Governor's Message - April 11, 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Governor's Message: Deep membership slide has stopped
 
 
By Jim Fusco
 
I want to thank our clubs for their membership efforts. One of my goals for my year was to concentrate on membership. I was concerned that we were on a membership slide and were coming off a year where our total membership declined by 77 members to a total of 1,498, which made us the worst-performing district in New England. This decline continued through December, when our membership dropped to 1,470. I was determined to do something about that and, with your hard work, better district communications and the hard work of our District Membership Committee, I am pleased to report that the deep slide has stopped.
 
Our membership has recovered by 22 members and now stands at 1,492 members. This increase does not reflect the 21 associate members who have been add through five new corporate memberships. I am sure that with everyone’s continued hard work we will end this Rotary year with an increase in membership. Remember that all you need to do is identify a person whom you believe would make a great Rotarian - and ask them.
 
Last week was a very busy one for our Rotary clubs: Tewksbury held its “Tewksbury Taste of Town;” Acton-Boxborough held its “Reality Fair;” Concord held its annual “Pops Night;” Uxbridge held its “Wine & Chocolate Tasting” night; and I am sure there are many more club events that I am not aware of. In addition, District Governors-Elect Pat and Skip Doyle held their Post-PETS/District Assembly on Friday (see write-up on front page of this newsletter).
 
Finally, the Masters Golf Tournament from Augusta, GA was held - and I am sure many of you were glued to your TVs watching the excitement. Hopefully, you got a chance to see three holes-in-one! Speaking of golf: Don’t forget that the District 7910 Fellowship Golf League starts on May 12 at the Sterling Country Club. Click here to register. Remember that at the District Conference in May we still have openings for our golf outing at Squirrel Run in Plymouth on Saturday, May 21. Click to register.
 
This will be another relatively quiet week for me as I start with a District Conference Committee meeting this evening and a meeting of RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) on Wednesday. I will use my spare time working on the details of the District Conference and working on the 2016-2017 District Directory. Rotary International’s Council on Legislation is being held this week in Evanston, IL and Past District Governor Tom Polito is there representing District 7910. I am looking forward to a report from Tom when he returns this weekend - and I will share the information with you in a future newsletter
 
I received a report on the Rotary International Convention in Seoul, South Korea and am happy to report that District Governors-Elect Pat and Skip Doyle will be attending along with 9 other members of our District.
 
I am also proud to announce that I have received the Certificate of Organization from RI for the Interact Club of Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. Congratulations, Acton-Boxborough!
 
Facebook “Like” Contest: There are only five more days, including today, until our contest ends on Friday, so I sent out a notice to our members this past Saturday urging them to “like” our Facebook page. Our Facebook “Like” Contest has worked because when we started it, we had 489 “likes” and we now have 620 - an increase of 26 percent. Wouldn’t it be great if we could also increase overall district membership by 26 percent! I want to repeat my suggestion: At your next club meeting, ask everyone present to take out their mobile phone or tablet, go to the District Facebook page and click “like.” This will help to keep the “likes” coming! (Click here for our Facebook "Like" Contest flyer, in PDF format.) Remember that both the club with the “most amount” and the club with the “highest percent” of members that "Like" our page as of April 15 will win a free harbor cruise on the Pilgrim Belle during our District Conference.
 
District Conference:  In just 39 days, we will be celebrating your year on May 20-22 in Plymouth and there are a bunch of things that you should know to make this an unforgettable experience. So here you go:
  • Package deals are available to save you money, so register now.
  • Saturday afternoon will be free time: Either take a harbor cruise on the Pilgrim Belle and enjoy a lobster roll lunch or a deli lunch; or play a round of golf at Squirrel Run, click here to register.
  • Business Meeting on Friday, and every club should send a delegate.
  • House of Friendship on Friday and Saturday, and every club should have a display.
  • Silent Auction on Friday and Saturday, and every club should donate an auction item.
  • Hospitality “Sweets” on Friday and Saturday, and every attendee should enjoy the fellowship. Click here, to reserve a "sweet."
  • Reception for New Members/Presidents/Presidents-Election Saturday
  • Reception for Past District Governors as well as Major Donors on Friday
  • Paul Harris Dinner on Friday
  • Keynote speakers from Plimouth Plantation during the Friday and Saturday dinners
  • And much, much more!
For the complete District Conference Booklet (see, right), click here.
 
Foundation Grants Qualification Seminar, formally known as Grant Management Training, is required for a club to qualify for grants as explained by Incoming District Foundation Chair Sanjay Deshpande in his presentation on both February 29 and at the recent Northeast Presidents Elect Training Seminar (Click here, to view and download the February 29 version, in PDF format). Two training dates have now been set: Saturday, April 30 at the Hilton Garden in Waltham and Monday, May 9 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Leominster. For more information, click on the one you want to attend.
 
District Grants for 2015-2016 Rotary year: The deadline that your Final Report for your ‘15-’16 District Grants  needs to be filed is April 15, so you can receive your grant match from the District 7910. Do not miss the deadline! If you have any questions, please contact your assigned closer. Their contact information is in the 2015-2016 District Directory. They are:
  • Roy Balfour: Hudson, Nashoba Valley, Natick, and Westborough
  • Richard Simon: Groton-Pepperell, Montachusett Area, Neponset Valley, Tyngsboro-Dunstable, and Wachusett Area
  • Jorge Yarzebski: Bedford, Brookline, Concord, Needham, and Newton
  • Bob Anthony: Acton-Boxborough, Auburn, Ayer, Fitchburg, and Littleton
  • Michelle Gasbarro: Framingham, Milford, Northborough, Shrewsbury, and Tewksbury
RI and District Semi-Annual Dues: All clubs have now paid their dues. Thank you! Just an early reminder: The next dues bills will be sent to you in July and they will be based on the membership numbers your club reported as of this June 30. The amounts cannot be adjusted, so please ensure that the membership records are complete and accurate as of June 30 so that your club does not end up paying dues for members who will not be returning.
 
District Conference 2016 in Plymouth: It is hard to imagine but your District Conference, to be held from May 20 through 22 at the Hotel 1620 at Plymouth Harbor to celebrate your year, is only 67 days away. To register, click here. To view the promotional video, which was produced by Assistant Governor Richard Simon, click here. To view and download the 12-page Conference Booklet, which includes the answers to frequently asked questions, click here.
 
Don’t forget that this is a family-friendly District Conference, so think about bringing your kids and grandkids. Here are just a few of the exciting things that will happen at the Conference: Paul Harris Dinner; House of Friendship; Silent Auction; Hospitality “Sweets;” Receptions for Presidents, President Elects, New Members and Past District Governors; District Business Meeting, Golf (click here); and a harbor cruise on the Pilgrim Belle (click here). Please check out my new series of articles titled “District Conference: Things I want you to know” (front page, middle column), which will feature different District Conference highlights each week.
 
District Banners:  Our district banners have been busy. They are now available for you, so if you have an upcoming event or fundraiser and want to reserve one of the banners, please contact PR Chair Laura Spear at laura@spear.net.
 
Thank you for being part of a great organization and for being a Gift to the World.
 
We are having a great year!
 
Jim Fusco, 2015-2016 governor of District 7910, may be reached at  jim.fusco2@gmail.com.