A Message from the Club President

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                                                    SPRING IS IN THE AIR

My fellow Rotarians

It is now March!  The weather is getting warmer and the garden centers are filled with people starting spring projects.  As a club, we've had a very productive past month!  We hosted a profitable "Sock Hop", had the pleasure of hosting the Inspector General of Homeland Security, had some great speakers. I feel we have had some great positive momentum in our club.

This week, our president elect, Ann Bywaters had an informal meeting of board members to start planning for her presidential year starting in July.  I can see in her face the excitement of her presidential year. I am very proud of the way she has been so proactive. She is going to PETS (President elect training) with a wonderful, positive attitude. .  Carole Tolomeo is also going as a district representative.  It is great for our small club to know how many of us serve on the district level and have risen through the ranks of Rotary!

Our membership appears to be our greatest challenge and with some really great "brainstorming", I feel we may start to make some inroads to bolstering our membership.  In order for any organization to sustain itself, it must "procreate".  I feel that a part of the responsibility of all Rotarians is to attempt to bring in new members to the organization.  Bringing in new members should be a defined responsibility of every Rotarian in this club. This responsibility is as equally important as attendance, paying dues, and volunteering.  I know as my board leaves and the new board starts its journey, membership will be a paramount challenge that we have to face in a more "responsible" way.  We have some great ideas that will put this responsibility on new Rotarians as well as the "veterans".   If our club does not add new members, we can't possibly sustain the excitement we now have in the things we are doing. Additionally, we do not have a treasurer for the New Year.  We are a small club and the amount of work required is not overwhelming.  I am asking all of you to search your souls and please let me know if you will take over this responsibility.  I have been assured by James Stout, that the new treasurer will have a clean set of organized books and some help on his end.  Without a treasurer, it is impossible to keep the club running!!

I hope that those of you that are sitting on the sidelines will take a breath of the "spring air" and renew your enthusiasm in Rotary.  We have our movie night coming up in April or May and our end of the year dinner on June 10th at the Lauderdale Yacht Club.  Last year was fun, this year will be even more fun. As the word "outgoing" becomes more of a reality, I know what a great year it has been for me so far. I do appreciate all the support of our board and members as we start planning for Ann's year. Have a great March.  

Howard Lustgarten, President