By: John Butterfield When the club’s board of directors offered dues relief to members due to the financial impact of the coronavirus on many families, nearly half of the club’s members chose to increase their contributions to help others as a result.
At its September 17 meeting, the board waived the collection of first-quarter dues, giving members a credit amounting to $85 or 25 percent of the standard annual dues of $340, to demonstrate the board’s concern about the possible impact of COVID-19 on members’ finances.
Subsequently, Tom Reis, president of the club’s foundation, sent a message to members asking them to consider donating all or a portion of those dues to the foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) organization. Tom indicated that the foundation expected to receive many more requests for assistance due to the pandemic and its financial resources are limited. The club’s foundation primarily provides financial support to local families experiencing short-term emergencies.
Club Executive Assistant Jennifer Best told board members at the November 19 meeting that as a result of the dues waiver, 39 members contributed a total of $3,375, with about 75 percent of these contributions going to the foundation for emergency assistance. The remainder was donated to support the Worthington Resource Pantry, Rotary International, Dominican Republic vocational school scholarships and funds in memory of Bill Shantz.
In addition to these contributions, members donated to two other club fund-raising efforts in the past month. Thirty-nine members contributed $1,447 to the Pours for Polio Plus drive, surpassing the goal of $1,200. Some attended a special RAH RAH on October 20 with an admission of $25 per person.
Furthermore, 27 members have already contributed $860 to the club’s Adopt-A-Family Holiday drive. The goal is $1,800. Normally, members buy clothing and other gifts for two area families for Christmas, but because of COVID, financial donations are now being sought.
Jennifer indicated that a total of 51 members or 63 percent of the club’s membership added donations onto their first quarter invoice to one or more causes. “This special financial effort demonstrates that club members really do take seriously our club motto of ‘Service Above Self’,” Jennifer said. “Their donations will be used to help others during these difficult times.”
