Your Guide to the Fishers Rotary ~Who knew that there was so much to know?

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1 Your Guide to the Fishers Rotary ~Who knew that there was so much to know? For Starters Website: Log in info: Provided to you by the current Club Secretary along with a subscription to the Rotarian magazine. Beth Hodgin [08/09] Rich Phelan [09/10] PLEASE log in and verify your profile is up to date with a photo. Respond to all requested s. It makes volunteer management so much easier and you will hear from us less. Rotary Operates on a Mid-Year Calendar from July 1 June 31 st. The Origin of Rotary Officers are a 1-year term (Elections are held the first week of the December prior.) Directors are on a 2-year term based on our club by-laws. We have officers at all levels: Club District (We are 6560 & often collaborate with 6580 of S. Indiana) Zone (Least Interactive) International (Based in Evanston, IL just outside Chicago) Your Board s role is to represent the membership and its desires. So, stay in touch with them and share your thoughts. There were four core areas of focus, referred to as Avenues of Service 1. Club 2. Community 3. International (Including Polio Eradication, Literacy & Clean Water) 4. Vocational Historically, Rotary was an ALL Male, Business Owner organization started in Chicago by Paul Harris. The goal was to Rotate meetings around to other members establishments. In 1982, Rotary shed its all male presence and began welcoming females into the club.

2 Attendance and Make Ups Members are expected to average 50% attendance, the updated International requirement, and all of our attendance is submitted to the District and RI [Rotary International]. If you cannot attend, you may do a make up: o o At another club (Local listing on club website/international at Rotary.org) (Yes, you can do a virtual meeting. Let us know how it went.) o By completing other club activities like service projects and committee meetings Our board requests four consecutive meetings to be proposed as a new member. Leave of Absence/Club Dismissal Fundraising If you have a genuine personal conflict or family emergency, you may request a leave of absence from the club in writing to the board. This does NOT waive club dues and we would like you to make provisions for your track time, if at all possible. It does give you a chance to by-pass attendance requirements. LOAs are only 6 months and should not be abused. However, we want to keep members in good standing. Should you decide to leave our Rotary family, written notice MUST be submitted per our by-laws. PLEASE do not assume your lack of attendance sends the signal, we value you and would request that you submit to the board in writing your request for termination. ALL club members are expected to participate in our TRACK volunteer hours. It is also requested that IF your schedule permits please help out also at Lucas Oil stadium. We currently have TWO areas of volunteer opportunities: Track (Each Shift is ½ Day) o IRL Race (4 Shifts) o Nascar (2 Shifts) o Moto GP (2 Shifts) And/or Future Races Lucas Oil o Colt s Home Games (NOT Mandated just requested!) Given the state of the economy, we are working both opportunities at least one more year. This will allow us to see what has the best long term fit for the club. It is a lot. So, there are two ways to fulfill your Track obligations: Do the hours yourself Or invite and/or bring enough guests to help cover all shift requirements. (Min. Age 15)

3 In addition to keeping our dues low, the history behind the success of working at the Track has been unprecedented. While it is natural to fuss that it is a great deal to ask, it has been so meaningful to our club and its service offerings. We have given over $250,000 to the Rotary Foundation and a HUGE amount to the community as a result. Our Club s community giving is referred to as Charitable Donations. These contributions from our Fundraisers are given to other non-profit organizations. 1. Club member s fill out a Charitable Donations Request (Generally due in March) 2. Board reviews 3. Based on amounts the Club that year budget for giving The board prioritizes and approves. Members are encouraged to watch for things that motivate them on a year round basis. This is part of why our speakers educate us on community needs, not to make you feel you must join or personally give to every organization. Foundational Giving We ask that club members attempt, when financially viable, to contribute $ each year. This goal is called EREY [Every Rotary Every Year]. This contribution is often matched by other special offers by the club or district. Long term, you may give with your own contributions, and that of the matches, enough to reach the $ mark. This makes you a Paul Harris Fellow. Once you achieve this, each annual contribution makes you a Sustaining Paul Harris Fellow. Why give to Rotary when there are so many other organizations out there? Simply put they give back! It is a system to be proud of when you contribute. No hidden fees or high admin cost.

