CSR club president chosen to share our story with other presidents

Following CSR club president Brenda Laird's presentation to a breakout session of the Rotary District Assembly meeting at Little America this past weekend, a gentleman rose to comment that hers was one of the best presentations he'd heard anywhere and that he wanted her to share this club's story with presidents-elect from around the Rotary Zone next year at the President Elect Training conference in Denver! Quite an honor for her, and for our club, whose members have done an amazing list of projects over the past year!

 

Titled “Small changes - Big Results! Making your club unique!”– Fun approach to making your club unique. Small changes, some no one will even notice, will help make your club stronger. Put some new life back into your club by making it a unique experience for the entire club. PP Brenda Laird (Cheyenne Sunrise)" - her presentation listed what she and this club accomplished in the past year;

 

• Began weekly president's message - connected more members with what's going on in the club...
• Began diverse projects like "blankets for holly" (foster children) - had beer and Chinese food...a social and giving project.
• Friday Food Bag stuffing - several members participated and enjoyed drinks and dinner at Uncle Charlie's afterwards for a social.
• VA Hospital visit - took cookies - encouraged members to bring kids/spouses
• Pink Pig Project: all club members took one and filled with change (one member had giant pig from earlier w/$300+) -money going to homeless high school students.
• Flu Shot Project - Dr. Gondalia and his staff give shots and donate - have raised $48,000 over the last ten years. No commitment from club members - Doc and his staff do it all.
• Breakfast at Brenda's: drew names and had winner designate where $100 should go (one of the club's designated charities)
• Giving from the Heart - "Pay It Forward" project - members doubled $20 given by club and went out and gave something to others - engaged members in personal giving - Doc gave a client $40 to quit smoking (and she did) ... Kevin Guille was at a gas station and paid for a woman's gas...Kathy bought a homeless person a meal...Brenda gave to a family who had just suffered a great personal loss.
• Social Media - boosted our golf tournament last year by doing an ad that cost $130 and attracted four new teams (worth $1300 or so to club's projects) 
• Celebrations: Announcing birthdays, anniversaries, news of members. Engages new members by telling them more about older members.
• Guest President: brought in presidents of Noon Club and Evening Club to our club, which exposes members to the other clubs so they can do make ups or just socialize. Brenda went to the Noon Club and sang a new song she'd just heard, creating much laughter.
• Thanking Speakers: Brenda writes a hand written thank you note, plus we give a children's book to one of our school libraries in their name.
• Have fun at meetings! -Rotary is business and should be fun, like putting on white hats at Doc's honoring meeting.
• Produce For Vets - delivering excess produce from the Farmer's Market to the Veteran's Administration Hospital for veterans who need it.
• Don't Sweat The Small Stuff: Some people in your club will complain about various things and though you have to pay attention to concerns, you have to take responsibility for your own actions. We lost a member over Little America not serving quickly enough, so Brenda addressed that.
• Don't be afraid to share! We should all share what's going on in our lives, and that's what keeps us coming back to Rotary meetings. "Where Everyone Knows Your Name"
• Corporate Memberships: sharing of memberships. 
• And, she ended with this old maxim: "You need to thank people three times before they feel like they've been properly thanked."