President Mark Anderson called the January 4 meeting of the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 to order, in the Temple Theatre, by ringing the bell at 12:06 pm and welcoming all. This was the first meeting of 2018 and first of the second half of President Mark’s year as Club President. The invocation was given by Stephen Deal, United Way of Pierce County, who said he is thankful for what each member of the club does in the community and recited some resolutions for the New Year. Jan Brazzell, Advancement Consulting, led us in the national anthem accompanied on the piano by Barbara Mead, Moss Adams. Jan also led us in the Four Way test. Today’s meeting was sponsored by Don Sheppard, The Salvation Army. Don quickly told us he was thankful for the work of Tacoma #8 Rotarians at the Christmas Bell Ringing, which raised over $1,370. Overall, Red Kettles in the community raised over $370,000 this year.
Marsha Burns, Wells Fargo and Maria Harlow from the Names Foundation took the mics around to visiting Rotarians and those with guests. President Mark then called upon LaTasha Wortham to introduce our newest member – Erik Kramer, Director of Operations and Finance for Listen & Talk. Erik went to college at Pacific Lutheran and while in college worked for the Boys & Girls Club. As LaTasha told us, Erik says he has a big heart for service and wanted to get more involved in the Tacoma community through joining Tacoma #8. Mark presented Erik with his Rotary pin and name badge, and a sponsor pin to LaTasha, and hinted at a pin check, but did not do it.
Today’s program highlighted the Membership process for the club and it brought forth Co-chairs Greg Rolsma and Harrison Laird who talked about changes to the committee structure. Greg told us that Rotarians attend meetings, and they help out at meetings, select speakers, and help with the auction. Members also write checks for dues, our club’s foundation and Rotary International Foundation, Project Greater Good, and for appeals from the Projects Committee like the giving tree. He urged us to share Rotary by sponsoring a member. Jeff Albers, co-chair of the Classification Committee then talked about what that committee does as part of the membership process. That committee reviews member proposals, validates the candidate and does recommendation to the board and directs the notification in the Gearshift. He stressed the importance of a member putting down references when they propose a new member. The committee does much of their work by e-mail now. In an effort to streamline the process, as soon as the Classification Committee recommends the prospective member for approval they will be listed in the Gearshift and sent to the board simultaneously. Harrison Laird then explained how the current Membership Committee is now made up of recruitment, orientation, Pandaka, and engagement/retention. He will be leading the recruitment activities going forward because these have dropped off over the years. Malcolm Russell then told us about his role with the Pandaka Committee. He asked for new members to join him as they focus on reviewing check lists for Pandaka’s, assigning mentors and evaluating the idea of changing the name from Pandaka to something more meaningful. Maria Harlow will head up Engagement. She told us it is about the Rotary experience, fellowship, participation in the club and service in the community. New members can participate in a service project, attend the weekly meetings and meet new members, and meet with their mentor. Work is busy for everyone and time is limited. She said we want a club that is meaningful to members. She also talked about recruitment. We need to have an ongoing membership drive, targeted recruitment, and follow up with guests and speakers as possible members. All members are needed to help out. They asked each table to do some brainstorming about potential new members, jot the names down and hand them in.
President Mark recognized members with Service Anniversaries: Bill Baarsma – 16 years, Tim Daly – 24 years cumulative, Lee Gingrich – 22 years, and Arvind Phukan – 28 years. Coming forward to help celebrate birthdays was Kirsten Willis. In attendance were Carol Duris and Diane Kelleher. Also celebrating this week but not at the meeting was Mike Shields.
President Mark then called forward Auction chair (and President Elect Nominee) Carol Duris who asked members to fill out auction procurement forms and said that everyone who turned in a form would be entered in a drawing. She said that there would be a drawing the first week of every month that will include anyone who has turned in a form. Next week raffle tickets will begin to be sold. She reminded members of the next Auction Committee Meeting on January 10 at the Esplanade. Maria Harlow said winter firesides would be held on January 30 and asked for hosts to sign up. Gil Quante from the Projects Committee said there will be a sock drive at the January 11 and January 18 meeting and there was a specific need for adult socks, and he promoted the January 13 Science Olympiad where volunteers are still needed.
True Confessions brought forth Rick Olson who said he made up at the Arlington (WA) Rotary Club who referred to him as being from their Grandfather’s Rotary Club as Tacoma #8 helped charter Everett Rotary who chartered the Arlington Club. Jim Fry is recovering from his second knee replacement surgery and is soon heading back down south to get warm. Past President Ray Schuler said he spent Christmas in Wisconsin where it was both cold and a White Christmas.
President Mark then asked members to volunteer to help do the sound and slides every week, and think about attending the upcoming District Conference in Tacoma. He also asked members to use the sign up sheets at the table for the next offsite meeting which will be held at Tacoma Yacht Club on January 25. Past President Jim Henderson was the winner of a gift card for turning in an auction procurement form.
President Mark welcomed Erik to the Club, and thanked Don Sheppard for being the meeting sponsor. Tonight’s social will be at the Spar, and that we will award some Paul Harris Fellows at the next meeting, and that next week’s meeting speaker will be Carol Mitchell, Director of Justice Services for Pierce County.
President Mark reminded us to go out and
Live Rotary! as he adjourned the meeting at 12:55 pm.