4 You give Rotary Foundation Contribution Rotary Foundation Invests It In three years 100% of the funds are returned All admin cost are paid by the interest ONLY. When these funds are returned, they are often used as Matching Funds that match club and district projects to double the efforts. Service Project Options: With each year the club & leadership has the ability to alter these, but here is a highlighted list. Rotary is a SERVICE organization, but pace yourself and mix it up. You will be solicited for interest again later, but let us know wherever you would like to fit- in and contribute: Hands on/be Present Project Tim Taylor Projects Road Clean up Days River Clean up Days Summer Concerts, Fireman s Picnic, Freedom Fest Parade Many of our members love the chance to get close to the real need. So we have nicknamed these service opportunities our Tim Taylor projects. Roll up your sleeves and throw on your paint smock. These change shape and location each year. River and Road clean up happen a few times each year also and require some trash bags, a free morning, and a desire to get to know your fellow club mates a bit deeper. Not a morning person, relax and help us park cars for the Summer Concert Series, Ride a bike in the Parade, or flip burgers to celebrate our Firemen, just good clean community fun.

5 Bag Projects If you would rather shop than sweat, feel free to grab a bag. We have 2-4 Bag Projects each year. They will be announced and range from can food, school supplies or toys for children. Watch for a bag to drop near you. Student Focused Service Projects Ambassadorial Scholar Sponsorship o These are college scholarship applications that the club may choose to sponsor for goodwill and international understanding. It will require a team of judges. Apple Day o Apple for teacher? HSE, SLDM & Fisher s Schools Teachers receive a note of appreciation and an apple from our club. Dictionary Day o Promotion of Literacy Labeled dictionaries are gifted and delivered (with Interact) to all Third Graders in the Community. Interact Club o Fishers and HSE High Schools have High School Rotary. We sponsor these clubs and help them drive service and membership. (Rotar-Act is the name of the College clubs, we don t have one of those.) RYLA [Rotary Youth Leadership Academy] o Leadership development camp for ages 18 to 28 that our district has sponsored. It has been mainly modeled by club members Jim Thompson and Don Phelan. Scholarships for High School Students o This committee allots the funds budgeted for that Rotary year to a student from HSE & Fishers by an application process and generally happens in April/May. High School Exchange Program Incoming o Our club sponsors an incoming student for HSE or Fishers High school. We need 3-host families from that district. There are a lot of moving parts to this program from Mark McSweeney s early recruitment of host families and school arrangement, to counselor/club liaison to promote healthy interaction with the student. Student - High School Exchange Program Outgoing o In connection with District 6560 & Central States, (This Central States is not the mental hospital, but rather a zone level name for the exchange processing team) our club sponsors a student. This committee allots the funds budgeted for that Rotary year to a student from HSE and/or Fishers also by an application process.

6 Special Three-Year Service Project For the first time Fishers Rotary is trying a new initiative. It is a three year long inspiration project called WIL [Water is life]. MISSION To develop 100 (Now only 92 MORE) new water wells in the Bombali District of Sierra Leone by the year 201 How, you ask? We are seeking to leverage partnerships with other clubs, community members, and organizations to inspire this mission. Do not be intimidated, it is not a direct fundraiser for our club. We are trying to influence others to share our passion! World Hope International and Heartland Church of Fishers helped us shoulder this goal, and we are already. Want to get involved here? Chris-cross it with your other talents. We can help you get plugged into these areas. Other Club Details Our Club s View 3 Year Admin Tom Branum Mar/Com - Darren Scheske & Bill Jerrow Development /Project Fundraising Valory Myers Project Events Diane Eaton Activity Volunteers Brian Lott The Fishers Club is a very proactive club and is regarded as a gold standard for diversity of demographics. As a club, we do not promote networking as a reason for participation. We want our members to promote altruism and service as a first priority. Those who join for other reasons, do not generally last long. Each week four volunteers are needed: Greeter, Prayer/Invocation, Pledge & 4-Way Test. Happy Bucks Each meeting offers a chance to contribute in a small way and allow your fellow members to learn more about you. Happy bucks are donated to the Foundation. Share a happy, sad, inspirational, or funny moment. But note Rotary is a POLITICS free zone. So unless you are related to the new President, please refrain from campaigning or starting political wars. Sports wars on the other hand are part of our history.

