What is different this year? Is it the economy? Is it the aftermath of 9/11? Or is it because we didn’t meet the last half of December? Whatever the reason, our clay shoot donations are running way behind last year and even behind two years ago. We have received $5,800 this year compared to $9,000 at this time last year and $6,800 the year before. In terms of the number of donors we have received commitments from 19 firms or individuals which compares to 25 and 21, previously. In order to meet our goal of clearing $40,000, we must resolve to put a renewed effort into our one fundraising event.

A sponsorship form is included with the quarterly bill which accompanies the Quarterly News. Please, choose the appropriate level of participation and return the form to Jack Whitmire. Remember our goal equates to about $600 per member, so please help by donating or finding donors.

The price of sponsorships is the same as last year. Perhaps the best value, especially for shooters, is the corporate sponsorship selling for $600. Even if you are not a shooter, the five entry tickets could be used for customer relations. Station sponsorships which include two entry tickets are $300. The $200 youth sponsorship remains popular with non-shooters. For high-rollers we still list the namesake sponsorship—$10,000—and underwriters for food, targets, and field operations. The last three are $800, $1,500, and $2,500, respectively.

Again this year, the Boys and Girls Club has agreed to take the leadership role in the auction and gun raffle. These have been significant fund sources in the past. We need to take a more active part in the gun raffle. Last year we cleared about 75 percent of the potential because the tickets just were not sold. At the kickoff meeting held in November we agreed to make a better effort to sell the tickets within our club.

New this year. To encourage participation and improve efficiency, we plan to recruit station captains. This person will be responsible for the operation of the assigned station for the two days of the event—April 27 & 28. This includes finding, scheduling, and training the necessary people. Simple training materials will be available. The recruiting will start in January.

Other things remain the same. Mary Hodgkinson and Sally Covacevich will take care of the food. Travis Fromme will continue as grounds guy. Greg Haynes will remain the titular head of field operations. Carole Parks will do the scoring again. Jack Whitmire will take care of the administrative thing.

Corporate sponsors. Here, we are running ahead of last year—seven compared to five last year. They are: Chesnick Furniture, Speedy Stop, Brannan Paving, Alexander & Marek, Ruth L. Constant, Inc., Suwannee Supply, and Sather Financial Group. All except Brannan Paving are Victoria Rotarians. Thanks

Station Sponsors. The two station sponsors are Victoria Business Magazine and Lowe’s Companies.

Youth Sponsors. The four student sponsors as of the end of 2001 are Colonial Funeral Homes, Six Flags Glass, Truman Transfer & Storage, and Cole Cole & Easley.

Auction Sponsors. The following have donated to the auction—C.O. Firestone-Rio Grande, Kitchen & Bath Showplace, Victoria Communications Services, Boardwalk Properties, Frost Insurance, and All American Awards & Trophies.

Donations Committee made recommendation for grants

Our Donations Committee solicited requests for grants and received 24 from its publicity campaign. The committee recommended that we distribute $7,700 to ten of requestors. The Board of Directors approved the recommendation on December 7. Checks will be distributed at our meetings over the next few months. The first, $1,000, will be presented to the Victoria Fine Arts Association on January 8.

The remaining recipients will be:

    

Children’s Discovery Museum     Ballet Folklorico        Community Food Bank                 Friends of Victoria Baseball               Victoria County Senior Citizens Center Minority Business Alliance                 Making the Grade                               Mid-Coast Family Services                  Victoria Regional Museum Association

$500 $500 $750 $500 $750 $1,500 $200 $500 $1,500

 

Bobby Schaar heads this committee and would be the best source for additional information.

We have countless unfilled classifications! Do you know someone in one of these professions? If so, fill out the form available from Ken or our web site, www.victoriarotary.org.

Excitement! Sizzle! Fun! Become a Part of it all… Phyllis Hunt

Does this describe the typical Rotary Program? If not, maybe YOU have a better idea! Well, we want to hear it! Send your program ideas, suggestions and comments to phyllishunt@victoriachamber.org and we’ll do our Rotary best to get them worked into our 2002 Program schedule!

Several new items are on the web—Christmas party pictures, Salvation Army bell ringer pictures, and a membership application form.

At least three of our members plan to attend the annual International Conference being held in Barcelona, June 23-26. Registration forms and promotional articles are available in the Rotarian. The Rotary International web site has a plethora of information accessible directly or through a link on our site.

The residents of Catalonia and Spain, in general, are accustomed to receiving some 65 million tourists from all over the world every year. Barcelona is a uniquely tourist-friendly environment and an easily navigable city because in preparation for the 1992 Olympic games, the city of Barcelona modernized and improved its infrastructure including its airport, metro, tourist information services, and local transportation.

There are several travel agents catering to the Rotary convention trade. The Hamden Rotary Club, www.hamdenrotary.org, and Howard Tours, www.howardtours.net, are two that cater to Rotarians. Bruce Bauknight and David Drost have gone on several Howard tours, but probably aren’t going to go this year. The Frommes and Whitmires have booked through Hamden Rotary for Barcelona. Jerry FitzSimmons wants to go, but has not made a final decision.

Is anyone else going?

The Board approved entering three teams in the February 9th Knowledge Bowl, fundraiser hosted by the Victoria Advocate to benefit the Victoria Adult Literacy Council. Traditionally, we have participated in this event. Our donation to the Adult Literacy Council does double duty. 

This is a great time to get to know some of your fellow Rotarians. Four players are needed for each team. Please volunteer to play when asked; it is fun and the teams have cute names.

Recommended reading Travis Fromme

Attention all new Rotarians and Rotarians who are interested in the history and scope of Rotary. On pages 14 and 15 of the January issue of the Rotarian, there are fifty questions about Rotary Awareness. This article will answer even the most seasoned Rotarians’ questions about what Rotary is and its global reach.

Also in this issue there is a series of articles on Barcelona, Spain, the site of the 2002 Rotary International Convention. If you plan on attending the International Convention, these articles give a glimpse of what Barcelona and the surrounding area have to offer.

Remember when you are through reading your Rotarians give them to Mary Hodgkinson for recycling.

It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it.         --Thomas Jefferson, 1798

Assets

Total Assets                                36,837

Equity                                            36,837

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