If you were at this week’s Club Assembly, you got a peek at many of the ins and outs of keeping BBRC running. But there’s even more, so I thought I would explain some of it in this occasional piece I’ll call, “The Informed Rotarian.” This time, it’s all about the money!
“BBRC” is different from the “BBR Foundation.” The two have separate boards of directors and separate budgets. The BBRC budget is devoted to the “business” of the club, whereas the Foundation budget is devoted to the “service” side of the house.
I reviewed this at our second meeting, but thought it might help to have it in writing, too. Your BBRC dues of $80/month PLUS any “fines & recognitions” cover the following primary BBRC costs:
Fines & Recognitions are used to help us meet these costs without raising our dues. Fines and Happy Spots do not go toward the Foundation.
Now, the Foundation $$$
Everyone knows that we want…we really want…each member to contribute at least $250 to the Foundations each year as a donation--separate from any tickets you purchase to an event, and separate from any sponsorship of a Foundation event. $150 of this donation stays with our local Foundation; the remaining $100 goes to The Rotary Foundation “to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty” (which includes local projects like Veterans Village. We apply for “matching money” to help us do these type of projects). [Side note: You will receive a Foundation Pledge sheet in a couple of months, where YOU choose how much you want to donate. If times are tough right now, donate less. If times are good…well, you know!] 
Breakfast Rotary Foundation dollars are precious because they power our service projects. That money purchases supplies for pancakes, shoes for children, wreaths for graves, food for families, and flags for the community. The Foundation Board carefully scrutinizes their budget (this year’s is soon to be reviewed officially by Dave and his board). The portion of the check you may write that goes to the BBR Foundation, goes into this bucket of money and helps our community - and our world!
There you go, your first edition of “The Informed Rotarian.” Please contact me or Dave (aka Sheriff Woody) if you have any questions about the budgeting process!
-Cheryl