Light Up Rotary Update
Posted by Jackie Davis
The Rotary Club of Lockport has had a wonderful first quarter for the 2014-15 Rotary year. In this past quarter, we inducted two new Rotary Club members as a Business Class membership, and had two new individuals apply for Rotary Club membership. Our Giving Committee arranged for us to purchase the dining room set for the new Homeless Veterans facilities, and we as Club participated in the popular “Ice Bucket Challenge” to raise funds for ALS. Several of our club members sold special edition newspapers on streets throughout the city on “Make a Difference Day” to raise funds for the United Way. We worked to revitalize our committees, and have nearly 100% of membership signed up for at least one committee.
The theme “Light Up Rotary” is an excellent reason for us as a club to engage in new experiences in our region, and re-introduce ourselves to the community at large in a fresh variety of ways. This past quarter, for the first time ever, we had a Rotary Day at the annual Community Market. The day before our event I invited the community to “Take a Positive Time Out” and come to our Rotary Day at the Community Market in the column I write in the Lockport Union Sun & Journal. Our booth included our brand new, promotional tent, a Rotary Lantern of Light & Love for market goers to sign, Rotary gifts, candy and prizes to win. There was a birthday wheel to spin, Rotary balloons, brochures, and bookmarks and a children’s story hour called “Reading With Rotarians in the central gazebo. We were interviewed by a reporter for the Lockport Star, and the story received a half page article including a large full color photo of Rotarians in our new tent at the Rotary booth. We even had an individual come to our meeting the following week, and fill out an application for membership, as a result of our Rotary Day at the Community Market.
Although the weather could have been better, it was a lot of fun, and my heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who helped to make this day a wonderful first time experience. We are anticipating many more ways to “Light Up Rotary” in the Lockport region this year.
This year’s District Governor’s Visit will take place on Tues October 7, 2014 at noon, at the Historic Palace Theater 2 East Ave, downtown Lockport NY. District Governor Jack Amico will be present at a special meeting of the Rotary Board at 11:00 AM on the mezzanine of the Palace. Rotarians Ellen Schratz and Chris Prada have arranged to “Light Up Rotary” in an outstanding way, with our logo and a picture of District Governor Jack Amico in full colored lights on the marque of the Palace. Be sure to drive by and take a look if you have not already seen it! Please to RSVP to Rotarian Ellen Schratz for the meeting, if you have already done so in order to have an accurate count for lunch. Please come and bring a friend!!
Also, I encourage you to check out our Lockport Rotary website on clubrunner for a calendar of speakers and upcoming events. You can also click on Committees and see where you have signed up. There is always room for more participation! See you Tuesday!
In Service Above Self,
Jackie Davis, President ’14-‘15