Posted by Rita Brown on May 16, 2019
Here are the highlights from the May 14 board meeting.
Call to Order       Paul Swartz
Swartz called the meeting to order at 11:38 AM with the following Board Members present:   Ken Dysert, Peg Ehora, John Ficorilli, Susan Hubbell, Tracie Sanchez, Catheryn Sarno, Theresa Schnipke, Jeff Tracy and Anne Decker.  Also incoming Board Members Carol Buettner and Jeff Fitzgerald along with Secretary Rita Brown, and guest Sydni Truesdale.
 
Secretary’s Report Rita Brown
Sarno made a motion to approve the Board Minutes from the April 9, 2019 meeting.   Dysert seconded the motion.  Board approved.
 
Attendance report
April ended with 170 members.  It included orientation and induction of seven members with one resigning.  Attendance was at 45.43% which was up from last month and the highest for the year.
 
President's Report                                                                                                               Paul Swartz
Annual Meeting Update                                                             
Dick Schroeder, along with a selected committee, will work on the revision of the Club’s by-laws.
 
District Meeting Update                                                             
Swartz recently returned from the District Conference and stated membership continues to drop in Rotary and other Service Clubs on a world-wide basis.  Last year the organization lost 55,000 members and gained 41,000.  Swartz plans to invite a group of younger members to a roundtable and hold a brainstorming session on attracting younger members.
 
Small Project Committee Update                                              
The first project scheduled had to be cancelled as there was not enough participation.  The Committee will plan a few more projects before the fiscal year ends.  One option discussed was working at the Food Bank.  In addition, providing more detail about what the work will entail was suggested and switching to a Friday vs. the weekend could help participation.  
 
District Grants Applications -   Due by July 1                                                        
Dick Schroeder will be writing the grant requests this year.  At this time, a grant will be submitted for the amphitheater. 
 
EREY/Paul Harris Educate the Club Update  
In order for members to have a better understanding of EREY and Paul Harris, Dick Schroeder and Dave Frost will begin holding monthly educational trainings on Rotary International and the steps necessary to become a Paul Harris Fellow.
 
Board Reports   All Board Members
Art Space Update                                                                                                          Peggy Ehora 
The Club has been doing Rally in the Square for the past two years with the goal of having more of a presence in the community.  This summer, the Rotary Club will sponsor the week-long Art Camp and also be a half sponsor for one of the Rally in the Square events. 
 
Golf Outing Update                                                                                                      Jed Metzger
Metzger stated the event is organized but it still needs more volunteers. 
 
Scholarship Update                                                                                                      Rita Brown
The Scholarship Committee will be acknowledging the recipients at the May 20, 2019 meeting.  We will have awarded 1013 scholarships in the amount of $744,250.
 
Blood Drive Update                                                                                                     Tracie Sanchez
The Blood Clinic was held on Saturday May 4th.  Five hundred and sixty-six participated in the clinic which is down twenty from the previous year.  The event should net $40,000.
 
                Vice President Report           
District Meeting Update                                                                                             John Ficorilli
Ficorilli attended the District Conference from May 10 – May 12.  He stated the conference provided an informative mix of sessions on MESA, the District Warehouse activities along with Rotary International projects and activities.  Fund Raising was a primary topic.  He plans to attend other Rotary Club Fund Raising events.  He will provide an update to the Club Members.
 
New Business                                                                                                              Ken Dysert
2019 – 2020 Fiscal Year Monday Meeting Schedule and Cancellations
Dysert presented a calendar that highlighted the days the VMCC will be closed during the next fiscal year.
He also presented a proposed schedule of six Mondays when the Lima Rotary Club would not meet.  They include: 
  • Monday September 2, 2019  - Labor Day
  • Monday December  23, 2019  - Monday before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
  • Monday December 30, 2019 – Monday before New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
  • Monday January 20, 2020 – Martin  Luther King Holiday
  • Monday February 17, 2020 – Presidents Day
  • Monday May 25,  2020 – Memorial Day
Sanchez made a motion to approve the schedule as submitted.  Ehora seconded the motion.  Board approved. 
 
He suggested during the months that include five Mondays, the club consider going off-site for that fifth meeting.  Perhaps a tour of a company could be arranged or the meeting could be more of a social meeting.    Also Dysert suggested we consider moving the meeting to the City Club.  Parking options were discussed.  Dysert will speak with Abe Ambroza from the VMCC and bring the proposal to the club membership.
 
Resignations                                                                                                                    Rita Brown
  1. Dr. Debra McCurdy, Rhodes State
  2. Dr. Eric  Risolvato,  Lima Dental
Two resignations were received during the past month.  Sarno made a motion to accept the resignations of Dr. Debra McCurdy and Dr. Eric Risolvato with regret.  Metzger seconded.  Board approved.
 
Swartz adjourned the meeting at 12:40 PM. 
 
Respectfully submitted
Rita Brown, Club Secretary