Boys Scouts of America District Representative, and new transfer member, Michael Hall, will be our speaker this week as he updates our club on new programs through scouting. In addition to the inclusion of females in the scouting community, Michael will provide opportunities through which our club and members can be involved.
Farmers Market kicks off this Saturday, April 21! Come to market and enjoy our 30+ vendors, buy some of their goods and enjoy the fellowship. Cindy Johnson is coordinating volunteer shifts, which will be 2 members at a time for 2.5 hours shifts, two shifts per Saturday. Plan to be there to support our vendors and our market.
Congratulations again to our Interact Clubs and sponsors, Kimberley Church, Kelley Hemenway and Rene McGruder.
We were just informed that for the Interact District Council, of the seven slots available, four of those have been awarded to members of the Frisco ISD Interact! That is a distinct recognition of the level of service and dedication offered by our teens.
The objective is that the group will be integral to all activities related to Interact, providing leadership to teens as well as adult leaders. The group is challenged to proactively develop ideas, recruit volunteers and implement their ideas to make the District Interact program more successful.
We look forward to Zain Kason, Marian Ma, Harshitha Pelaprolu and Suriya Senthiljurmar representing our club at the district level and supporting the efforts they will be extending for next year. Zain Kason and Marian Ma are also on the Model UN team from our club. Our Interact teens are making a difference.
A flap-tanstic time was enjoyed April 14 at the Big Star Marathon, braving cold winds, but warmed by the appreciation of recipients of over 2,000 pancakes. Sixteen Rotarians, joined by spouses, mixed, poured, flipped and served pancakes to marathon runners and families. In addition, Steve Weible and Mark Heuchert lined the opening route with flags the day before, at the request of race organizers.
Our Interact Club provided water to runners at the last mile of the race, led by Youth Service Chair Rene McGruder.
You are invited to the Interact Spring Fling to learn how more about Interact Club. The Frisco Club will join kids from 60+ area high schools. They will be celebrating, playing games, eating food, doing a service project and meeting new friends. As Rotarians & Educators, you are being invited to help make it a great event for these kids. We will also have Advisor Training while they are playing games so you can learn more about involvement in Interact.
It is very important that you register and take advantage of this opportunity to volunteer and learn more about Interact on Saturday, April 21st, 2018, 10:30 am at Shawnee Trail Park. Hint: our club is to receive an award, so bring any middle/high school students you know and introduce them to Service Above Self through Interact.
Last week's meeting was abuzz with conversation as our Club Committees met last week during our program period. A few updates from the discussions include:
Farmers Market: permit for year-round market is received; first market is April 21st. Members will be needed for 2 shifts per week with 2 members per shift. Please see Cindy Johnson to sign up.
Foundation: the Rotary Direct enrollment for monthly charge or debit towards Paul Harris account will be presented again to membership this week.
Fundraising: our Raffle kicks off this week with a maximum of 350 tickets at $100 per ticket with a buy-2-get-1-free promotion. The winner will have a choice of a trip from three options: golf adventure in Scottsdale, Spirit of America trip to in Washington, DC; or a beach get-away in St. Thomas.
Membership: a proposal was presented to develop a target list of potential members to contact with meeting invitation; two guests requested membership information.
Social: two events are tentatively being prepared for year-end and include Cocktail Hour at Cowboys Club on May 15 and a pool party in June.
Youth: Interact has Spring Fling April 21, will be assisting at Farmers Market and is working with Model UN team for fundraising. Scholarship applications are under review and recipients will be introduced to the club in May.
“Making a difference” is the Rotary theme this year and it’s a phrase to which I relate, as it embodies the reason I am a Rotarian: to effect change. As I reflect on this theme, the former schoolteacher in me springs forward, and as I exhorted my students to do, I wanted to be certain I understand the words and their meaning.
Making: means creating, building, constructing, crafting, formulating, composing, fashioning.
Difference: means change, alteration, variance, modification, transformation.
Put some of those meanings together and it includes creating change, or constructing transformation. Powerful terms that I see happening through our club. Some changes are minor, like a meeting location or leadership positions. Other, however, are more impactful, like providing funds to an organization like Boys & Girls Club, Camp Craig Allen, Frisco Family Services, YMCA to support their improvement in the lives of others.
More visible changes I have witnessed include many of the youth we reach through programs like Interact, RYLA, Model UN and scholarships. I’m deeply encouraged
(heartened, stimulated, inspired, boosted) by teens like Joyce (name changed for privacy), a RYLA applicant who doing her interview said, “I believe there is something in me this camp can unlock.” Joyce has transformed from being invisible last year to becoming a confident leader and is reaching for the stars in her college career, to a level which a year ago she didn’t believe was possible. Or David (name changed for privacy) who was forced to re-schedule his interview due to a job conflict. Rather than blow off the interview or his job, he sought a solution (Facetime) to maintain his responsibility to his employer while seeking the opportunity RYLA provides. This is the kind of young man we want to assist.
The same is true of some of our scholarship applicants, young people who may not have the highest GPA in their class, nor be President of every organization on their resume, but teens who recognize the need for funds to fulfill their career aspirations with a college education. As I read that desire in their essays and hear it expressed in their interviews, it boosts my motivation to provide for more.
Rotary Club of Frisco is not about a lunch meeting once a week; it is about constructing transformation in individuals. This should invigorate each of us as we participate in that process!
