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Pictured from left to right are: sponsor Don Hodgman, new Rotarian Pete Swanson, sponsor Ted Weber, new Rotarian Ross Woodhams, sponsor Scott Mark, new Rotarian Sue Duvall, new Rotarian and sponsor Rosalie Plechaty, new Rotarian Francis Peet, new Rotarian Don Dobbin, new Rotarian Kevin Schooley and sponsor Steve Miles.

In response to a challenge from Rotary District leadership and Rotary International, President Mark Odland of the Rotary Club of South Haven has made new membership recruitment a top priority for 2018-19.

A Membership Plan was created under the direction of President-elect Dan Thompson. An assessment of past membership recruitment successes and failures was conducted and ideas for attracting new members in specific categories such as age (younger), gender and diversity were presented. The Club's bylaws were reviewed and subsequently amended to add a Corporate Membership classification. Membership is now a regular topic at Board and Club meetings. Rotarians who are sponsors of new members are regularly reminded of their vital role in helping the new Rotarian to become engaged in the life of the Club.

South Haven Rotary has added eight new members since December for a net increase of five to a current roll of 54. Two new Rotarians joined through the new Corporate classification. While we celebrate the addition of these new members we also mourn the loss by death of two longtime South Haven Rotarians, Don Hixson and Glenn Pietenpol. Another member moved out of the area for employment reasons.

"We are fortunate to have Rotary held in a very high regard throughout our community," said Odland. "At the same time, we are an unknown to a lot of folks. Increasing awareness of our Club has become another high priority for us with initiatives in that regard being developed."

Community Pride

Thanks to South Haven Rotarians, the finishing touches on a major renovation to the gymnasium at South Haven High School has been accomplished with the installation of purple-and-gold banners heralding the accomplishments of athletes and teams over the years. The banners were donated to South Haven Public Schools by the Rotary Club of South Haven with matching funds from our District Foundation. The South Haven Rotarians were also the donors of the time-worn banners installed in the gym in the early 1980s. The banners will be formally presented to the school district by Rotary president Mark Odland at halftime of the January 25 boy's basketball game. See more photos.

In Service to Community

South Haven Rotarians were among the community volunteers who participated in a service project on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We gathered to package 5,000 pounds of rice to be distributed to local food pantries. See photos.