Focusing Our Service Work

Task Force Summary & Recommendations

January 28, 2025

Focus Service

Task Force Members

Charlie Hamlyn (Co-chair)

Connor Miller (Co-chair)

Kennard Weaver

Max Anderson

Lorraine Beers

Homer Nye

Lowell Gruman

Matt McDonough

Miriam Owsley

Doug Meteyer

Michelle Gallagher

Bob Cooney

Mack Beers

Marsha Smith

John Roddy

John Cox

Sakura Takano

Linda Racine

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Task Force Charge

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Identify 1-3 Signature Projects that:

• Are unique to our club, that we are known for
• Define who we are
• All members can be a part of

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Summary of work

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• Conducted a club Survey
• Developed criteria to evaluate potential projects
• Identified our club’s assets--what makes us unique among organizations and even other Rotary clubs?
• Brainstormed possible projects/areas of focus, evaluated them using the agreed on criteria, and came to consensus on recommendations

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The Survey

Which of the Rotary International 7 Areas of Focus do you see as top priorities for our club's service work?

• Promoting Peace
• Fighting disease
• Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
• Saving mothers and children
• Supporting education
• Growing local economies
• Protecting the environment

All areas received support�Participants were asked to rank the Rotary International 7 Areas of Focus from highest (#1) to lowest (#7)

The highest ranking…

Community Need?

• Does it address a community need?
• Would it have a big impact?
• Is it sustainable?

Something we could continue to support for a long time?

Is it a big enough umbrella that there are a number of things that will require ongoing work?

Criteria

Build Camaraderie?

• Is it something club members are passionate about--that they find meaningful?
• Would it provide hands-on involvement?
• Could it involve/engage the community?
• Is it something everyone could be a part of? Even though they might participate in different ways?

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Criteria

Align with Rotary Goals?

• Does it fit one of Rotary’s Five Avenues of Service?
• Club Service
• Vocational Service
• International Service
• Community Service
• Youth Service
• Does it fall within Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus?

Criteria

Is our club the best organization to do it?

• What could we do it better than anyone else?
• Is someone else already doing it well? Or is someone else in a position to do it better than us?
• Do we have the resources (or could we raise or leverage the resources) to make it happen?
• Consider our club’s assets

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Criteria

Club Assets

• We are a part of Rotary International-an incredible network of 1.2 members around the world with significant expertise and connections.
• We have access to District and Global grant dollars
• We have a long history of involvement in World Community Service

Club Assets

We are a large club (165 members) with a deep bench

• Lots of expertise in a number of areas
• Many, many connections in the community

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Club Partnerships

Our Club launched…

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Rotary Charities

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A foundation with significant financial resources and expertise

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Rotary Camps & Services

Stewarded more than 1,750 acres in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties since 1923.

After this preliminary work we…

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• Brainstormed possible projects/areas of focus
• Evaluated them using the agreed on criteria

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Came to consensus on the following…

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Proposed Areas of Focus

All have both local and international service possibilities

Water

Local Service

We have a long history of investing in water and other initiatives related to protecting the area’s natural resources.

Water

Local Service-Ideas

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Host a big event every year at Discovery Pier

• BBQ/family-fun event
• Raise scholarship funds for students to participate in water education or activities

Involve club members in beach clean-ups, restoring watershed projects, water related programs like swim lessons, and/or citizen science project work.

Water

International

Service

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Provide safe drinking water in developing countries.

Strengthening Families

Local Service

A significant number of families in our region make too much money to qualify for medicaid and other services but are struggling to make ends meet.

Strengthening Families

Local Service-Ideas

Work with other organizations to:

• Mentor young adults exploring careers
• Help with job placement, internships
• Provide experiences families would not otherwise have
• Assist with food security (Feed the Kids, Food Rescue)

Plan Quarterly or Monthly projects. Be a corps of volunteers.

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Strengthening Families

International Service

Supporting families in developing countries aligns with several of Rotary International’s 7 areas of focus:

• Supporting education
• Saving mothers and children
• Growing local economies (microloans)

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Computer Training

Uganda

Midwife Training

Haiti

Youth

International & Local Service

Youth Exchange

Building international peace, one student at a time. This program has a big impact. We’re good at it, and it’s a program that is distinctive for Rotary.

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Youth

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Based on follow up discussions, it appears that there is greater interest in broadening the category:

• More Expansive/Options
• Greater Flexibility
• Greater Impact

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Local Service

Career Networking Day 2019

Youth

International Service

Our club has been supporting youth in developing countries through:

• Early Education (Planting Seeds-Guatemala)
• Primary, Secondary, and Postsecondary Education
• Guatemala
• Uganda

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Youth

International Service-Idea

Our club could:

• Raise funds
• Help outfit and prep classrooms
• Help build furniture

Could partner with NMC

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Goal:

Launch one new preschool per year

Temperature Check!

Do these Areas of Focus resonate with you?

Next steps

Identify Task Forces to refine each of the Areas of Focus

• Water

Convene local stakeholders related to water to understand needs and which ones we are in the best position to address.

• Supporting Families

Convene organizations who do this work to understand needs and which ones we are in the best position to address.

• Youth

Determine how to expand the Youth Exchange program & get more club members and families involved. Determine other opportunities.