duane_gritzmaker@earthlink.net

blog site at http://mountainwestregionsertoma.blogspot.com

 Sunday September 13, 2009

General Comments:  As I start this newsletter each month I consult the sticky notes on the shelf next to my printer, pull up the previous month newsletter, read it and consider those things that have smacked me up aside of the head since then that remind me of things going on in Sertoma and the region that are time sensitive this month.  Because my close friends and advisors remind me that I can never be as concise as I should be, I left the “bold print” statement above.  The last 31 days have been an exciting month because I have been able to visit five clubs sharing my message of “Sertoma – Investing in the Future” and presenting the Mountain West Growth Medallion to those clubs attaining positive growth during the past year.  This very attractive medallion, illustrated at the left, was first created by our past ID, Jo Carroll.  Jo and then Chris Thoman did not have a lot of opportunity to present it, but Jo passed his stash of medallions along and this year we are presenting these medallions to 23 of our Mountain West clubs with positive membership gains in 2008-09 because we have begun to grow again!  Yes, the Mountain West region has had positive growth in the first two months of this new year.  If you are receiving this newsletter as a Governor, President or Secretary – mark 12:00 Noon CDT September 30^th on your calendar and make sure you report your membership gains to Sertoma so we can make it “THREE MONTHS IN A ROW”.  Our President, Julie Hejtmanek, has challenged us to build two new clubs in each region.  WE WILL DO BETTER.  In addition to visiting clubs to present their growth medallions I welcome the opportunity to visit all clubs.  Contact me if you want a visit.  I am working with Joy Newman to participate in her Arizona FDC in early October and will be visiting as many Arizona clubs as possible.  The FDC on October 10^th for Central Colorado (Steve Dawson, Governor) and Front Range (Terry Boucher, Governor) along with October 24^th for South Colorado (Pat White, Governor) and Continental Divide (Ken Carter, Governor) are also on the schedule.  Additional travel to Nevada, the Northwest and California are on the drawing board.  Looking ahead – all Governors should be thinking about what you want to have me add to the agenda for the Governor’s Mid-Year on January 9^th in Reno.  Get that to me as soon as you can.  Please read the “Member Services” section below and the attached convention flyer.      

            Leadership Development continues to be my emphasis this year.  Why…What a silly question?…because I need a replacement in Reno, and because, even more importantly we will be replacing ALL our Mountain West District Governors.  I look forward to and welcome contested elections for Director and for each of the District Governor positions.  To the old heads out there receiving this newsletter, this is where you play such an incredibly important role.  As respected leaders of the past who the younger leaders look up to, this is where you “step up to the plate” by talking to these future leaders and then attend the convention in Reno yourself to support them and promote Sertoma.  That is your “Investment in the Future”.  We have the people to lead and make our organization better.  If you are one of those or you know a person with those talents please step up or talk to those individuals so we can make Sertoma even better.

The News:

Mission Activities –

·         Annual Fund – The recent September FDR Newsletter I received from Holly Walls was what I would consider a “Good News, Could Be Better News” version for the Mountain West Region.  The Webinar training for FDR’s (Fund District Representatives)  was conducted on August 19^th.  That training, I am confident, was good news and a valuable aid to all who participated.  I regret that I had a previous commitment and could not tune in.  But I know many of you out there did participate.   If you missed it, you can request a CD of the training by contacting Megan Mueller at headquarters.  We have FDR’s in our immediate areas but I want to also acknowledge that Dave Oppenheim (captdso@aol.com) of the Mountain West Region is a direct link to the Annual Fund.  If you have questions about how or where to send your support for the Annual Fund contact your local FDR or David if you do not know who that person is.  David is an experienced and dedicated Sertoman who sits (that is such a misnomer because none of these Sertomans sit around) on the Annual Fund Committee and leads our efforts.  Last year was a great year but in Holly’s FDR Newsletter, I see we as a Region could be doing better.  Earnie Reese of the Central Colorado District is certainly doing his share.  Earnie and his fellow Sertomans in the Central Colorado District are among those recognized as being at least $1,000 ahead of contributions of a year ago.   Thank You Earnie for a great job!  As you prepare your club meeting programs and your Board Meeting Agendas, have your FDR come in and vote to support your local club sponsorships AND earn “Early Bird” honors for your support of the Annual Fund.  Early Bird Clubs are those who have a forwarded gift of $25 for each active club member to Sertoma prior to December 1^st .  That action expresses confidence that we can support the grant requests and needs of the many beneficiaries of the Sertoma Annual Fund. 

