Want to learn more about the Rotary Club of Oxford and all the good things it does to improve both the community and the world?
Then attend one of the club’s new evening mixers.
These informal, social gatherings are happening on the first Tuesday of the month at various locations.
The next one will take place at the 24th Street Sports Tavern on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 5 p.m. Red Knapp’s American Grill will follow on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m.
‘It’s a way for us to show support for the community,? said Rotary Club Secretary Dale Karbginsky. ‘Our desire is to have our (mixers) at different pubs or restaurants around Oxford.?
The primary goal of these mixers is to meet new people and educate them about the Rotary Club ? what it is, what it does and its value to the community it serves.
‘We’re looking at new ways to try to increase membership,? Karbginsky said.
‘The first time we (held a mixer in July at the Oxford Tap), we got visits from four individuals who are interested in Rotary and it looks like they’re all going to join,? said Greg Kudela, who’s currently serving his fifth term as club president.
The Oxford club’s size diminished over the last five years as everyone tightened their belts.
‘When the economy took a dip, we lost members,? Kudela explained. ‘There were some members whose (dues) were paid by their companies.?
‘Now that times are getting better, we’ve begun to see that some folks are interested in coming back to the Rotary Club,? Kudela noted.
In addition to recruiting new members, Kudela said the mixers also benefit Rotarians who cannot attend the traditional weekly meetings held Tuesdays at noon.
‘We want to meet new people, but we also want to provide an opportunity for members to spend some time (together) once a month in the evening,? he said.
In a further effort to attract new members, the Rotary Club of Oxford completely eliminated its meeting attendance require ments, which had been ‘off-putting,? as Kudela put it, to prospective members.
‘We learned a lot of folks would like to be Rotarians, but could not make the commitment to meet every Tuesday for lunch,? Kudela said. ‘So, we decided we would no longer have the mandatory attendance requirement.?
‘We’ve picked up six additional members from that initiative alone,? he noted.
The club currently has 25 members.
Membership dues are $20 per month.
Founded in December 1937 by local dentist Dr. G.E. (Steve) Meads, the Oxford club is part of the much larger Rotary International, established in 1905.
Rotary International boasts more than 1.2 million members spread across more than 34,000 clubs worldwide. Its members work to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide educational opportunities and job training, promote peace and eradicate polio.
Locally, the Rotary Club awards scholarships to local high school students, sponsors a shelf at the Oxford-Orion FISH food pantry and donates to the Boys State/Girls State summer enrichment programs that teach youth about government, politics and the democratic process.
Every December, the Oxford club throws a free Christmas party for approximately 200 area senior citizens.
All of these activities fit in with the club’s famous motto ‘Service Above Self.?
With the exception of the first Tuesday of the month, the club continues to meet every Tuesday at the Oxford Hills Golf and Country Club on E. Drahner Rd. Meetings begin at noon and consist of lunch followed by a guest speaker.
This arrangement will continue until golf season ends, then the meetings will move to the 24th Street Sports Tavern. When golf season reopens, Rotary meetings will resume at Oxford Hills.