committees

 
 

Midland Rotary members are committed to making lasting change in our community and our world.

Our members donate significant volunteer time each year beyond our weekly club meetings to meet the challenge of “Service above Self”. That explains how we accomplish so much every year and how the bulk of the work gets done. If you are a newer member and would like to increase your level of involvement, or if you are a long-time member and would like to change your focus, check out the variety of options available, which are listed below:

COMMITTEES

  • Community Needs: Meets the financial needs primarily for Midland County youth-oriented projects that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

  • Executive Committee: Charged with developing goals and objectives for the overall Club in coordination with National and International goals and objectives. (Please note, this committee is voted on at the Annual Meeting.)

  • Fellowship and Service: Charged with committee-wide events which help to promote the image of Rotary and our motto of “Service above Self”. Incorporates the following subcommittees:

    • Midland Blooms

    • Pancake Supper

    • Salvation Army Bell Ringers

    • Seniors Christmas Luncheon

    • Tridge Walk

  • Focus on Youth: Charged with acting in the best interests of the youth in our Club and community, ensuring they maintain their basic human rights while aiding in skill development in all area of life. Incorporates the following subcommittees:

    • Advocate for Youth

    • Camp Rotary – RYLA

    • Interact

    • Rotary Youth Exchange – RYE

  • Fundraising: Charged with developing and promoting events intended to create awareness of Rotary and generating income for Rotary initiatives aligned with the Community Needs Committee. Fundraising incorporates the following subcommittees:

    • Golf Outing

    • Riverdays

    • Rotary International Foundation

  • Grove Park: Charged with conducting twice-a-year clean-up days, planning activities to benefit residents of the Midtown neighborhood such as children’s activities at "Gather at Grove", and attending neighborhood association meetings and park-related planning meetings to understand neighborhood needs.

  • International Initiatives: Responsible for identifying, prioritizing, selecting opportunities, and then organizing the Club’s implementation response including funding and staffing. These projects are aligned with Rotary International’s priorities and include polio eradication, improving water and sanitation, and vocational training activities.

  • Member Orientation and Social: Functions to orient and integrate new members into the Club; introduce them to other members, to our customs, and committees; and help them navigate the process from red badge to blue badge. Also plans and executes social events for the entire Club to help foster social ties and provide Club enjoyment. Incorporates the following subcommittees:

    • New Member Orientation

    • Social Events

  • Midland Rotary Foundation: The Midland Rotary Foundation (MRF) is a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization, established in 1977 so that Rotarians could make tax deductible contributions that would benefit the Midland area community. The current $900,000 endowment allows the MRF to donate $35,000 to $40,000 in scholarships and grants each year, mostly benefitting disadvantaged youth. The MRF has its own bylaws and 11-member Board of Directors (drawn from the Midland Rotary Club) that meets four to six times each year to evaluate applications and award grants. (Please note that membership is restricted.) The MRF Board of Directors consists of:

    • Tawny Ryan Nelb (Chair), Kellie Bos (Treasurer), Melissa Barnard (Secretary), Jim Nigro, J. Dee Brooks, Tim Dyste, John Haag, Matt Granzo, Dallas Rau, and Michelle Chesney.

  • Peacebuilding: Responsible for identifying, evaluating, and selecting opportunities for peacebuilding initiatives locally and globally through collaboration with other organizations. Aligning projects with Rotary International’s priorities, specifically the focus area of “Promoting Peace”.

  • Programs: Charged with overseeing the programs presented at our regular meetings. Incorporates the following subcommittees:

    • Attendance

    • Business Briefing

    • Cashiers

    • Humor Moment

    • Invocations

    • Meeting Logistics

    • Music

    • Planning and Scheduling

    • Technology

  • Public Image: Responsible for communicating with members, liaison with media, and promoting Rotary events.

  • Scholarship Fund: Responsible for publicizing, providing, and receiving applications, and selecting the recipients of the various scholarships that were established by families of late club members, which include the following:

    • William Dixon Scholarship – 3 awards of $1,200 each

    • Herbert H. Hardy Scholarship – 2 awards of $2,500 each

    • C.A. Campbell Scholarship – 1 award of $1,300

  • Spirit of Rotary: Charged with identifying young adults who represent the ideals of Rotary, selecting candidates for the Spirit of Rotary award, and providing the award ceremony held in the spring of each year.

  • Stewards of Rotary: Maintains the history of the Club and outreach to members who may be suffering from long-term or debilitating illnesses. Provides mentoring for younger members. Incorporates the following subcommittees:

    • Club History

    • Member Care

    • Mentoring

  • Supporting the Environment: Responsible for aligning projects for our Club that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment.

  • Wellbeing through Communication & Connection: The outcomes of this committee are:

    1. Within Rotary: To increase Rotary membership through recruitment, retention, and engagement using the framework of Wellbeing at the Me, We, and Us levels

    2. Within our Community: To help us develop tools and strategies to use in difficult, uncomfortable conversations with each other, within our groups, and within our community.

 
 

Board of Directors

Christian Velasquez, President

Amy Jaster, President-Elect

Bradley Duling, President-Nominee

Angela Cole, Immediate Past President

Kellie Bos, Treasurer

Michelle Vannest, Secretary

Todd Gambrell, Director

Jennifer West, Director

Kristin Stehouwer, Director

Gail Hoffman, Director

Bryan Crosby, Director

Tom McArdle, Director