50 Year
The Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs is committed to keeping it's great club strong well into the future. We believe that our desire to serve all the communities in which we work currently, as well as our responsibility to supply leadership through our District and Zone will be best served by taking this year to finish the rebuilding of our foundation.
After three years of excellent leadership under Kirby Upright, Jeff Gilbert, and most recently Jim Becker, our current president wishes to complete the work of preparing our club for the future.
While we will certainly continue to support our local and international projects and serve all the organizations we have in the past, we will focus this year on starting on a path to long tern excellence and growth by addressing those very issues, at one time, all at once, during one year, and then moving on to "the next level".
Goal #1
Bring 50 people to the 7410 District Conference.
With this year's conference program co-chairs being our own Jeff Gilbert and Jim Becker, there is no better time to "raise the bar" in our attendance expectations. Between the commitments of the board, the certain lure of the best hospitality suite in the district and a bus to supply rides to and from the conference in comfort we will reach our goal. The only hard choice now is whether to stay for multiple days, or to enjoy the hospitality of our own Ray Starner who will act as chaperone for everyone taking the bus. It's a tough call, but everyone attending will be the winner.
Goal #2
Collect 50 new Club Banners.
We recognize that every club's display of banners from other clubs is its welcome sign for visitors. We are going to refocus efforts to collect these important reminders of visits to other clubs as we travel this year. It is important to remember the value in planning for this goal to be reached. It is always a good idea to contact the club you plan to visit to ask them to bring a banner for the day you will attend. Both Past President Jim Becker and President Rick will be very happy to assist in this planning, but the process is very easy and available to every Rotarian using the Rotary International Website.
Goal #3
Collect at least $50,000 toward Annual funds.
With programs as simple as the Bequest Society's easy form to verify appropriation of assets from insurance or estate planning there is no reason every Rotarian should not have Rotary International included in their long term planning. We will expect at least $50,000 designated this year between cash and trust gifts. We will work toward the day when we have 50 members as Bequest Society ($10,000 offered to the permanent fund in your will or estate plan) but first an easy goal can be for everyone to become a Benefactor by designating as little as $1,000 in your will or estate plan. So even if cash gifts are not in your plan this year (But please don't hesitate to become a Major Donor either with as little as $10,000 in cash contributions to the permanent funds) you can still give significantly and recognizably with the many programs available. Please consider these options the next time you meet with your estate planner or lawyer.
Goal #4
Find 50 new excellent members.
For the past three years, the Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs leadership has used it's considerable growth as an opportunity to strengthen it's membership by allowing other members to reconsider their commitment to Rotary. In the Rotary club of the Stroudsburgs, paying your dues and stopping by once in a while to help is unacceptable. We are a club of Rotarians and we expect the same from our entire membership. We are involved in service projects on three continents and around our community. We serve on innumerable boards and organizational leadership teams. We acknowledge the value in getting together as frequently as possible to support our efforts and maintain the best possible friendships with the best people. If you are interested in finding out more regarding what it takes to be a Rotarian in the Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs, please look for the RCOTS tab under the 50 Year tab.
Michele Baehr
