Prayer. Almighty God, whose springtime creative activity is being revealed in the natural world, and whose love and mercy are continuously revealed in the experiences of our lives and all its components, both good and adverse, because through both we are strengthened.
Bless now our fellowship and the food provided for us. Through us speak to others of good and noble things. Amen.
Club Announcements
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Birthdays
Jon Turner April 11
Anniversaries
Steven & Wendi O'Neill April 13
Membership Anniversaries
None
This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought is about the generosity and dedication of our Foundation Alumni.
Former Rotary Peace Fellow from Norway Gert Danielsen, out of a desire to give something back, pledged to donate US$1,000 every year for the rest of his life to the
Rotary Centers program and challenged other peace fellows to do the same. Inspired by Danielsen’s generosity, Peace Fellow Scott Lang of the United States took up the
challenge and also pledged $1,000 annually. “My challenge and support reflects a keen desire to give back to the Rotary family now that I am able to do so,” Danielsen says.
“Giving a gift annually that I know will inspire Rotarians and others to give more and provide peace-building opportunities for even more people is a huge privilege to me.” The commitment made by these two Foundation Alumni is a true testament to the quality of the Peace Fellows and the Rotary Centers program.
Billy Brumfield House. The Rotary Club of North Jackson is serving supper once a month at The Billy Brumfield House, a Stewpot Community Services ministry. Our club serves on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Interested members need to meet @ Baker Donelson located at the corner of Eastover Drive and the I-55 North Frontage Road @ 5:15 PM and then travel together to Billy Brumfield. Also, if you are interested in sponsoring a month, the est. cost is $180 for the food. Mike Dawkins is project chair and can be reached @ 601-351-2428 or mdawkins@bakerdonelson.com.
Between the Lions. Please remember to sign up for Between the Lions. During the school year, we read weekly to pre-Kindergarteners at William Walton Elementary School on Bailey Ave. It is a wonderful experience! The children are truly information sponges and very willing learners. Contact Jenny Price (662) 213-1294 for more information. We have resumed reading and are really enjoying it.
Member Care Committeereminder: for anyone who needs assistance getting to a meeting, please call Luther Munford at (601) 985-4418.
Thinking of Proposing a New Member?
First, discuss with Classification Committee (Paul Miller or Julian Carroll). They will provide a member- ship application, check classification availability and discuss occupational qualifications.
Rotary Membership Occupational Qualifications Applicant should be one of the following:
A corporate officer
A Professional (Attorney, CPA, Physician. Engineer, Architect, etc) A Proprietor
An Agent of a reputable company
A Manager or Supervisor of a department or section of a business
Rotarians, don't forget to like the club's Facebook page to stay up to date on the latest happenings. Search us out at Rotary Club of North Jackson or click the link:
“Service above self; they profit most who serve best.”
P. O. Box 9528, Jackson, MS 39286-9528 www.northjacksonrotary.org
The key to pitching Rotary to young professionals
Posted on
Michael Walstrom leads a presentation on attracting young professionals into Rotary.
By Michael Walstrom, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Downtown Boca Raton, Florida
I think most would agree that Rotary has struggled to attract and retain young professionals. At a district conference in 2016, my district governor, Eric Gordon, asked me to put together a program for “YP” development. This was a new committee, so I was starting from scratch. I was 38 at the time and two years into my Rotary journey. The only thing I really knew was that I had a lot to learn.
My first step was to gather data. My district, 6930, has 6 percent membership in the “under 40” category. I put together a survey of ten questions designed to get at the core of what brought those members into Rotary, why they stay, what they want, and what the challenges are for them. Club presidents from all over the district helped get their YP members to complete my survey.
The process was fantastic. I knew why I was in Rotary, but I needed to know if my experience was similar to others, or anomalous. Reading through scores of submissions I began to see some distinct trends.
Younger members were drawn to Rotary through a friend or business contact.
They value networking, for personal but primarily business purposes.
Many are interested in developing relationships with community leaders, those who could offer guidance or mentorship.
Some identified time and financial commitments as ongoing hurdles.
Only about half identified service as an initial motivation for joining, but to most it is clearly an important factor.
Surveys can help put an issue into context, but how can clubs turn this into a strategy for YP membership development?
