The Annual Meeting of the Rotary Club of Akron was conducted on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. The purpose of our Annual Meeting is to announce the election of Officers and Directors for the Club, the Rotary Camp Board, and the Akron Rotary Foundation, provide an update of the Club’s financial condition, an overview of the past year’s activities, and potential goals and activities for the next year.
Shared below is a synopsis of the Annual Meeting presentations.
Finance - Michael Gladysz, Club Treasurer
Club Financial Report for the fiscal year July1, 2021 through June 30, 2022:
Total Revenue: $67,625.26 (includes dues of $47,751.66)
Total Expenses: $61,155.08 (includes Administrative Expenses of $38,387.11 and Committee Expenses of $18,674.66)
Net Income: (income after expenses) $6,516.96
Assets: (Cash-position as of 6/30/2022) $99,192.52
Liabilities: $44,722.35
Total Equity: $54,470.17
Election and Bylaw Revision Results - Karen Hrdlicka
Club, Foundation, and Camp Election Results:
Club, Foundation, and Camp Election Results:
Club
Executive Team 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024:
President: Tom Knauer
President-Elect: Thane Billow
Vice-President: Katy Miller
Secretary: Terry Dalton
Treasurer: Michael Gladysz
President: Tom Knauer
President-Elect: Thane Billow
Vice-President: Katy Miller
Secretary: Terry Dalton
Treasurer: Michael Gladysz
Directors: Laura Horovitz, Gerry Kiefer, Liv Pilon, Cheryl Warren
Akron Rotary Foundation
1/1/2023 – 12/31/2023 Laura Smiley
1/1/2023 – 12/31/2025: Doug Kohl, Katy Miller, Rima Muakkassa, Michael Shearer
Rotary Camp
Brooks Ames (Rotarian), Rennick Andreoli (Honorary Rotarian), Getta Kutachief, Susan Savage, Joe Swiatkowski (Rotarian)
Foundation & Camp Annual Updates
The Club approved the recommended changes to the existing bylaws presented by the Nominating Committee.
Akron Rotary Foundation - Dan Riemenschneider
The Akron Rotary Foundation is completely different than The Rotary International’s Rotary Foundation.
Net assets of Akron Rotary Foundation (ARF) are around $2 million given current market fluctuations – about ½ the assets are restricted or designated for the benefit of the camp. The other ½ is to act as a catalyst for the Rotary Club of Akron to make a big impact on its community and beyond.
Currently the ARF covers Club guest lunches, fifteen - $1,000 scholarships to APS students; foreign exchange student program stipends ($200/month per student) and assist with eastern and western trips, if necessary; Rotary Youth Leadership Academy fees and grants the Club $15,000 annually to make big impacts on the community to grow awareness of Rotary, grow membership and grow opportunities for the Camp and ARF.
Donations range from $10 to $100,000 but typically total less than $15,000 per year. The ARF needs Rotarian support through annual contributions and legacy and estate planning.
We are working with club leadership and board to long-range plan effective ways to leverage the annual grants, focusing on utilizing and supporting the Camp in those plans.
Akron Rotary Camp - Dan Reynolds
A few facts about Rotary Camp in 2022:
- $108,792 in financial assistance provided for camper participation
- 962 campers served at Happy Days and Rex Lake locations through Summer Camp and year-round Respite programs
- Hosted 6 Field trips for the I Promise Village
- 115 hours spent swimming
- Hosted Camp Promise weekend camp for individuals with Muscular Dystrophy
- Campers took 60 canoe rides and 85 pontoon boat rides
- 65 group experiences on the Bud Rogers Adventure Park
- 10,092 meals served to 213 campers and staff
- Employed 40 seasonal staff representing 6 countries
- Extended School Year program provided 250 hours of service provided by Intervention Specialists; 50 hours of services provided by Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists
- 516 volunteers served 2,929 hours YTD
Club Annual Updates:
Membership - Tom Knauer
The club started this Rotary year with 127 members, and we added two new members so far this year.
We have one person who has been approved and we’re waiting to set an induction date. Police Chief Steven Mylett’s membership is being voted on at next week’s board meeting. Another person is beginning the membership process.
On the negative side, Lynda just sent out termination letters to six members for non-payment of dues.
For some perspective, during our last year at Portage CC (2018-19) we had 155 members. COVID took a toll not only on The Rotary Club of Akron but other district clubs as well.
We are experiencing an increase of in person attendance since our move to the church--up from an average of approximately 17 per week at Bounce to 23-25 per week at the church.
Tom would like to see an improvement in member engagement and encouraged each member to do some person-to-person outreach to members we have not seen in a while in an effort to bolster attendance and engagement.
The Membership committee is working on a new member welcome kit in the hope this may help new members become acclimated more quickly and easily into the club.
Tom is recommending the club be willing to try a once-a-month breakfast meeting for three months to see if we can get a few more folks to participate and also recommended we revisit the idea of a corporate and/or family membership. Tom intends to discuss these last two items at next week's board meeting.
Club Survey - Sandy Naragon
Sandy Naragon gave a brief report on the Club survey. In the interest of time, Sandy stated she would be presenting more detail on the survey results at an upcoming meeting. The winner of the $50 gas card for completing the survey was won by Hugh Alpeter.
While the past year has been challenging with the continuation of some COVID 19 challenges and the return to in-person and Zoom meetings, the Club has much to be proud of.
Successes:
- September Regatta raised $799K
- Bylaws revision – Passed
- District Matching Grant –
- Rotary moved in September to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church!
- We have exchange students this year!
- We started volunteering, monthly, at the Akron/Canton Regional Food Bank & Salvation Army Red Kettle
- Akron’s Julie Brandle was chosen to be District Governor Elect
Wrapping up our 2022 Annual Meeting, President Farkas had this to say: “We are halfway through our Rotary year… Please help to make the remaining 6 months successful…. please attend our meetings; take an active role; share your ideas; and remain positive. Remember we are in this together – no one can do the work alone!
Looking forward to the days ahead…hopefully as much as I am!”
Minutes respectfully recorded and presented by
Terry Dalton, Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair
Terry Dalton, Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair
