Incoming President's Message

Posted by Bill Unrein 
 
 
After listening to Past President Ron Hardesty acknowledge those Rotarians who contributed these last 12 months it became apparent to me that "We do have an AWSOME Rotary Club". Ron's list of what we have done left me in awe of not only all that we have accomplished, but also how much there is left to do in our community and throughout the world.
 
In the June 28th Invocation, I recited the Object of Rotary which says in part "The Object of Rotary is to foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise⿦". I truly believe, especially after attending Rotary's Centennial Celebration in Chicago last month, that while we are very good at raising funds our real forte is service. Rotary International President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar has chosen as his motto for this year "SERVICE Above Self". I am convinced that our club has for many years been practicing that and will do so in the future.

I want to take this opportunity to mention a few of the areas that I would like our club to focus on during the next 12 months:

  • One, to continue to bring into our club new members that perpetuate what our club and what Rotary is all about. Without new and committed Rotarians we run the risk of stagnation of ideas and energy.
  • Two, build on the first year success of Grape and Gourmet. Under the direction of Barry Kramer and Orphalee Smith it promises to be more popular and prosperous than last year. As the major fund raising event of the year G & G will need the participation of every member of the club to ensure that it continues as our club's signature event. Do you want me to mention ROSES?
  • Three, Denise Bosman has agreed to chair a committee which will begin the process of developing a long range strategic plan for our club. This will involve discussions of many areas including what size we want our membership to be and what and where we want our dollars to go (example, what percent of allocations of club funds to international projects, domestic projects, youth, etc.). As our club membership grows plus the likelihood that our funding sources will also, now is a good opportunity to step back and take a critical look at where we want to be in the future.
  • Four, I would like every Bellingham Bay Rotary member to be on a committee. Of course every President wants that. The fact is, if a member is not asked to do something or to participate, over time there is a strong chance that the member will end up leaving the club. We have all had times in our Rotary life when we were just too busy or were burnt out and for many very good reasons. I am not talking about those times. I am referring to the situations where a member simply is not asked to participate. The committee lists will be circulated soon and by the end of August and I hope that everyone will have their name down on at least one committee and plan to participate.
  • Fifth, and possibly one of the most important goals for this year, Rotary needs to be fun. Orphalee is in the process of assembling a great list of programs and Eddy Hansen is organizing some fun events throughout the year. We need to enjoy each others company at the meetings and events. Rotary should not be all about work.
We will continue to have a strong "Give away the Money Committee" that encourages all of us to seek out opportunities for our club to help local projects and groups. Pure Water for the World certainly has established itself as our International Focus and has been more successful with each passing year. The Rotary Foundation is also so worthwhile; however I don't believe we really understand the good that it accomplishes. I only wish I could have bottled up some of the information and emotions that I experienced in Chicago and brought them back with me. You really begin to understand the global impact of the Rotary Foundation when you see and hear how lives have been changed because of Foundation involvement. Our club has committed to contribute $100 per member this year to the Foundation. That is not much more than last year and is achievable. I challenge each of you to match my $100 this year as a sustaining member and continue that commitment in the future. Locally, we will maintain our focus on the youth of our community through Scholarships, Student of the Month, Interact and other worthwhile groups. Last, I would like to utilize our website more. I have included this letter on the site and have also added some photos of the Chicago Centennial Celebration. Stowe Talbot has indicated that there are many other ways it can be used. If you have any ideas contact Stowe. I am sure he would want to hear about them.

A few months ago the Incoming Presidents of two other Bellingham Rotary Clubs and I were discussing that there wasn't a hands-on project that all of the local clubs could rally behind. As it turns out, because of that conversation we have identified a prospective joint Rotary club and Bellingham community endeavor. Currently there are 3 members from the Bellingham Rotary Club, Sunrise Rotary Club, and Bellingham Bay Rotary that are serving on a task force whose goal it is to determine the need and scope of rebuilding/remodeling the Bellingham Food Bank. While currently we are not committed to anything but some fact finding, this does promise to be a project that the 3 clubs can cooperate on and also involve the Bellingham community. More on this later as it evolves. Sorry, I have gone on enough here. But I thought that this was better than getting up in front of all of you and having you hear from "another charged up incoming President" who sounds much like those from previous years. I am humbled to be serving as the President for 2005/2006 and am really looking forward to getting to know all of you better this year, having some laughs together (even at my expense), and some "SERVICE Above Self".

Sincerely, Your Prez Bill Unrein