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| 2016-17 Pres. Maher Saikali |
Pres. Maher Saikali and his team are to be congratulated on an exemplary year of service to the community, support of Rotary goals, financial stewardship, and diversifying the club's membership base. Newport Rotary is among the top 17% of clubs in the district meeting the RI President's Citation Goals for the year. We are strong supporters of The Rotary Foundation, with 100% of club members being "sustainers" at the $100 per year level, and many more going above that with additional personal contributions, leading to club support level of over $325 per person. We are consistently among the top 10 clubs in giving by size and participation in grant funded projects.
Newport Rotary's model of 1 "meeting" and 1 "service project per month is a good fit for the community and our members. Our new dues discount of 50% for the 2nd family member has been well received. We are in the community at least monthly for community events and projects at our local schools, parks, care homes, hospice, and local businesses. Monthly programs are a mix of "speaker" programs and planning programs, both geared toward informing and engaging our members. Newport Rotary's building, one of only two owned buildings in the district, is an asset to the community and is wholly supported by dues and rental income. Our fundraising for projects, primarily through the Halloween Hootenanny, is strong. For the first time in recent memory, there is (modest) money to fund projects and grants for the next year. Membership is still a priority for this year, but we are building on the success of last year's 45% membership increase, and significant lowering of our average age in the process. More importantly, those newer members bring energy, fun and a new circle of friends and family to the club. The future for Newport Rotary is bright. The energy fueled by "Service Above Self" is back in Newport. The welcome mat is out for more to share in the fun!
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