SERTOMA
Table
of Contents:
Introduction
to Sertoma
We Are Sertoma
Visiting Representatives
Divisions & Meetings
INTRODUCTION
TO SERTOMA
This
is the most important resource available to your club. A compilation
of informative, educational and procedural source materials,
it is an excellent guide for those selected for an active
leadership role in the club.
This material is based upon almost 100 years of service club
experience by thousands of men and women. With this information,
club officers, board members, committee chairpersons, and
members at large can quickly begin to acquire the skills necessary
to inaugurate and maintain an effective administration. Review
the materials carefully. Understand the concepts and philosophy
of leadership. If you have not previously enjoyed this opportunity
in a comparative organization, do not hesitate to contact
Sertoma leaders for assistance. Your professional staff at
Sertoma Headquarters
is also ready to be of service. Best wishes for a most successful
leadership experience!
As you prepare for this special experience of being an active
Sertoma leader, it is essential that we review the basic purposes
of a Sertoma club, outlined as follows:
-
To
promote acquaintance, friendship and fellowship as an
opportunity for service.
-
To
encourage and foster the idea of service and to provide
opportunity for its members to be of service to youth,
to the less fortunate and to the community.
-
To
create higher business and civic principles and to promote
cooperation in all business and civic affairs.
-
To
provide, through its club meetings, opportunities for
the full and free discussion of matters of public interest.
-
To
promote, in every way, the freedom of individuals and
the maintenance of the principles of free enterprise;
to encourage good government and good citizenship; and
to further mutual tolerance and understanding among all
people.
From
time to time, you may want to take a few minutes to review
the purposes with members of the club.
We
Are Sertoma!
Sertoma is a civic organization of successful men and women,
civic leaders who are dedicated to volunteerism and SERvice
TO MAnkind. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, the organization
was founded on April 11, 1912. Over the years, individual
members have brought forward their talents and joined the
collective experiences of thousands to chart a unique course
of action for community service. As the parent organization,
Sertoma helps clubs increase the effectiveness of their community
service activities.
Annually, Sertoma clubs sponsor thousands of moneymaking projects,
raising in excess of $20 million, which is applied to a myriad
of SERvice TO MAnkind sponsorships throughout the calendar
year.
Sertoma operates under a well-integrated structure. Clusters
of individual Sertoma clubs are brought together under the
umbrella of a District. The District is the principal unit
of the organization.
The Governor is the lead volunteer in the District and is
responsible for furthering the interests of Sertoma, counseling
club officers and promoting the building of new clubs in the
District. The new Governor is installed bi-annually at the
District Convention, which is held in conjunction with the
Regional
Convention. The Governor has several roles; the
first is to be of service to the club. The Governor is in
a position to pass along a great deal of assistance and wisdom,
generally based upon experiences gained over a period of time.
Second, the Governor monitors a club's progress. The
District leader is vitally interested in your club's
achievements and community standing. The Governor will share
with club leaders specific advice on avenues that might be
explored to further enhance the organization.
Groups of Districts geographically located represent Regions.
Each elects a Director who serves as a member of the Board
of Directors of Sertoma. There are seven Regions
in Sertoma. Mexico Sertoma clubs function as
an affiliated, independent organization, supporting the clubs
of Sertoma Nacional.
The Board of Directors of Sertoma is composed of the Executive
Committee, the seven Directors elected by region, and three
Directors elected at-large. The Executive Committee is represented
by the President, Chairman of the Board (the immediate Past
President), President Elect, Vice President, Treasurer and
the Executive Director, who serves as the Secretary. The Director
is an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors.
Sertoma Headquarters is located at 1912 East Meyer Boulevard
in Kansas City, Missouri, 64132. Office hours are Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central Standard Time. A professional
full—time staff is dedicated to the organization's
administration and provides services to members, clubs, Districts
and Regions. A listing of staff and related responsibilities
may be found on the Sertoma Web site www.sertoma.org.
Visiting
Representatives
Your
visiting representatives include the President, Chairman of
the Board, President Elect, Vice President, Treasurer and
Executive Director, as well as the Directors and your District
Governors. Each should be afforded all courtesies. Wherever
the official duties of the office take them, see that the
representatives are properly welcomed upon arrival. If required,
see that housing, transportation and publicity of the visit
is taken care of in advance. Provide for your guests at the
head table, if there is one, recognize them and, if appropriate,
give them the opportunity to speak.