I think it means knowing what Rotary has to offer. It’s putting together a Value Proposition that can effectively pitch Rotary to the YPs in any community.
This pitch comes down to one idea, Leadership. Rotary is a unique environment wherein YPs can learn, practice, and exhibit leadership skills. This is an immeasurable benefit for one’s personal and professional development. Their values can be made clear; they learn to work with others and pay it forward.
Engaging Younger Professionals, a new online toolkit, helps clubs better understand younger professionals. From ideas for outreach and engagement to long-term benefits of becoming a Rotarian, this toolkit helps clubs rethink their membership, from a broad perspective down to a tactical level.
Brent Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Make-A-Wish Mississippi spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the Club’s April 3, 2018, meeting. He discussed the history of Make-A-Wish Foundation which was founded in Arizona in 1980 and its work in Mississippi, where it helps about 100 critically ill children annually, The Mississippi Chapter's goal is to assist nearly 200 children each year as approximately 165 children develop critical illnesses annually.
When Make-A-Wish assists a child it is at no cost to the child or his or her family. Funding is always a critical item and Make-A-Wish MS is conducting three fundraising events in the spring of 2018:
Starkville Wine & Wishes, April 5, 2018
Evening of Wishes - KENTUCKY DERBY SOIREE, May 5, 2018
Tee it Up for Wishes, June 8, 2018
More details on these events are available on the chapter’s website.
We thank Mr. Wilson for his presentation to our club and for his work on behalf of the families and children of MS. He (center) is shown at the podium during his presentation and following it with Matt Monsour (left), who introduced him, and Club President Witt Ruffin (right) in the accompanying photos.
Mina Torgerson, Director of Sales, and Katie DeMetz, Sales & Marketing Associate, of Visit Ridgeland, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club’s March 27, 2018, meeting. The subject of their talk was Ridgeland as a tourist destination, its features, attractions, accommodations, and dining establishments.
Ms. DeMetz (second from the left) and Ms. Torgerson (second from the right) are shown in the accompanying photo with Matt Monsour (left) who introduced them and club president Witt Ruffin (right) following the presentation. We thank them for their presentation and for the work they are dong on behalf of Ridgeland.
The Rotary Club of North Jackson recognized Officer Jeremy Jefferson as Pct. 4’s officer of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2018. He was recognized for his diligence and persistence in apprehending a criminal. He (center) is shown here with club Past President Edley Jones (left) and James McCowan (right), former Commander of Pct. 4.
We congratulate Officer Jefferson for his recognition and thank him for his service to the citizens of Jackson.
Michelle Baker, the Festival Coordinator for the Crossroads Film Society, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the Club’s March 20, 2018, meeting. Her subject was the society’s 19th festival, which will be held April 12-14 2018 at Malco’s Grandview Theater in Madison, MS. She discussed the type of films that will beshown as well as more detailed descriptions of some of them. She (center) is shown during her presentation and following it in the accompanying photos with Matt Monsour (left) who introduced her and Club Vice President Anna Powers (right).
We thank Ms. Baker for her presentation and wish her success with the film festival.
District 6820 PDG, Amanda Fontaine, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club’s March 13, 2018, meeting. The topic of her speech was Rotary Membership. Quoting a past RI president, Ms. Fontaine said that the main reason that many people have not joined Rotary is that they have never been asked to join. In conjunction with her attendance at the meeting, club members were asked to sit with people that they do not know at the meeting. She then asked the membership to determine the most interesting fact about the members that no one else knew at their tables and for a representative of the table to report that fact to the membership. Some very interesting facts were presented. Tom Turner said that he had served in both World War II and the Korean conflict. The first time in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and the second in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps.
PDG Fontaine is shown during her talk in the accompanying photo.
North Jackson Rotarians Tom Turner and Brad Benton were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows at the Rotary Club of North Jackson’s March 13, 2018, meeting. Dr. Turner was recognized as a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and awarded a Paul Harris pin with a sapphire. As part of their recognition, the two awardees received a glass of dry sherry in keeping with the club's recently established tradition.
The accompanying photo shows district 6820 PDG Amanda Fontaine (left), Club Director Suman Das. (2nd from left) and club President Witt Ruffin (right) presenting the awards to Messrs. Benton (2nd from right) & Turner (3rd from right). Congratulation to both Tom & Brad!
