As we all know, well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions often become misty memories by March. Regardless, we’ve decided to publish our Club’s top three resolutions for 2020. Please hold us accountable to make them reality by next January.  If I’m still kicking then, I will publish a year-end review of how we did.

The Rotary Club hereby resolves:

  • To be a catalyst for positive lasting change in our towns, in our world, and in ourselves. How? We’ll fund the launch of Saugatuck-Douglas’ first Boys & Girls Club to support a staff of three at Douglas Elementary with proven programs aimed at providing a safe and stimulating place to be after school and over the summer. Our partners in delivering these much-needed services are the Saugatuck Public Schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Holland. Together, we will unite to create fun activities that will help our educators build the physical fitness, emotional strength, and intellectual achievement of our school-age children. You can help, too. We need volunteer mentors and tutors for the children served. All of us can benefit from the cross-generational relationships that this new effort promises. Rotary resolves to help our community unite around the noble idea of bringing forth the full potential of tomorrow’s generation.
  • To provide connections for everyone who wishes to get involved in creating positive lasting change in our towns. Working with a certified Life Coach, we are designing a new Service Leadership program for Rotary Members and other community leaders to clarify their inner best self—the place where their strengths and passions overlap. Our objective is to guide ourselves and others towards opportunities to find meaning, fulfillment, and joy in service to others. We’re providing this program to everyone who wishes to serve our community in any capacity.
  • To act as a conduit for resources within and outside of our local economy that can help make Saugatuck-Douglas an even better place to visit, live, work, and play. We will gather and deploy these resources for the enjoyment of our citizens and growth of our businesses. We host the July 4th Festivities and September’s Mt. Baldhead Challenge to bring more visitors into town, and more events will come. Also, we are applying for grants from Rotary International that, if approved, will bring at least $10,000 into the local economy.

If you are interested in helping with any of these efforts, please leave a message for us.

Meanwhile, Happy New Year to everyone!