·         I have been anxiously awaiting the promised October unveiling of our newest program for Hearing Health, titled “Celebrate Sound”.  Stay tuned, because I should learn more at the Board of Directors meeting on October 17^th.  If  I don’t get the answers before then I will certainly share the information before next month’s newsletter or give you the information of who you should contact and some questions to ask.

Market Development –

·         In everyday terms “Market Development” means GROWTH and PUBLIC AWARENESS.  As I indicated above, the Mountain West Region is growing thanks to your recruitment and retention efforts.  The Mountain West has shown positive growth in the first two months of the new Sertoma year.  I, for the life of me, can’t understand why we do not grow every month.  Have you talked to and invited a prospective member to join Sertoma this year?  Does your club membership committee have a plan for growth?  As District Governors, how are you helping your clubs establish a positive environment for growth and Sertoma service? These are the MW Region Clubs reporting positive growth to date – Foothills, Kit Carson, Roswell, Arapahoe, Eaton, Austin Bluffs, Sunrisers, Honolulu, Las Vegas Paradise, North County, Stockton, Westwood Village and Whittier.  We are at +31 for the year! 

·         As I visit clubs I emphasize that our success in continuing to “brand” Sertoma as the #1 civic service organization for Hearing Health is part of our ticket to growth as a club, a district, a region and ultimately as that National “HEARING HEALTH SERVICE ORGANIZATION” that does so much other good in our community!  It is also the reason for us to grow into our neighboring communities or those far, far away!

·         What do I mean building a club Far, Far, Away?  Club building is a Team Effort.  We have teams in clubs and districts.  As a region I know a group of individuals who have experience needed to build a new club at any location.  Our President, Julie Hejtmanek, also has a list of qualified individuals who are willing to help build a club ANYWHERE.  At the Nashville Convention, Dan Hejtmanek trained on traditional club building techniques and I spoke on how to build clubs at a distance.  You may have not considered it before, but we have great opportunities to build clubs hundreds and thousands of miles away from our doorstep.  If you can help me identify 1- A Location Reason or Link, 2 – A Person of Interest and Ability, and 3- A Sertoman of Experience we can begin to explore a real opportunity for a club in a distant location.  We have two of these three in the Portland area but I am still looking for a piece to the puzzle.  You Sertomans in the Northwest – Please give me a call!

·         If your Club is considering a New Club Building project please contact me.  The process starts with The Commitment Letter.  That letter starts a lot of things in motion and gives the club additional support in the building process.  I will be emailing a copy of that New Club Development Letter of Commitment and Approval to the Governors and Presidents later today.  Our Honolulu Club is progressing toward official chartering in February and the Boulder, Colorado effort is still a work in progress.  Other initiatives have been rumored but we need to take the next step in these cases by completing the Letter of Commitment.

Member Services –

·         At the end of August, Sherry Edwards, Regional Awards Chair, sent a letter via regular mail to all District Governors and Club Presidents.  The letter reminded Districts and Clubs of upcoming award deadlines and included references, guidelines and judging sheets.  As a Region we have continued to recognize Distinguished Club Secretaries.  However, as many of you know the criteria, judging form and deadlines have changed from previous years.  If you have not seen the letter with these changes contact Sherry (see her contact information at the end of this newsletter) or me.  The Distinguished Club Secretary Award starts with a Nomination Letter from the Club and additional supporting participation information supplied by the District Governor.  These two pieces are due to be postmarked to me not later than October 15^th.

·         We still have a few clubs in the Mountain West Region who have placed their charter at risk by falling into Not in Good Standing status for either not meeting financial obligations or not submitting required reports.  These clubs were notified recently and some have taken corrective action. In mid-July I mailed a reminder note to clubs who were Not In Good Standing in the Region for failure to submit reports or dues to the Region Division.  Simply put here is the reason for completing and mailing quarterly reports to Sertoma HQ, the region and district divisions.  “As a 501c3 organization we are granted that tax privilege to operate as a non-profit organization by the IRS.  We demonstrate we are in fact worthy of that privilege by completing these reports and having them on file at Sertoma headquarters.”  I had hoped to devote some time in this newsletter to discussing dues, budgeting and finances this month but that will need to be deferred at this time.

