DOWAGIAC — On Thursday afternoon, two members of Rotary District 6360 visited the Dowagiac Rotary Club to share goals and the news of a $3,000 grant being given to the Rotary.

Karl Kincade, president of the Rotary District 6360 Foundation, which represents the 65 clubs in southwest, Michigan announced the grant the club received. The last grant the Dowagiac club was gifted went toward the purchase of one exercise machine in the gym housed in Front Street Crossing.

“The club got $3,000, which is the maximum grant the foundation can award,” Kincade said.

Barbara Groner, the chair of Dowagiac Rotary’s centennial committee, said the money will be used for the centennial project to fund an entryway sign in addition to a big brick sign that welcomes visitors into Front Street Crossing with the Dowagiac Rotary emblem.

After the presentation of the grant, Gary Campbell, the assistant district 6360 governor, gave a presentation to the Rotary on the new goals of Rotary International President Mark Maloney and the new District 6360 Governor, Margie Haas. 

“[Margie] is a risk taker and has decided this year to do something that to my knowledge is unprecedented,” Campbell said. “She set up a plan to come to each club and participate in a non-meeting event.”

Members of the Rotary expressed interest in Haas attending the club’s centennial event which will be hosted on April 30, 2020.

Campbell went on to discuss the goals of Maloney and Haas, which included adopting five core values of Rotary: leadership, integrity, service, diversity and fellowship.

“A lot of people think diversity is race or religion,” Campbell said. “Diversity is a lot more than that in rotary, it’s gender. I am pleased to look around the room and see all the women you have in your club. You are being led by a woman.”

Another goal of Maloney and Haas outlined by Campbell, included membership.

“I think your club has lost members over the last few years,” Campbell said. “I got to tell you many clubs in our district has lost members. Rotary international has lost members.”

Campbell said membership is not just a club goal, but also an international goal. Rotary clubs can help with membership by seeking out more young professionals, he said.

“We need to drop the old and make things universal,” Campbell said.

A suggested way to approach younger members is to form a membership committee of five members, Campbell said. One plan of action outlined was to take a local chamber of commerce inventory and reach out to business and services provided in a local Rotary club.

“Seek out the professionals and businesses and approach them,” Campbell said.

Campbell said a drawback to some Rotary clubs in the past has been club members meeting attendance requirements. In the past if a member missed four meetings, they were kicked out, but most Rotary clubs have moved away from this, he said.

“Go forth with this approach to membership and be a little bit more creative and innovative,” Campbell said.

Before the conclusion of his program, Campbell said the Dowagiac Rotary’s new grant would be a huge step in the club’s public image campaign. 

“I’m very happy to hear about your public image campaign,” he said. “Everybody coming into Dowagiac will know you have a rotary club.”