Rotary District 5180
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  2007/08 Rotary International Theme: 

“Rotary Shares.” 


District Governor’s No. 1 Rule for 2007/08:  
“Light up your Rotary World”

The function of Club Service is to support the club's Club Service Chairs.
And their function is "simply put" to
"make the club run smoothly and effectively".

Club Service

Responsibilities of the Club Service Director vary from club to club. Some oversee:
A. Attendance
B. Weekly Programs
C. Club Bulletin
D. Fellowship Activities
E. Fundraising
F. Rotary Recreational
G. Vocational Fellowships

Budgets

One of the first tasks you will need to tackle as Club Service Director is to develop a budget and submit it to the President and Board of Directors for approval.
Some items to consider:
1. Programs– a. Special Equipment needed by Guest Speakers, i.e. PowerPoint Projector, Screen. b. Speakers Meals and Gifts.
2. Fellowship Activities- a. Set aside money to help offset some of the costs of fellowship activities, i.e. transportation used for a Mystery Bus Trip, rental fees for a location to hold a picnic. b. Sunshine Committee.
3. Unforeseen Contingencies-

Weekly Programs

Weekly Programs – Programs should be planned well in advance and should be designed and balanced to ensure they are relevant and meaningful to club members.

In preparation for your year, it is suggested that you form a Program Committee consisting of three or four members including yourself, who can assist in getting quality speakers or perhaps try a team concept. Have your committee members visit other clubs in the district and see what kinds of programs they have. It might be helpful to circulate a questionnaire (Attachment 1) to determine program topics of interest to your club members.

When you know you have an interesting program scheduled, encourage your members to invite potential members and guests and make sure it gets mentioned in your club bulletin.

Throughout the year, R.I. has designations for most months (Attachment 1). Those themes can serve as a source for program topics, i.e. November is Rotary Foundation Month—an ideal program would be current or former Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar. You can get leads from the District Foundation Chairperson.

Special Programs:
1. District Governor’s Visit – When the District Governor makes his official visit to your club, be aware that he is the speaker at that meeting. DO NOT schedule another speaker for that date. FYI he’ll usually be accompanied by his spouse and the Assistant Governor for your area.

2. Club Assembly - It is suggested that throughout the year, the club hold quarterly club assemblies, i.e. a “state-of-the-club” address where each board member and avenue of service director gives an update on their particular area of responsibility. Usually, one of the first two meetings of the Rotary year will be a Club Assembly so the new board can give an overview of what members can expect during the coming year. You might suggest to your Club President the meeting be a special evening meeting to include spouses/partners.

3. Club Anniversary – Arrange to have Past Presidents honored and ask one from each decade to talk about their year and what they think makes your club special. If it’s a significant anniversary 25 years, 50 years, 75 years, make it extra special by planning an evening meeting to which special guests are invited, i.e. spouses/partners, District Governor and his spouse, Assistant District Governor as well as past members.

4. District Speech Contest – Many clubs hold the club-level District Speech Contest during a regularly scheduled meeting. Finals are held at the District Conference to be held at Lake Tahoe, May 9-11, 2008.

5. Rotary Foundation Night Dinner – Set aside a night meeting to include spouses/partners and honor the club’s current Paul Harris Fellows as well as those members who will be receiving a new Paul Harris Fellow, Sustaining Membership, Benefactors and the Bequest Society Members. This event should be coordinated with the President and Club Foundation Chair. The District Foundation Dinner is scheduled for November 10, 2007.

Weekly Program Suggestions:
A. Rotary Related

1. Youth – 
      RYE Students – District Contact: Doug Nicholson Email: ryechair5180@aol.com (Cell) 530-751-6564. 
     Interact Students – District Contact: Steve Kwartler Email:pndp439@comcast.net 916-481-6801. 
      RYLA Students – District Contact: Jan Allen Email: jana@staffresources.com (Work) 916- 927-5507. 

2. Rotary     Foundation – District Chairperson: John Messner Email: jmessner@hmh.com (Home) 916- 988-3707. 

GSE Team Members (Inbound/Outbound) - District Contact: Donna Fleshman Email: drfnurse@sbcglobal (Home)   916-381-3310. 

Ambassadorial Scholars - District Contact: Jennifer Curtsinger Email: curtsinger_jennifer_l@lilly.com (Home) 916-939-2264. 
      
PolioPlus – District Contact: Bob Mutchler Email: rpmutchler@aol.com 916-983-7350. 
Grants - District Contact: Lynette Anderson Email: lynette.tml@att.net 916-783-4263 (FDN Grants) 
Grants-District Contact: Lorie Rheams Email: randl@surewest.net 916-797-6112 (Simplified Grants)

3. Rotary Fellowships
 
4. Rotary History

5. STRS a.k.a. Success Through Rotary Seminars – District Chairperson: Cris Vaughan Email: ccvaughan@sbcglobal.net (Work) 916-435-2242. 
 
