March 27, 2023
Well, the last three (3) months have certainly flown by, partly due to the fact that Eileen and I were in New Zealand for the month of January, so we would have sufficient time to visit the north and south islands. BUT, thanks to Zoom I was still able to Chair the January Executive Council (EC) and Board of Governor (BOG) meetings, from ‘down under’. So, with Spring now just around the corner, I’m looking forward to Edmonton’s summer weather and being able to participate in outdoor activities without a parka and snow boots!
In the first quarter of 2023, the EC have met, via Zoom, on three (3) occasions and the BOG on two (2) to conduct Gyro business. Some highlights from our meetings are:
The Membership Committee, under co-chairs Mike Eisner, 2nd Vice President and Larry Duba, Past International President, has had numerous meetings and continues to work on and develop new ideas to bring in new members to our wonderful organization! AND their efforts are working as the February’s Membership Report showed a net increase in our membership!!! Thanks to all the members on the Committee for their efforts, contributions, and desire to see our organization grow! Thanks also to Steve Anderson, Governor District X for your membership drive, which brought in four (4) new members in February… Go District X, Go!!!
The Special Task Force for the review of Gyro’s District Structure, under chair Dan Durban, 1st Vice President, is making headway and has formulated a suggested reorganization of the districts and are now working with the Governors for their input.
Bottomline, the Executive Council, the District Governors, and Lt. Governors, and all the Gyros that are on the Membership and Special Task Force Committees are working hard for the Good of Gyro! Thank you all for your contributions!!!
Well, I think that’s it, hopefully, I didn’t miss anything. Oh, I did… although 5 months away, please consider attending the “Summer Nights & Northern Lights” International Convention, in Winnipeg, hosted by the Winnipeg Gyro Club. For full details see: https://gyro.org/conventions/
Yours in Gyro Friendship,
Please feel free to contact me at: president@gyro.org
PPS. Have a great Spring!
PPPS. Go Membership Drives, Go!!!
August 13, 2022
Belatedly, many thanks to Immediate Past President Blanton Bessinger for organizing and conducting the successful ‘virtual’ 2022 Annual General Meeting, held on Saturday, June 18.
As a result of the AGM, your 2022-23 Executive Council is: Peter Carter (myself) President, Dan Durbin, 1st Vice President, and Mike Eisner, 2nd Vice President, Blanton Bessinger, Immediate Past President (IPIP), and Matthew Johnson Secretary/Treasurer. To Alan Pentney, the departing IPIP, we give thanks for his leadership and contributions, to the Executive Council, over the years. And, last but not least, we welcome Mike Eisner, to the Executive Council. Mike has been committed to Gyro, having served as the President of Blacklake Club, Governor of District 9, and for the past three years has served, and continues to serve, on the Membership Committee.
For full details of the AGM, you can find the Minutes on our website: https://gyro.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SectreasurerJune-21.pdf
Although the International Award recipients are listed in the AGM Minutes, because the efforts of the recipients are so important to our organization, I would like to recognize them, again:
Internal Expansion
Best Club Bulletin
Governor’s Bulletin: Derek Hay, Winnipeg Club, District 7
Best Website: Canton, District 1
George France Award: Don Patterson, Fraser Delta Club, District 4
Honor Key: Alan Pentney, Stampede City Club, District 8
Bud Mitchell Gyro of the Year: Derm Jackman, Castlegar Club, District 8
Thank you, one and all, for your contributions to Gyro!
With the new Executive Council, in place, we quickly had our first meeting, on June 22, and our first task was to Appoint the Committee Chairs. They are:
Membership: Mike Eisner, with Larry Duba as Vice-Chair
Structural Task Force: Dan Durbin, continues as Chair
Technology: Derm Jackman, continues as Chair and Webmaster
Another important item on the EC Agenda was to set a Goal for 2022-23 and that was quickly established; to emphasis and promote membership growth, to our wonderful organization!
We then had our first Board of Governors meeting, on July 6, before taking our summer break, with things starting up again in September.
By way of background, my President’s Newsletter, is a bit late because the week after the BOG meeting, Eileen and I went on a 16-day Expedition Cruise of Greenland, something totally different and most enjoyable. Hopefully, you are a believer of “better late than never”.
In closing, I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer!
Yours in Gyro Friendship,
PS. Please feel free to contact me at: president@gyro.org