·         Please download and make copies of the attached Reno Pre-Convention Flyer and share them with your membership.  Here is an excerpt from Jo, Carroll, Convention Chair following his recent visit to the Atlantis Hotel.  “I was joined in Reno for a visit to the Atlantis by Bill Hupp.  We are in agreement that we have a great facility to work with.  Food was plentiful and good.  Beds are excellent.  The hotel is very convenient to the airport.  There is lots of parking.”  Governors – please promote the convention at your Fall District Conferences and solicit member input on their desires for training seminars.  You can send them to Jo or I.  If you have detail questions on the location contact Jo at his contact information listed at the end of the newsletter.  Registration flyers will not come out until after the Governor’s Mid-Year in early January where the registration fee will be set.  

·         We still have some clubs who are delinquent in dues and reports to the region.  I am hopeful that we will turn that corner with the next Quarterly Reports cycle coming up at the end of September.  Remember – the Quarterly Activities Report, Form 116, can be sent electronically to Sertoma HQ and paper copies need to be sent to the Governor and myself as Regional Director.  Quarterly Dues for Sertoma, Inc. is due upon receipt of the invoice from Sertoma Headquarters.  The Quarterly Dues Statement, Form 117, and dues payment is mailed directly to the District Governor and Regional Director not later than the 10^th of October.  You do not need to be invoiced by the district or region because that obligation/requirement is mandated by the Sertoma Governing Documents as part of the reporting requirements to the district and region divisions.   Thank You!!!

CALENDAR:

o    Board Meeting – October 16-17, 2009

o    Mid-Year Governor’s Conference – January 9, 2010

o    National Heritage Freedom Week – February 14 – 20, 2010

o    Mountain West Regional Convention – April 29 – May 1, 2010 in Reno, Nevada

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE SERTOMA BLOG SITE AND THE MOUNTAIN WEST REGION BLOG SITE PERIODICALLY FOR STIMULATING TOPICS AND COMMENTS.    A recent mailing from me had the Mountain West site address listed with an error.  The correct listing is below:

http://www.mountainwestregionsertoma.blogspot.com

With your internet browser active you can even just copy and paste the above into the address window and then hit “enter”.

If this email newsletter with attachment overwhelms your equipment capabilities – send me a short email saying “ENOUGH ALREADY GRITZ…I need smaller bites”.  I’ll make that happen for you.

Region Staff:  Duane Gritzmaker, Director                             (Mail copies of Quarterly Activity Reports

                                14525 Latrobe Drive                                          and Quarterly Dues Statements with checks of

                                Colorado Springs, CO 80921                            $1/member/quarter- directly to Duane not later

                                                                                                                than the 10^th of July, Oct, Jan, Apr.

                                719-481-2424 (H)  719-649-9220 (C)             duane_gritzmaker@earthlink.net

Martha (Marti) Collins, Secretary/Treasurer , 4875 Brown Valley Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, 719-598-5338 (H)  marticol@aol.com

Sherry Edwards, Awards, 14110 Nicholas Court, Colorado Springs, CO 80921, 719-488-1044 (H)  sherryjocsp@aol.com

                                David Oppenheim, Annual Fund Coordinator, 4959 E. Maplewood Pl.,Centennial, CO 80121-2344,

303-850-7888 (H)  303-773-8189 (W)  303-947-6784 (C)  303-773-773-8187 (Fax), captdso@aol.com

                                Jo Carroll, Convention Chair, 2145 Glenhill Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

                                719-632-9336 (H)  719-660-3524 (C)  joid@q.com

Thank You for the opportunity to serve you,

Duane Gritzmaker, Director           

Mountain West Region  

P.S. – This newsletter goes to lots of folks out there – If any of you have a person tell you they don’t get it but want it…let me know.  I can’t send by regular mail in all cases but email is a piece of cake.  I just need the current email address.  

I am proud to represent all of you who are among the greatest community service volunteers in all America!