In consideration of time and travel expense involved, the
attendance of the visiting representative at a club or District
event should be more than mere attendance at a meeting or
an address before a group. It calls for him or her to spend
the day, or a good part of the day, in the community in which
the meeting is held. Whenever possible, he or she should meet
with the club board of directors and hold conferences with
the president and other officers and with available committee
chairpersons. By these means, where there is the need, assistance
and counsel may be rendered by a visiting representative.
The Sertoma Headquarters staff can assist you with any protocol
issues should you have questions.
Visiting
Representative Travel Expenses
Members of the Board do not have an expense account available
to defray the cost of trips to club and District functions,
except when Sertoma specifically assigns them to a Region
meeting. Consideration of this should enter into planning
when these individuals are invited to participate, and financial
arrangements should be made as appropriate. Depending on the
dues structure of your District, your Governor may or may
not have an expense budget for travel to club meetings and
events. If in doubt, contact the Governor or Sertoma Headquarters
for clarification.
Sertoma Headquarters
Our dedicated staff works every day to help our clubs and
members. Take advantage of the talent and experience of these
professionals. If you have a staff member visiting your club,
make sure he or she is given appropriate recognition at your
meeting. Feel free to share with the staff any concerns you
may have. A listing of staff and related responsibilities
may be found on the Sertoma Web site, www.sertoma.org.
Divisions
& Meetings
The
District
The District is the direct link between your club and all
other clubs, services and activities of Sertoma. Get to know
your District Governor, District Secretary/Treasurer and other
personnel who may be part of the District cabinet. Establish
contact with the presidents of other clubs in the District.
You will find that they, too, will become a source of support
and assistance while sharing similar experiences.
During the course of the administrative year, the District
will host different functions, such as a District Leadership
Conference, four President's Advisory Councils, Growth Seminar,
Fall District Conference (optional), District Convention,
etc. Be sure to put these events on your calendar.
Become a valued leader within your District. Do not hesitate
to ask for assistance. In Sertoma, leaders are very happy
to help one another.
District
Leadership Conference
Every incoming club president, president elect, secretary
and treasurer should attend the District Leadership Conference,
which is planned and conducted for all newly elected club
officers, directors and committee chairpersons. The Conference
is the chief opportunity for leadership training and an introduction
to office responsibilities. It is called by the Governor or
Governor Elect and is held following the Leadership Training.
District
PAC Meetings
A formalized version of the President's Roundtable, the PAC
(President's Advisory Council), is a means to improve communication
between the members and Sertoma. The primary focus of the
PAC is for club presidents to share with their District Governor
and amongst themselves issues affecting their clubs. The goal
is to help Sertoma Headquarters have a better understanding
of the needs of the members in order to prioritize the resources
of the organization on behalf of the members. The PAC also
provides an opportunity for the board of directors to share
ideas or concerns and receive a direct response from the leadership
of the organization, our club presidents.
The expectation is for the Governor to hold a PAC meeting
each quarter. This may be combined with other meetings, such
as the District Leadership Conference and the District meetings
held in conjunction with the Regional Convention.
District Meetings/Regional Conventions
District
Meetings/Regional Conventions
Beyond bringing Sertomans together for fellowship and training,
these events are important parts of the governing process
of Sertoma. As one element of the Annual Meeting of Sertoma,
these events provide for the election of the members of the
organizatino Board and the District Governors who serve as
Sertoma's primary link with the clubs. It is also where the
members can present issues and ideas that they want the organization
to consider or address in the form of resolutions.
Annual
Convention & Meetings
Though the Board members are elected at the Regional Conventions,
the Officers for Sertoma are elected at this meeting. In addition
to these elections, it is at this meeting that any changes
to the Bylaws, dues issues and resolutions are dealt with
by vote of the membership.
At this meeting the Board, District Governors and key leader
volunteers receive their orientation and training, in addition
to seminars for the other attendees, including club officers.
The evening events celebrate the successes of all Sertomans
and recognize the Service to Mankind and Sertoman of the Year
recipients.
Sertoma
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