7 Some clubs do fines and charge people for things like being in the paper and not wearing their pins. We prefer to stay happy. Speakers Want to learn more about a topic you heard on TV or at the Dentist? Let our Vice-President know (Bill Jerrow 08/09 and Jim Jordan 09/10). They oversee the booking schedule and get the speaker details. Please share your suggestions You will likely hear more about Polio and Gift of Life, which are endeavors our club gives to annually. Speakers are to be educational and offer us a chance to expand our knowledge. 4-Way Test At Rotary, you are among ethical friends. The Four-Way of the things we think, say or do 1. First Is it the TRUTH? 2. Second Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Third Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Fourth Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? What is a Family Friendly Club We have been founded on Family Friendly principals. You are welcome to bring your non-disruptive child to the club meeting when school is on break. It is fun have them join us occasionally. Special note: Please check the speaker schedule to prevent conflict with topics. Social Events We also try to make sure our social invitations state Family or Adult. Mixing it up on our event styles make our entire membership base feel welcome and encouraged. Please try to participate sometimes in afterhours social events. It makes service so much easier because you know each other better. We are not saying you will like this family better than the one you have at home, but have a drink, mix and get to know your Rotary family too.

8 Classifications Each member is given a classification. This is a broad-brush stroke of your industry. Because we are not promoting our business, we do not wear company names on our name badges. However, it does help to know what others do. No classification should exceed 10% of the membership. We do not wish to become saturated, and therefore become a plumbers club or engineering group. Club History Fishers Rotary was charted in It was a sponsored extension club from within the Carmel Rotary. Over the years, our club membership has grown and our objectives have evolved to meet the service desires of our membership. Encouraging others to get/stay involved was how our club was founded. Try to make a point of inviting others and getting to know each other. Among our active members are some of the past Club Presidents. Terry Johnson Scott Faultless Don Phelan Art Bottorff Chuck Bragg Dennis Ashworth Corby Thompson Frank Bruggner Chip Muston Bob Guindon Mike Kalb Valory Myers Each year the club has taken on its own initiatives often championed by the club president and often with the help of matching grants. These are grants from district/international from monies allocated by the board for that year towards a specific purpose. Such historic projects include: Sewing machines in Ukraine, Orphanage and hospital assistance in Mexico, Wells in Africa, Mobile Box Shelters in the US, and more. Attending District and International Conferences/Meetings is a good way to find out where needs exist. Administrative Support There is a ton of ways to be plugged in besides the weekly sign up sheets. The committees and their chairs make it all happen. While some change yearly, some stay the same for a long time. Administrative, Social, Promotion of PR and Club Relations, Membership, wow! The easiest way to do this is Just start somewhere!

9 It is all about YOU! But, with so much where should you start? What sounded interesting to you? Let us tell you who has led those initiatives in the past. Tell them you MIGHT be interested in getting involved. Know it is okay to say NO, if someone asks. Your only requirement is track time and 50% attendance. Get to know your fellow members Want to start something new of your own? Just ask the board is always happy to sanction new initiatives if you have passion and fellowship. Everything you enjoy in life was new once, do not be afraid to take a risk and get involved in something! Remember, new members should reach out to get to know our existing members. Fishers Rotary has an amazing story at every turn.