From the Presidents'

By the time you read this, the gavel has been passed, the new officers have been installed and the 2007-2008 Rotary year will be officially under way.  What a thrill!!  There is something special to newness in any form.  It is a time for rededication, refreshment and regeneration in many aspects of the life of our club.

After the installation of new officers we reminded you of some special considerations that will be at the forefront of our programs as we conduct great things in Rotary this year.  Remember the Three A's:

   1.  ATTENDANCE -- The club thrives when most of the members are present for the meetings.  Much effort will be directed to providing interesting, informative and challenging meetings each Wednesday.  Of course, the meetings also typically provide the three F's (food, fun and fellowship).  Ok, we're getting carried away with this 'alphabet thing'.

  2.  ATTENTION -- We ask that you pay strict attention to the activities, goals and purposes of Rotary.  An emphasis for the year will be on having members become intimately familiar with the 4-way Test as well as to move forward as individuals and as an organization in purposeful living and giving.  To that end, each member and guest in attendance got two 4-way test magnets -- one for home, one for office.  If you did not receive them you were not there, but be sure and let us know so you won't be left out.  We won't chastise you for having missed the meeting....

  3.  ADDITION  -- In this society and in this community, many reasons occur that cause members to drop out.  We hate that, but it is a fact.  Therefore, we emphasize the constant need for the addition of new members to our club.  In addition to maintaining and increasing club size, new members bring many benefits of their experience and interests into the mix.  There is concern that Rotary membership in North America has significantly decreased in the past decade.  At least five of our members will be attending the Presidental Membership Conference in Vancouver, BC next month.  We will be bringing back many ideas for ways new members can be recruited and current members can be even more successfully integrated into the fold.  We hope to install an 'amnisty' program to bring back some of our great members from the past in order to bolster our ranks as well as provide them with renewed Rotary expe riences.

More than 'cutesy' alphabetical memory joggers, the 3 A's speak to the life-blood of our local Rotary group.  Like weak links in a chain, failure to maintain one of the Three A's severely weakens the entire organization.  Please join with us and say 'yes' to working toward the fulfillment of the Three A's.

In Rotary and in respectful friendship,

JoAnn and Dave