Chips Monday October 26th, 2015

Joe Lynch of Brattleboro

Brenan Cosgrove of South Burlington

Brian Cosgrove of Williamstown

All of the above were speakers

 

 

Sheila Mccutchen of South Club

April Kuhl Of South Club

Goerge Smith of Burlington

Cathy Petrini of GMP and approved new member

 

I was not at the meeting this Monday...I apologize for forgetting to have a replacement fill in during my absence.

I do know this...WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK THIS WEEKEND FOR FLOAT BUILDING!

 

Friday @ 6pm- Mac Steel. This will be the major construction of the float (if you are handy, please be there). Krista and Stephanie will have light food.

 

Saturday @ 9am- Mac Steel. This will be the major decoration of the float. everyone who agreed to bring decorations, etc. PLEASE DO SO.

 

 

Good afternoon everybody

I am so glad that you are there today. Without employees in your firm nothing would get done. And without active members in our Rotary club nothing would get done.

Fortunately, membership in The Rotary club of Rutland is increasing and as you will hear from our committee heads we are engaged in many projects aimed at improving the lives of people living in our community and even around the world.

I am also Membership Chair of the 60 Rotary Clubs in Vermont and NH and very proud that two years ago Rutland was number one with the club with the most membership gain. Past President Brian led that successful effort.

In many clubs there are one or two or three members who generally sponsor new members. But during the past three years, among the 60 clubs, Rutland Rotary had 15 different members sponsor new members; again the highest number of any club in the District…that demonstrates the energy and enthusiasm we have for Rotary and we have for our club.

In your business, whether it is offering service or selling products, it is imperative to grow for all the obvious reasons. It is no different in Rotary. The more members we welcome, the more community projects we can manage, and the more successful our fundraising efforts will be so we can financially help support some of the many worthy non-profits in our region.

In the year 2014 we welcomed 13 new members; many of them young female professionals. In fact, 70% of the new members were under the age of 40; 60% of them female. That means we will get stuff done and get it done faster.

This year we have welcomed 5 new members; additionally one has been approved waiting induction, 4 others are pending and I fully expect we will once again welcome 13 new members this year.

As in any business relationship people get transferred, retire or move out of the area. So when we report on the total number of members we speak in terms of net membership, after those kind of terminations.

Our Rotary year begins on July 1. On that date in 2011 we had 49 members. This year we started with 53 members. We are currently at 57. By the end of November I expect we will be no fewer than 60.

On July 1, 2016, the end of the current fiscal, I anticipate that our membership will exceed 65 members; that would be a 23% net gain this term.

Recently our Board of Directors has approved our proposal to introduce the exciting innovative concept of Corporate Membership. Basically, a senior executive of an organization is welcomed as an Honorary Member and no fewer than two of their management are recommended for membership in Rotary as Active members.

Tom Huebner, Pres of RRMC was presented with his Honorary Membership by Pres. Mark on October 13^th.

Robert Dostis, Sr VP of GMP has also agreed to participate in this program together with VP Steve Costello, Betsy Bloomer and Cathy Petrini. We are eager to welcome them all to Rotary very soon.

Details of this program can be found on our web site and FB pages.

I thank you all for your continued support of our great club as we sponsor new members, share the Gift of Rotary and approach 100 years of service to the Rutland Community.

Oct 2015 Membership Report