May 30, 2013

Secretary’s Corner_05302013

Below are the details of the Fund Raising Seminar Project discussed last week.

DATE:                    October 12, 2013

TIME:                     9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

FEE:                        PHP 3,500 (Gross per person)

                                [Discounted Early Bird Rate is PHP 2,800 until September 12]

                                [5 + 1 FREE Promo]

VENUE:                  Camelot Hotel

TITLE:                    Alternative Investments + New Product *

TOPICS:                               

                                ·      Estate Planning

                                ·      Investing in Stocks

                                ·      Investing in Bonds

Ø  PP Gina Sanchez will be the overall Coordinator since we intend to offer this seminar to all Rotarians (and non-Rotarians) in our District

Ø  We will do a Sales Pitch to all Mother Clubs in District 3800

Ø  Target is to get at least 100 attendees

Ø  Rtn Jay Penaflor will design the Flyer and submit on May 30 for comments / approval

Ø  We will place contact numbers of PE Therese Montecer and PN Rose Caoc in the Flyer

Ø  PE Therese and PN Rose will devise a Payment Gateway to make it convenient for them to pay

Ø  June 10, 2013 – Start of Offering Period

Ø  PP Nan Sallan will be in charge of Logistics

Ø  Treas. Annie Tomas will handle Tokens for the Speakers

Ø  PN Rose will burn CDs for Handouts

Ø  Rtn Jay and PN Rose will take care of Raffle Prizes

Funds to be raised from this seminar project will be used to fund the Club’s projects in RY 2013-14.

Cheers and enjoy Rotary J

Sec/PP Jovie

May 23, 2013

Secretary’s Corner_05232013

PE Therese Montecer successfully presided over last week’s Club Assembly and Planning Session. Our Club’s three-year plans have been updated and projects have been lined-up for the new Rotary Year. Community Service Committee Chairman Benny Pe presented a fund raising project through the organization of Seminars and making these available to Rotarians in our district. The fund raising project involves Rtn Jay Penaflor who will be one of the key resource persons. Funds to be raised from the seminars will fund the various projects of the Club.

Before the Club Assembly started, we gave our guest Col. Dante Hidalgo of the Philippine Navy a chance to tell us about the Navy’s civic projects for Typhoon Pablo Victims. We saw an avenue where we can partner with the Navy for our school building project in Davao Oriental. Col. Hidalgo will return to us with a proposal, a plan, and documentation on how we can move forward as partners in this worthy endeavor.

Pledges for the Club’s acquisition of the District’s Raffle Tickets worth PHP 120 thousand was completed last week, thanks to ‘Future President’ Hedy Huang who matched what FDG Benny was putting up. From the ticket proceeds, PHP 100 thousand will remain with the club for its projects. The Club resolved however to place said amount in an investment fund to be managed by FDG Benny and Rtn Jay Penaflor. Income from this fund will be distributed based on the equity participation of Rotarians and used for Rotary related expenses such as registration fees to district affairs and events.

Cheers and enjoy RotaryJ

Sec/PP Jovie

Moving Forward

Editorial for May 9 Club Bulletin

As I arrived for last week’s meeting, I thought that my editorial entitled “Changing of the Guard?” had already began to unfold.  That was because PE Therese was presiding over the Club meeting because President Jojo was still out of the country on business with his materials/equipment principals or suppliers.

But it turned out to be quite a revelation and thus brought fruitful results when two major concerns were well ventilated and steered through by PE Therese. Of course, her Service Projects chair Benny Pe served as a very good floor leader in the discussions.

First, the mobilization of funds for our planned projects.  Aside from finding ways to maximize the earnings of our Foundation’s funds now currently practically idle, a proposal to raise a separate fund through voluntary ‘investments’ from members was put up. This fund would benefit both the Club and the individual members by the sharing of the earnings through a well-thought out investment plan. In fact, appointing a Fund Manager was suggested who could advise how and where our Foundation funds can best earned better income. This is a very good idea and should be put for discussion soon as we have lost opportunities for good earnings since last year. .

The other major concern, as PE Therese brought up, was the membership retention and growth which needed to be attended to if the adequately funded projects are to be successful. The topic arises from the dwindling of attendance which seems to be limited to the “usual suspects” or the core group truly devoted to the Club’s and Rotary’s objectives of fellowship and service.  One culprit pointed out was the selection process or lack of it in bringing new members. As recalled, decades ago, we had pre-induction ‘fireside’ information sessions for prospective members. A period during which the prospective member not only has a chance to know what Rotary is all about but also to ‘decline’ if he’s not ready to embrace the responsibility of Club membership. The problem related to retention was that how we can  make our meetings more interesting so that members, especially new ones, could look forward to attending and bring back with them new knowledge.

PP Tony Abola

May 9, 2013

Secretary’s Corner_05092013

Last week we did not have a Bulletin because PN Rose Caoc could not make it to our meeting. A question arose from PP Tony Abola whose Editorial for that meeting was not printed. PP Tony asked, “Who will print our Bulletin when Rose assumes the presidency?”

Pres. Jojo Bacarro was also absent last week, so was VP Pol Leoncio. As such, PE Therese Montecer got her first stab at presiding over our weekly meeting. In the absence of a bulletin, Therese also was Days Chairman for the program.

More on last week’s meeting, we had a surprise visit from incoming Assistant Governor Reuben Jarvinas who received the proper introduction and was asked to address the club. We will work with IAG Reuben during the term of Therese.

The ‘Rotarization’ of PE Therese is slowly unfolding as she shared her DISTAS 2013 experience during our meeting.

Here’s to looking forward to a new Rotary Year.

Cheers and enjoy RotaryJ

Sec/PP Jovie

Changing of the Guard ?

Editorial for May 2 Club Bulletin...

Last weekend featured the Distas ( District Assembly as it should be properly called) in Tagaytay City.  And off to that cool enough city for 11 Rotarians of San Juan and some friends and with many courtesies of Rtn. Benny Pe Lim.

It is quite amazing to see the Tall Vista Hotel ballroom almost full with RI District 3800 Rotarians. Was this a convention? Or is this a vacation resort gathering? One wonders.  Anyway save for the workshops which were really the meat of the Distas, the rest seem more like a convention.  How do we expect effective learning from Distas in this atmosphere?  Plenty of participants is fine, but “too many cooks spoil the broth” as has been often said.

This writer was expecting a game-changer in the District-Governor elect. Sorry, it was not to be.  Please don’t get me wrong, he had some good moments and his take during the Club Administration workshop was well thought out and standard Rotary fare.  But then again, we saw more of the District projects and stuff of the same with a Cars’ Raffle to boot!  The objectives and motives are unassailable but........   See Club Secretary PP Jovie’s page for details.

On the other hand, the Club members enthusiasm was most outstanding.  Especially sparked by Rtn Benny’s all out support and generosity and his wife Nene’s hospitality. Seems like PE Therese is getting into the hang of it and starting to enjoy it, coupled with PP Gina’s all seriousness in her district responsibilities.  What else can we say.  Its a good omen for RY 2013-2014 with full of support from the “usual suspects.”

Go, Go, Therese!

PP Tony Abola