Posted by Beth Seibert on Jul 13, 2018
President Paul says, "Let's roll!"
Announcements From President Paul Swartz
  • Recognized Paul Crowe and Tuttle Construction for their recent Ohio Construction Safety and Excellence Awards.
  • Recognized Elizabeth Brown-Ellis and the Lima Symphony Orchestra $10,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts to expand kids programming.
  • Noted that at the end of July five to six Rotarians will be coming to Lima from India and host homes are being sought.
 
Paul Swartz Spoke About His Upcoming Year As President
  • He first thanked Tracie Sanchez for a phenomenal year.  Under her leadership, our club Received the President’s Citation Award.  And we were the only club in District 6600 to receive the Significant Achievement Award for our Homelessness and Opiate Project Grant.
  • He and his wife Carol make their home in the Elida community.  He is a 1979 graduate of Elida High School and a graduate of the Eastern Mennonite University where he majored in accounting and business management.
  • A favorite quote that he lives by is “You don’t know what you don’t know” and in that he admits that there is much he still has to learn about Rotary and this club but that he is relying on the strength of the members and the committees.
  • Project Focus this year will be:
    • The downtown Lima Amphitheater and Skate Park project is moving forward and the project is spearheaded by Rich Rudolph.
    • We are engaged in a project to replace the boardwalk at Kendrick Woods Park - that we originally funded in 1987.  Dave Runk is doing some grant writing for that initiative.
    • An extension of the Riverwalk is in the planning stages and being spearheaded by Roy Baldridge.
  • Paul recognized an extensive list of members giving leadership this year to the club as committee chairs, board members, and foundation members.
  • Club communications will continue to be enhanced.  He asked members to contact himself or Anne Decker to get enrolled in the reminder text message app.  Anne is also supporting Facebook Live videos at meetings and events.  Paul sees this as especially helpful for members who are snowbirds or otherwise traveling or periodically away to stay engaged.
  • Paul has two particular goals for the year.
    • He wants to see membership increased by 10%.  Membership now stands at about 166, so that means bringing in 17 new members.  He has an incentive plan that he will be rolling out, but he believes that “just asking people” is one of the most effective tools.  He shared another favorite quote, “you have not because you ask not."  Increasing membership is also a Rotary International (RI) President’s Goal.  Anne Decker is helping him with a membership brochure and he will also distribute an RI booklet titled “Rotary Basics."
    • Paul also wants to increase awareness among the club membership and the community about the Foundation Annual Fund.  Keeping the membership up to date throughout the year is something he feels is essential.
  • Paul reflected on the new RI theme “Be The Inspiration”.  The RI president is challenging Rotarians to inspire change in the world and each other.  Paul recently attended the RI Convention in Toronto, along with Bob Ruehl.  He shared some sights of that impressive gathering that involved over 25,000 Rotarians from 175 counties.
  • Paul closed his remarks by saying that he is “excited to lead this club, knows much support will be given by the membership, so let’s roll!”
 
Carol Buettner gave the Rottery report.  This quarter Rottery is benefitting the Allen County Sheriff’s Dept and new exercise equipment.  Today’s $104 winner is Rashawna Perry.