to the assembly the Board approved an expenditure of $1000 for the project. Karen Frazier told members that our club would provide hats, gloves, scarves and children's hats and gloves sets to Family Resources West and the Simpson Shelter and members will be asked to go an help at both locations to distribute the warm clothing and to help at both locations as part of the service project. She brought several garments for members to see and feel the quality for just $1 each!
III. The Assembly's third discussion item was the Club's Budget for this year and how it relates to our newly formed Club Foundation that is a non-profit corporation. Dick explained that the Board had set the Budget at the meeting prior to the assembly that includes everything except charitable giving. Charitable giving of the club will now go through the foundation in a three step process: 1) Ideas of members will be brought to the Board and acted upon; 2) The Board will make recommendations to the Foundation Board of Trustees; 3) The Trustees will meet and make the charitable donations. Charities can be funded for up to three years. Glover asked if any members had ideas for charitable giving this year and several were mentioned: 1. Reading Enhancement Program by Chris Lizee, 2. The Dictionary Project is already slated for this year by Dick Glover and Karen Frazier; 3. Teen challenge by Bob Humphrey; and the charities that were part of the Golf/Auction Fundraiser earlier this fall that includes the ICA, MHS Scholarships and the Shorewood Community/Senior Center.
IV. Next the Assembly heard from Don Draayer who explained the role of the Club Foundation and how it takes care of the funds for charitable giving. He reminded the Club that everyone is a member of the Foundation and so recommendations for grants can come from the Board and/or members. He also explained that on November 24th the Club will vote on a Club Foundation Bylaw Amendment to Foundation Board members "Trustees" rather than "Directors". Don also noted that there is some $30,000 in a CD from Happy Bucks that can be used for scholarships. The Lee Paris Fund is now over $86,000 but the Foundation will keep a fund corpus of $75,000 which has some $11,000 in interest that is available for charitable programs and grants. Don's final thought was that Dean Freisen should be recognized for his good work in organizing and defining the accounts for the Club and the Foundation.
V. Dick called on Terry Roeser to explain the Club Assembly item dealing with the Christmas Party. She announced that the party would be on December 11th at the Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista. It is going to be an old fashioned Christmas with comfort food catered by Bay View. Attire for the event will be jeans and warm clothing. There will be a bon fire and hopefully sleigh rides.
VI. Next Bob Williams reported that the Visionary Committee would be making its report to the Club in January about recommendations for the Future of the Excelsior Rotary Club.
VII. Two members requested clarification about the process of making proposals for charitable giving and in what form. Dick explained that ideas could be submitted to any Board member for consideration at a Board Meeting. They can be verbal or in writing but he recommended that they be in writing and include a budget. He also reiterated the three-year limit but noted that the Foundation has an escape clause that can allow continuous funding for projects that are the exception to the rule.
VIII. The final item of the Club Assembly came from Woody Love noting that ICA had bought out Thursday, November 12th's evening performance at the Old Log and that any member wanting to attend should contact him for tickets and urged members to also make a generous donation to ICA. President Glover called the Club Assembly adjourned and reminded members to meet a Mount Calvary next Tuesday for the Kids Against Hunger Service Project.
II. The second assembly item was this year's Warm Hearts, Heads and Hands Service Project. Rather than go with the District promotion Excelsior Rotary will do our own outreach. Just Prior to the assembly the Board approved an expenditure of $1000 for the project. Karen Frazier told members that our club would provide hats, gloves, scarves and children's hats and gloves sets to Family Resources West and the Simpson Shelter and members will be asked to go an help at both locations to distribute the warm clothing and to help at both locations as part of the service project. She brought several garments for members to see and feel the quality for just $1 each!
III. The Assembly's third discussion item was the Club's Budget for this year and how it relates to our newly formed Club Foundation that is a non-profit corporation. Dick explained that the Board had set the Budget at the meeting prior to the assembly that includes everything except charitable giving. Charitable giving of the club will now go through the foundation in a three step process: 1) Ideas of members will be brought to the Board and acted upon; 2) The Board will make recommendations to the Foundation Board of Trustees; 3) The Trustees will meet and make the charitable donations. Charities can be funded for up to three years. Glover asked if any members had ideas for charitable giving this year and several were mentioned: 1. Reading Enhancement Program by Chris Lizee, 2. The Dictionary Project is already slated for this year by Dick Glover and Karen Frazier; 3. Teen challenge by Bob Humphrey; and the charities that were part of the Golf/Auction Fundraiser earlier this fall that includes the ICA, MHS Scholarships and the Shorewood Community/Senior Center.
IV. Next the Assembly heard from Don Draayer who explained the role of the Club Foundation and how it takes care of the funds for charitable giving. He reminded the Club that everyone is a member of the Foundation and so recommendations for grants can come from the Board and/or members. He also explained that on November 24th the Club will vote on a Club Foundation Bylaw Amendment to Foundation Board members "Trustees" rather than "Directors". Don also noted that there is some $30,000 in a CD from Happy Bucks that can be used for scholarships. The Lee Paris Fund is now over $86,000 but the Foundation will keep a fund corpus of $75,000 which has some $11,000 in interest that is available for charitable programs and grants. Don's final thought was that Dean Freisen should be recognized for his good work in organizing and defining the accounts for the Club and the Foundation.
V. Dick called on Terry Roeser to explain the Club Assembly item dealing with the Christmas Party. She announced that the party would be on December 11th at the Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista. It is going to be an old fashioned Christmas with comfort food catered by Bay View. Attire for the event will be jeans and warm clothing. There will be a bon fire and hopefully sleigh rides.
VI. Next Bob Williams reported that the Visionary Committee would be making its report to the Club in January about recommendations for the Future of the Excelsior Rotary Club.
VII. Two members requested clarification about the process of making proposals for charitable giving and in what form. Dick explained that ideas could be submitted to any Board member for consideration at a Board Meeting. They can be verbal or in writing but he recommended that they be in writing and include a budget. He also reiterated the three-year limit but noted that the Foundation has an escape clause that can allow continuous funding for projects that are the exception to the rule.
VIII. The final item of the Club Assembly came from Woody Love noting that ICA had bought out Thursday, November 12th's evening performance at the Old Log and that any member wanting to attend should contact him for tickets and urged members to also make a generous donation to ICA. President Glover called the Club Assembly adjourned and reminded members to meet a Mount Calvary next Tuesday for the Kids Against Hunger Service Project.