«The Vista«

July 1, 2008       Vol. 37, No. 41       District 7170

Ithaca Cayuga Rotary Club

Chartered November 1, 1971     

Meets Tuesday Noon, Kendal at Ithaca

www.ithacarotary.org/cayuga    www.rotarydistrict7170.org

Editor: H. Murphy

 

Opening: President Dennis Mogil rang the Rotary bell calling the Club to order. Doug Armstrong led the singing of America. Following the pledge, Hank Murphy gave the Thought for the Day, a quote from the late N.Y. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan: "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.”

Visiting Rotarians: We were pleased to welcome a frequent visitor from the Ithaca Rotary Club, PDG Gene Erickson.

Programs to Come

·   Next Week we will have the Pass the Gavel ceremony with Dennis presenting Chuck Brodhead with the presidential gavel for the Rotary year, 2008-2009. This will be Chuck's second stint in the role as Club president, having served in that capacity a number of years ago.

·   July 15 -- Beverly Baker

·   July 22 -- Bob Wehe talking about his Rotary AIDS work in India

·   August 5 -- Tomas Bobovsky our exchange student will report on his U.S. tour with other District exchange students and sum up his year at Lansing High and with Lansing families before he returns home to Slovakia. Last week he was among the many graduating seniors receiving their diplomas from the high school.

Bosnia Project fund raising has proceeded well towards our goal of $375, AnnMarie Hautaniemi reported, with Club members contributing enough so that only a small fraction will be coming to support the Computer Center for youth in Bosnia from our Club treasury. Chris Bragdon is now in Bosnia attending to the foundation of the Center.

Doug's Doings: Doug was on hand last night at the Vestal Hill Country Club perched on a scenic site on the golf course for The District's Passing the Gavel ceremony. Lana Rouff of the Binghamton club succeeded Dave Reynolds as Governor of District 7170. We will all have the opportunity to meet Lana when she makes her official visit to Ithaca-Cayuga on August 12.

Doug stepped down as Assistant District Governor as Dale Flinn assumes that role coordinating the area clubs. With that responsibility behind him, Doug promises that we will be hearing more from him about the Rotary Foundation. He noted that increasing membership will be an ongoing effort and at the District level we may expect to see an emphasis on child nutrition. On the matter of attendance, he reported a feeble figure of under 60% for the first six months of 2008. The good news is that our District 7170 had the greatest growth this past year of all the Districts in our Rotary zone. Doug suggested that all our members should aim at inviting one potential new member to join Ithaca-Cayuga. The advantages of a small club with its congeniality might be used as a selling point.

50/50 was conducted by Alan Littlefair with Ed Moy declared winner after a futile search for the ticket with the first drawn number.

Program: Dues Due, but the amount of our dues for July l – December 31, 2008 came under lengthy discussion. Gene Erickson provided us with detailed figures from the Ithaca Rotary Club noting a membership of 195 and that their dues for six months was $90 plus a "Fair Share" assessment of $40 to help cover part of their meal expenses in order to meet contract shortfalls with the Holiday Inn. With our dues paying members now at 20 and with no increase in our dues in the past six years,

Treasurer Ed Siemon presented a chart showing a sharp decrease in the Club's checkbook balance. With $45 of our current dues going to Rotary International and District 7170, we are left with a slim $15 for club work. Therefore it was moved, seconded and passed that the club's dues be raised to $75 per each six months. A discussion followed concerning those who had already paid $60. It was decided that those members could pay the extra $15 at their discretion or not.

Following the dues discussion, it was noted that frequently due to the pressure of time we do not have the 50/50 drawing nor the Happy Dollar session. These both are easy and productive fund raisers and should always be a part of each meeting in order to maintain a balanced budget, it was stated.

Dues due for July l - December 31, 2008: $75.00. Please send your check to Treasurer Ed Siemon, 119 Simsbury Dr., Ithaca, 14850

RESPONSIBILITIES	GREETER	THOUGHT 4 DAY	INTRODUCTIONS
July 8	Ed Siemon	Dave Thurston	Karen Besemer
July 15	Ed Moy	AnnMarie Hautaniemi	Jim Lorbeer
July 22	Art Muka	Joe Quigley	Jim Shreve

Don't let your worries get the best of you. Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.