Aspiring Rotarians: Get ready to discuss service & leadership next week!

Demonstrating that a ‘Happy Hour’ Rotary Club is great idea, 29 aspiring Rotarians met at Lugano’s Loggia (3365 S. 2300 E. in the Millcreek area of Salt Lake City) to make new friends, business network, and talk about service. A total of 53 people have expressed interest in joining Rotary Club of Millcreek. Wow! Many members will be bringing friends next week.

Much thanks to Gerry Smith, Terry Palmer, Miriam Kramer, Megan Dunn, and Judy Zone who briefly addressed Rotary International’s Five Avenues of Service.

Next week’s meeting (Thursday, Sept. 1, 5:15-6:15pm at Lugano’s Loggia) will be committee work around these Avenues which are briefly explained below. Come prepared to join a committee, discuss these issues, elect a committee chair, and prepare notes for the next meeting on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Of course, the cash bar will be open (wine and beer $5, soft drinks $2.50, water: free!). Come with a $5 bill to leave on the table for the lovely appetizers Greg Neville, owner of Lugano’s is preparing for us.

Now, here are the committee descriptions to point discussion in the right direction next week. Be sure to send Judy Zone judy@youthlinc.org your preference for a committee!

Club Service: Members of this committee strive to make the club FUN. This is the group that plans the social events, thinks about how every meeting can be a friendship opportunity. This committee looks to recognize members for their accomplishments, and razz members when appropriate! Rotary Clubs have a tradition of ‘Sergeant at Arms’ who might lead club members in joke and story telling, with the aim of raising some ‘Happy Dollars’ for club projects.

Vocational Service: Rotary began as a business networking opportunity. Those serving on the Vocational Committee will look for ways we can recognize the professions of everyone involved in the club and make more connections within our community. Rotarians need to be role models of their professions, and this committee will find ways to mentor young people and educate each other about their businesses.

Local Service: There are so many needs-- and so many needy-- within our community. The challenge of this committee is to decide what local service projects Rotary Club of Millcreek will focus on, and how these projects will be presented and selected. Each member brings a favorite local cause. How can we balance the causes of our members with the limited funds, time, and attention of our members?

Terry Palmer and Dave Jones discussed their involvement with Salt Lake City Youth Government and homeless youth aging out of foster care.

Sonia Woodbury discussed City Academy’s GreenIt workshop on Saturday Oct. 8 from 9-Noon. An opportunity of high schoolers to develop their own ‘green project’ and get some funding.

International Service: There is a reason it’s called Rotary International. With 1.2 million members and 34,000 clubs worldwide, you are never very far from a Rotary Club. Fellowship with Rotarians around the globe is one of the huge benefits of Rotary membership. Rotarians in industrialized nations also have a responsibility to help those living in poverty in other lands. Like Local Service, this committee will face the challenge of deciding what international projects, of the many which will undoubtedly be presented by members, should the club focus on.

Youth Service: Rotary Clubs worldwide are suffering from a problem: aging membership. Luckily, many of those who are joining Rotary Club of Millcreek are 20 and 30-somethings. Yay! However, this committee needs to make sure that young people in our community receive the most positive impression of Rotary International, and are integrated into our ranks early and often.