Maura's aspirations for the 2011-2012 rotary year:

 Rotary is like a home to me.  The fellowship and humanitarian projects we've participated in have brought such fulfillment to my life.  This year's international theme says it all: "Reach within to embrace humanity."  If we think about Rotary as a home, we have to evaluate its needs.  Our club was built in 1938 and has now been in existence for 73 years, time to repair and strengthen our foundation before we can build on.  Some ways to accomplish this during the year are as follows:

 Establish a 3-5 year plan with amongst future presidents to ensure continuity in club officers.  How:  We will have past president, current, president elect, and president elect nominee work on the strategic planning tool provided by the district.  We are also setting a committee that will examine rotary's objectives and the four way test along with club goals to establish a decision tree for donation requests.  This will promote symmetry in giving and fundraising and will provide definition why we have fundraising and enable the club to identify the need to sell the car raffle tickets or citrus or fish race tickets.

 Have the bylaws reviewed, redrafted and brought to a vote by January 10, 2012 prior to our BAH  How:  Provide one of our lawyers, be it Tom Hill or Don Johannes with the Constitution of the Rotary Club and the recommended Rotary Club Bylaws to utilize in drafting our bylaws.  Once a draft is put together in time for December board meeting (12/8/11), the board will review and give suggestions.  If no suggestions, the members will receive notice of the proposed bylaws 10 days prior to the meeting where it will be brought to a vote.  It will require 1/3 of our active membership at this meeting to establish a quorum.  In order to be passed, it will require 2/3 of the members present to be in favor.

 Currently we are at 65 members - like to have 71 by 6/30/12 (increase 9%)  How:  Ensure that we retain our existing members by keeping them involved and inspired; encourage each member to list 5 friends/ associates to invite to a meeting; host some different types of events to attract possible candidates such as BAH 1/19/12 and some less formal events such as bonfire 10/21/11 and horse racing trip (8/5/11?).  Also work to establish an interact club at the high school that will build a pool of future members.

  Improve our public relations within our community.  How: Begin publishing our upcoming programs in the "events" section of the local paper and inviting locals to our meetings.  Rebuild our website (almost complete ready to launch next week) and promote Rotary's facebook page amongst the members (program coming 8/16 at the learning center).  Plan to have public relations efforts around all service projects to educate the community on what Rotary is and does.  With our goal of 7500 hours, we will be making efforts to inform the community of those hours. 

Move club closer to Every Rotarian Every Year- Where we each give $100 to the annual fund of the Rotary Foundation.  How: See if there is interest in another giving circle.

    Personally, I am trying to schedule attending the next international convention in Bangkok, Thailand.  Anyone considering this should please let me know by September.  The Convention is scheduled for May 6-9, 2012