6. Club Projects.



B. Non-Rotary Related: 
1. Vocational 
          
a. Tours: Shriner’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Folsom Saake Factory, local Fire Station, local TV or radio stations, wineries, “behind the scenes” at Arco Arena, SPCA. Brown Bag Lunch at fellow Rotarian’s office. 
          
b. Vocational Talks: Choose an unusual profession, i.e. occularist, funeral director, veterinarian and invite someone from that profession to your club. 

c. Recognitions: Work with Vocational Service Director to designate a fireman/woman, police officer, teacher or outstanding business person of the year you could honor at your weekly meeting. 

2. Joint Meetings: 
a. Rotary Clubs -- Arrange joint meetings with other Rotary clubs in the district. This will help foster fellowship with other Rotarians; and if you’re club is small, it might enable you to attract more prominent speakers. 
            
b. Other Service Organizations – Arrange joint meetings with other service club organizations, i.e. Lions, Kiwanis, Soroptimist. Ask their representative to talk about the history of their organization and the kinds of projects they’re involved in. 

3. Potential Speaker Sources: 
a. Cultural – Crocker Art Museum, California State Railroad Museum, Discovery Museum, local museums in your area.
      
b. State and Local Leaders – Sheriff’s Department, CHP, County Supervisors, Courts (CASA, Jury Selection, Public Defender), Director of Airports, FBI, CA Department of Consumer Affairs/Office of Privacy Protection, Chamber of Commerce. 

c. Sports – River Cats, Kings and Monarchs. 

d. Media Personalities -- Local newspaper, radio and TV stations, i.e. The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Magazine, Sacramento Business Journal, Capitol Public Radio, KVIE, KCRA and KOVR. . 

e. Non-Profits – American Red Cross, United Way, Sacramento Children’s Home, Sacramento Children’s Receiving Home, North Highlands Birth & Beyond, Canine Companions, WEAVE, WIND, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA/YWCA, Sierra Eye & Tissue Donor Services, Habitat for Humanity, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Nor Cal Center on Deafness. 

f. Other – Tap the talents of your members. Find members with interesting hobbies or talents and ask them to do a program, i.e. gold mining, genealogy, wine tasting, photography. Do a special program honoring Veteran’s Day.
Beware of the individual who contacts you and wants to make a presentation to you club members in hopes of selling something.
Special Note: Prepare contingency plans in case scheduled programs are cancelled.

Fellowship

Fellowship – is one of the hallmarks of Rotary. It’s the “glue” the holds the club together. Here again, it would be helpful to set up a Fellowship Committee to help with planning fellowship events throughout the year. It is suggested that you circulate a “Fellowship Activities” interest questionnaire (Attachment 2) for members to complete and return to you. Rotary’s reputation as a service organization and/or business networking group may attract members, but it’s strong fellowship that retains them. Without fellowship, it would be difficult if not impossible for clubs to achieve any of its goals. While fellowship may arise naturally in a club, it can also be nurtured by: 

Circulating a letter at the beginning of the year asking members to advise the Fellowship Committee of important dates; such as, birthdays, anniversaries and births in the family. 

Encouraging members to wear name badges at meetings. 

Rotating seating arrangements to discourage cliques and to ensure that members get to know one other. 

Using the club bulletin to publish news regarding members and social events. 

Paying special attention to new members and guests to ensure they have been greeted and do not feel excluded. 

Setting up a “Sunshine” Committee whose responsibility it is to send greetings of get well or condolesence whenever appropriate. 

Organizing a “Buddy” List. Activities: At the very least, try to schedule one fellowship activity per quarter. There are several District-level Fellowship Activities planned for the 2004/05 Rotary Year (Attachment 4). Please promote them at your club and incorporate them into your club’s fellowship activities.

Activity Suggestions


a. Theater Night: Sacramento Theater Company, Music Circus, Community Center Theater, Broadway Series, Garbeau’s Dinner Theater, Suspects Murder Mystery Theater, Mondavi Center.

b. Mystery Bus Trip

c. Wine Tasting Party d. Progressive Dinners (If club is large, divide into small groups)


e. Holiday Party (Have Santa and invite kids and grandkids. If you prefer an Adults Only Party, plan a pirate exchange.) Whatever you do, make it fun.

f. Family Picnic

g. Educational Parties - Language Skills - Computer Basics - Bridge Basics

h. Dinner Cruise on Sacramento River

i. Trip to Wine Country j. Backyard BBQ

k. Rotary Softball (Handout)

l. Train Excursions – 

     Napa Valley Wine Train – 1-800-427-4124. 
     Shasta Sunset Dinner Train – 1-800-733-2141.

m. Rotary Day at the State Fair (TBA)

n. Rotary Day @ the River Cats – Monday, August 6, 2007 (Handout)