<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Dear Rotarians,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">We had three excellent meetings this month, with high levels of participation. The first two featured speakers who surely drew in the crowd, Steve Lund, Chairman of the Board for the Mendocino Coast Hospital, and Dan Hamburg, 5th District Supervisor of Mendocino County, and were luncheon meetings. Last night we held our third evening meeting (Oct was our launch, Nov, and Jan), the new format, to invite busy working people and younger professionals.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">The first fifteen minutes were social, some people at the bar, some at the tables, and a few loading up on the tasty appetizers. We had a new young professional Jason Moore attend for the first time. We kept the first section of the meeting brief- happy dollars, anniversaries, sunshine report, and pin check.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">We then watched a TED talk video on Mobius, a sturdy SUV designed, built for, and by Africans. We had a lively round table discussion about how this type of innovative thinking solves many problems. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">The discussion was a spring board into our next section of the meeting, which had a leadership focus. I presented a concise handout from a book I have used over the years with groups. Most people have heard of acronyms, S.M.A.R.T. goals SWOT analysis, and things like this in business. But when it comes down to any organization- whether it is a small service club or a Fortune 500 company, there is always a need to find out what is going to help the organization. And that thing is the people. People are the valuable resource. So it is worthwhile to take a look at where our strengths and weaknesses are. We reviewed the hand out and graphic together, which has these things</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><ul><li>Attention to results<br></li><li>Accountability<br></li><li>Commitment<br></li><li>Healthy Discord<br></li><li>Trust<br></li></ul></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Actually I lied- it has the opposite of those things: Avoidance of Accountability, Inattention to Results, Lack of Commitment, Fear of Conflict, and Absence of Trust. I bullet listed above with the POSITIVE opposites of dysfunctional behaviors </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">We did not come to any conclusions because of the lack of time last night. Nor did I expect to. I would say one of the most important for us to say is - we CAN have a lively discussion when we don't agree- without hurting feelings. Being in a trusting group means we are genuinely open with one another about our mistakes and weaknesses.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">After those two helpful parts of the meeting with excellent discussions, we were ready to take on the elephant (s) in the room. What is our succession plan- namely who will be our President July first, and who is our President Nominee? And what happened to Casino night planning for February 23rd? What are we doing to bring in new members?</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">We did have have a trusting discussion as to who would be our next President Elect (PE) and President nominee (PN). President Elect Nominees, whether you were present or not were: Heather, Jeff, Matt, Pete and Brandt. Gary made the excellent point that a president has a whole lot of backup to run meetings when the current president presides. So true. I feel supported by every past president.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">SUCCESSION PLAN</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Jeff agreed to serve as our President Nominee, but we still need our President Elect. As our DG Bob Rogers pointed out last week, we will lose our charter without a president. Let's continue to give support to our potential PE's.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">CASINO NIGHT</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Casino night has been on the calendar since last April. I have asked for co-chairs, and Jerry did secure two excellent prizes. Last night we decided it is still on the table, but it would have to be later, OR we just do not hold it this year, and possibly go with a fundraising idea Ray has. Fundraisers are the highway to service projects.<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">MEMBERSHIP</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Membership will not go anywhere soon with members calling out in our meetings 'we need new members!' especially when there is a potential new member present. That is a big no-no. I hope we did not scare Jason away.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">One of the reasons we are failing at gaining new members is that our club members have a poor record of attending the District Assembly in April where we get trained, or at least following established methods. We have had all top quality meetings with excellent programs to invite potentials to, and our club does have a 51 year history and is highly regarded. Another other reason is because we have too many speaker format meetings and not enough mixers and assemblies like last night. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Sean is our Membership chair with John C. Co-chairing. If we have a speaker cancel in the upcoming weeks, the meeting's focus will be on membership. I have a long list of leads of people who have expressed interest, which I gave to Sean.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">*Keep a look out in the Beacon for the advertisement that John Porter submitted for Community Grant applicants.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">*Jody will be sending out an email soon to get Rotarians to join him in presenting dictionaries to 3rd graders. And then it will be scholarship time soon.<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">*Our January board meeting has been moved to accommodate a board member who would have missed next Thursday. It will be Monday 1/22/18 at noon at the Mendocino Hotel.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"> </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Please feel free to call me.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Warm regards,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Donna</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">Donna Schuler</div><div>Strategic Management Consulting</div><div>President, Mendocino Rotary Club</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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