MINUTES: NOVEMBER 22, 2016
Posted by Wes Brooks on Nov 29, 2016
ROTARY CLUB OF HATTIESBURG
MEETING MINUTES: NOVEMBER 22, 2016
CLUB ASSEMBLY
President Jaclyn Adams presided over the meeting. Thanks to Erin Granberry who gave the invocation and to Phillip Carter who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
James Winstead and Faye Gilbert served as our greeters today.
Tracie Fowler introduced today’s guests. William Evans is a guest of Lamar Evans and Assistant District Governor Rob Young is a visiting Rotarian.
Jaclyn reminded members that our last club meeting of the year will occur on December 13. We will begin the 2017 calendar year with our January 3 meeting.
Today’s meeting is a Club Assembly. Jaclyn noted that we will hear from our committee chairs about the club’s goals and accomplishments thus far this year. She thanked those who attended today and also thanked club members for their support thus far this year. She reminded members that today’s meeting will be followed by a service project where baskets will be put together for the Christian Services Meals on Wheels Rotary Route Recipients. Everyone is encouraged to stay and assist.
When the new Rotary year began on July 1, 2016 our club had $20,957 in the checking account. Today the club has $27,673 in the checking account. We have managed to reduce our Accounts Receivables by $13,002. On July 1, 2016 the club had a Net Income for the year in the amount of $14,268. Today we have a Net Income in the amount of $8,343. A big part of the Net Income difference relates to the money the club had collected for Night in Italy and was either holding in cash reserves or in accounts receivable.
Our club has been able to reduce spending by about $6,000 when compared to the same time period in the last fiscal year. Our income is less but if you recall we stopped billing members each quarter for the Night in Italy event.
Out of the money in our checking account, our club has a $5,000 disaster contingency fund as a result of a contribution made to our club after Katrina for future disaster needs.
Wes Brooks gave members an update on our publicity and public relations. The club has received excellent exposure relative to the Bike-a-thon. We also pay for an ad in an ADP publication. He encouraged members to log in to our club’s website and set up a Clubrunner account if you don’t already have one. This will be the primary communication tools used by clubs in District 6840. If you haven’t like the club’s Facebook page, please do so in the near future and make sure you follow the club on Twitter. Wes encouraged members to have their Rotary Elevator Speech prepared so that when someone asks about Rotary you will be prepared to give them a quick overview of our work.
Erin Granberry noted that the club has a $5,000 Rotary Foundation goal for the year. We have generated $3,600 toward that goal thus far. We have a $1,000 goal for Polio Plus but have not made any Polio Plus donations thus far. Early in 2017 contributions to the Foundation will be matched by the club. For every one dollar above the first $100 in contributions, the club will match each one with a point. The points will help reach your Paul Harris Fellowship quicker.
James Mitchell reported that we have netted one new member thus far this year. We have inducted six new members but unfortunately we’ve lost five. The membership committee would like to see a net of 10 members by year’s end. He encouraged everyone to talk to someone about Rotary and then invite them to a meeting to see what we’re all about.
Mike Ratliff reported that the club has the Grover Anderson scholarship at USM. Children and grand children of our club members have priority for this scholarship. The club also supports at least one and sometimes two RYLA recipients each year. He noted that this year’s District Conference will be held in conjunction with the Mobile area district and will be held in Mobile. He encouraged everyone to attend and take the opportunity to meet new Rotary friends.
Paula Brahan talked about the 100 Days of Service which will run from January 1 through April 10th. Each Rotarian is asked to participate in service projects that will total 100 days of service during that time period. Teddy Bear donation boxes will be located at the offices of area Real Estate Brokers. The boxes will be emptied regularly and the Teddy Bears collected donated to Kids Hub. The club will sponsor a Hungry Hungry Habitat project where we will feed the volunteers who work on Habitat houses. Our goal is to feed 100 meals during the days of service. We will also try to put together a Fleet Market. Anyone interested in selling a used automobile can rent a parking space and on a specified day of the year we will have a used car sale. Club members are also being asked to read to at least 100 children during the Days of Service.
Congratulations to Gene Owens who is today’s half and half winner. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Polio Plus. Thanks also to Faye and Chrissy for the fun Thanksgiving Trivia challenge.