December 5, 2024
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Kelly Neville
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration:
Professor’s Quote: Rollin Abernethy
Foundation Flash:
Introduction of Guests: Dave Hansen
Guests: Justin Christenson introduced James VanDyke
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA/Exchange Students: Olafur, Nathan and Addison
Rotaract/Interact Students:
Humor: Terry Roark
Foundation Drawing: Keith Rittle won $10 with $133.50 in the jackpot!
O’Dwyers Drawing: Rollin Abernethy
Announcements:
- Don’t forget to volunteer to work the greeting table!
- Do you know a family that would be willing to host Olafur? Let Caitlin White or Todd Pearson know.
- There will be no meeting December 26 or January 2. On Jan. 2, Terry Moss will host an unofficial meeting at Ivinson Memorial Hospital in the cafeteria.
- United Way of Albany County pledge envelopes are on the table.
- Caitlin White showed the club a picture book and book plate for speakers.
- Murray Schroeder announced that the holiday party will be January 9 at the Library downtown. Sign up to attend.
- Murray Schroeder announced that we raised $537 for our Christmas family.
Rotarian of the Week: Murray Schroeder nominated the three Christmas family shoppers: Sarah Brown Mathews, Pam Dunnuck, and Hanna Eslinger; Jenny Eisenhauer nominated everyone under 40.
Special Presentation: Randi Downham and Dave Hansen presented bylaw changes for the club to review. The club will vote on the redline changes to the bylaws on Dec. 19.
The changes are to update membership options for businesses. Both options will be included. A business will be able to:
- Option A: Have a primary member with alternatives that can come in the primary member’s place. The primary would be the official Rotarian for dues/benefits. The cost would be $1,000 a year, an increase from the $860 dues.
- Option B: Businesses can have multiple members. The first would be the primary member at $1,250. There can be two alternates at $250/each. This would currently cost $2,580, but would be reduced to $1,750 under the new bylaws. All the members would be official Rotarians.
Songs: Deck the Halls
Program: Laramie Young Professionals, Jerrica Becken
Introduction: Caitlin White
The mission of Laramie Young Professionals is to empower individuals aged 21 to 40 by fostering connections, encouraging community engagement, and promoting professional growth. We achieve this through three pillars: Connect, Volunteer, and Grow.
LYP has become a program under Laramie Chamber Business Alliance, meeting monthly for happy hours or lunch meetings. LYP alternates between volunteer projects, professional development workshops, and networking events.
LYP will start charging for dues in 2025 to grow membership. Partnership with professional organizations, such as Rotary, can be helpful. We need transition support. Rotary can be an option for members as they reach 40. LYP will have a birthday celebration each year as a sendoff for those aging out.
Response: Tony Hoch
‘Response: The Rotary Club of Laramie will make a donation to the public library children’s book fund in the speaker’s name.
NOTE: We Do Not Donate a Book!
December Rotary Anniversaries:
- Megan Goetz (21 years), Rollin Abernethy (19 years).
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
•FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
•SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
•THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
•FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org