I want to take the opportunity in my message this week to say thank you to all of you who make the Rotary Club of Springfield a great venue for collegiality and vehicle for positive action in the City of Springfield.
Thank you to Laurie Rosner and Sue Mastrionni for leading a demonstration of ClubRunner on August 7th. Going forward, you will be able to pay your dues, quarterly meal charges and make your Foundation gift all from the comfort of your home. ClubRunner lightens the load of Treasurer Gale Gates, while also tracking attendance and contributions to the Foundation. Club members will still be able to give a check to Gale to pay dues and any other club related expenses if they prefer.
I also want to recognize Past President Jay Leib for his leadership at Friends of the Homeless last Thursday. Jay’s commitment to recruiting helpers and being our man on the ground consistently places our club out in the community helping those most in need.
I have been meeting with Paul Lambert and John Doleva from the Basketball Hall of Fame, Frank Colaccino with the Colvest Group, and Stephen Krevalin of Bacon and Wilson, PC, to begin planning the Service Above Self Luncheon, which will be held on December 4, 2015. The Rotary Club of Springfield Service Above Self Award highlights a member of the local community who has shown a commitment to help others in our city. Last Year’s Honaries were Bob Perry and the late York Mayo. In conjunction with our local recipient, the Hall of Fame also chooses a national honorary. The national honorary is a person who has exhibited the values of service above self in the game of basketball and in the community. For example, last year’s national recipient was Bob Delaney, a former NBA official and former New Jersey State Trooper
Thank you again for all you do to place Service Above Self on a daily basis.
Kudos to Laurie and Sue for leading a demonstration of ClubRunner on August 7th. You now have the option of paying your dues, quarterly meal charges, and making your Foundation gift all from anywhere anytime with a click of a button. The ClubRunner program will help lighten the load of Treasurer Gale Gates while ensuring that your attendance and contributions to the Foundation are accurately reported to Rotary International. If you have not been to access ClubRunner, please let me know. Club members will still be able to give a check to Gale to pay dues and any other club related expenses. The Club will be investing in a jump bag to be handed from one President to the next with our digital camera, computer tablet for the treasurer and secretary to use at our meetings, and a panic button in case the current President can’t locate a meeting or forgets his pin!
Please look forward to President Jack Toner in presenting Ellen Fryman with the Member Recruitment Recognition bronze pin backer on September 11 for her sponsorship of new member Samir Patel. The bronze pin backer symbolizes the second new member Ellen has sponsored this year. In addition, Dr. Mary Anne Herron will receive a blue backer for her club pin for bringing Ellen Moorhouse into our club.
Fellow Rotarian Alan Popp, CEO of the Mason Wright Foundation, is in need of hardcover books for his facility. The Mason Wright Foundation has been serving the elder population in city of Springfield for more than one hundred years. The foundation provides both assisted and independent living at their facility in Springfield. The elderly men and women served there will benefit from your donations. If you have extra lightly used hardcover books in your home or office, please contact Alan. Your donation will be appreciated.
