Club Committees

Foundation Committee

The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary International and is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation. Through Foundation grants, Rotarians can advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The role of the club Rotary Foundation committee is to develop and implement a plan to support the Foundation through program participation and financial contributions through community and international service. The responsibilities of the club Rotary Foundation committee:

Develop committee goals to achieve club Foundation goals for the coming year.
 Educate and train club members about the Foundation.
 Encourage and facilitate participation in Foundation programs.
 Ensure that our club and its members contribute to The Rotary Foundation.

Fundraising Committee

The purpose of the fundraising committee is to plan, organize, and lead the annual fundraising efforts for our club. We may raise funds for a variety of purposes, both within our community, as well as internationally. Fundraising efforts may benefit, but are not limited to the following causes: Polio Plus, local service projects, local non-profit partners, and The Rotary Foundation.

Past fundraising projects have included the Polio Plus Cornhole Tournament benefiting polio research and eradication, The Rotary Club of Columbia’s annual car raffle which raised funds for a variety of local non-profit organizations, and bell-ringing for The Salvation Army among others.

Committee members: April Barnett, Neil Carr, Mike Randerson, Cindy Sheltmire.

Community Service Committee

The community service committee’s mission is to put Rotary’s motto, “ Service Before Self” into action locally by providing club members a variety of recurring and one-time volunteer opportunities that focus on serving and improving the lives of the less fortunate in Columbia and beyond. Recurring activities include a monthly work night at the local Food Bank, bell ringing for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, serving underprivileged children via Columbia’s Lunch in the Park summer program , hands-on support of the Voluntary Action Center’s Holiday Program and a book acquisition & delivery project to schools and orphanages in Mexico.

The Club has also participated in the City’s “Clean Up Columbia”, Welcome Home Inc.’s KP Duty, Mizzou’s International Student Welcome activities and Rotary International’s Tree Planting project.

Committee Members: Linda Ladd, Mark Hargens, Mike Randerson , Cindy Mustard

Membership Committee

The role of the membership committee is to develop and implement an action plan for membership development. To be effective, a Rotary club needs active members. A club’s ability to serve the community, support The Rotary Foundation, and develop leaders capable of serving Rotary beyond the club level is directly related to the size and strength of our club’s membership base. The responsibilities of the club membership committee:

Develop committee goals to achieve club membership goals for the coming year.
 Conduct club assessments to determine strengths and weaknesses.
 Work with the public relations committee to create a positive club image that is attractive to prospective and current members alike.
 Develop programs to educate and train new and current club members.
 Sponsor newly organized clubs in your district, if applicable.

Public Relations Committee

The role of the club public relations committee is to inform the public about Rotary and promote the club’s service projects and activities. Having strong public relations ensures that communities around the world know that Rotary is a credible organization that meets real needs. When a Rotary club has a positive public image, current members are motivated to be active and prospective members are eager to join. The responsibilities of the club public relations committee:

Develop committee goals to achieve the club’s public relations goals for the coming year.
 Promote Rotary and your Rotary club in your community.
 Work with Rotarians in your club to maximize public relations efforts.
 Understand the components of public relations that will help you promote Rotary to the community.
 Know Rotary’s key messages and be able to use them when speaking in public.

Youth Exchange Committee

The Rotary Youth Exchange Committee is a standing committee charged with sending/welcoming high school students for a year of study abroad to learn a new culture and create international understanding. The committee sponsors one in-bound student each year, facilitating their attendance at the local high school and finding three local host families. The Committee sends 1-2 out-bound students each year, creating “young ambassadors” who contribute to international understanding for the rest of their lives. Arrangements are made to attend approximately six facilitated weekends per year for in-bound students.

International Committee