Some donations from local hotels to last year's CWC silent auction went unsold, and the offers will be expiring soon. If you would like to place a bid on any of the items listed below, please reach out to Diana.
Extended Stay America ~ one free night ($125 value/min. bid $50) use by 5/4/25. Two offers are available.
Andover Inn ~ one night stay in a traditional room ($289 value/min. bid $115) use by 5/8/25.
Perfect for out-of-town visitors or if you need a change of scenery!
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Time To Celebrate You!
Member Birthdays
Susan Big
March 9
Al Ruthazer
March 27
Connect With Us Here
Succession planning is currently in progress. Members transitioning into a new role for the 2025-2026 year should meet with the current chair and attend theApril 10th District Learning Assembly All members are welcome to attend the Assembly to learn more about Rotary.
Peter Caruso has filed the Bylaw changes adopted by the Club at its Annual Meeting with the Secretary of State's Office and will present the proposed changes to the Charitable Trust at the Joint Board meeting on April 16th.
Citizens Who Care: We need everyone's help in securing both sponsorships and attendees for the event on May 8th. Silent auction solicitations are going well, but additional donations are still needed. Last year's "Lottery Bouquets" were a huge success at the silent auction, and we are seeking donations of lottery scratch tickets, cash or Venmo donations to Diana, who will purchase the tickets to create the bouquets.
Fundraising: Don Gottfried reported we have received approximately $11,000 in sponsorship commitments for CWC, with a goal of $60,000 still ahead of us. The Musical Bingo Fundraiser is planned for late August, possibly on the 21st or 28th, and may be held at the DoubleTree. More details will follow!
Elaine Clements provided a financial report, noting that the club is in strong fiscal health. However, some service and corporate members still need to sign up for weekly meetings (see below for more information on registration).
Charitable Trust Committee report by Gail Ralston: The Board awarded two grants:
(1) $3,000 to Andona for a ClownTown “Grand Stand Sponsorship.” This will support Andona’s work with youth programs and scholarships in Andover, and Rotary will have a featured opportunity to promote our mission during the event on Sat. May 17th, including a Rotary Booth. To volunteer at the booth, CLICK HERE.
(2) $1,000 to “Miles for Moms”, an organization that provides financial support to individuals fighting
breast cancer who are facing financial hardship due to treatment costs. The funds will support their annual trail running event, which raises money for this important cause.
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Bourbon After 5 ~ March 21st
A big thank you to Jamie and Mary Lyman for graciously opening their home to Bourbon After 5 this past Friday. Around 20 club members joined in for this wonderful time of fellowship, so a few people are missing from the photos above. If you are interested in hosting a Bourbon After 5, contact Maryann Millar.
Online Registration for Meetings A Message from President Al
Each week, I send an email invitation to register. Why? So we can ensure there’s enough food, enough seating, and that the cost of the meal is covered. Most of our members are already registering and paying, and we understand that plans can change. We do our best to estimate attendance and meal costs accurately.
Here’s how registration works:
Click "Details"
Option 1 - Free Breakfast:For traditional, corporate, or service members (using their one covered meal per month as part of dues).
Option 2 - Additional Service Member Meal: A Service Membership covers one breakfast/month. After using the first covered meal, service members can pay for an extra meal during the month.
Option 3 - Prospective Members: Up to 3 free meals; after that, the host or guest will need to register and pay.
Option 4 - Guests: Whether you bring them or they attend on their own.
Option 5 - Corporate Additional Attendees: If more than one corporate member attends a meeting, the additional corporate attendee(s) must pay the additional attendee breakfast feel
The Board noticed a shortfall in operating revenue and responded by increasing dues by $25 per quarter and asking guests and service members to cover the cost of their extra meals.
So, on your honor, please help us balance the books. To date, we've received $675 from guests and $525 from service member extra meals. We're getting close to breaking even. We were $245.02 in arrears for the fiscal year.
Please note that Operating funds are separate from the Charitable Trust, which uses money raised in the previous year to fund the current years grants.
And remember, Happy Bucks go into the Charitable Trust to fund grants for the next fiscal year (2025/2026) which begins on July 1.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us stay fiscally healthy and please contact me if you have any questions.
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The next meeting with the Rotary Club of Vinnystia, Ukraine will take place via Zoom this Wednesday, March 26th, at Noon. The discussion will focus on their involvement in a grant for Endoscopy Equipment, as part of the Global Grant application process.
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