Induction of New Rotary Members
Three new members were formally inducted into the Billings Downtown Rotary Club #999: Anne Crist, Ashley Taylor, and Bill Dreikosen.
Billings Rotary Foundation Update
The Billings Rotary Foundation, provided an update on the organization’s leadership and future direction. Jock acknowledged the long-standing service of veteran board members—Bill Dutcher, Alan Karell, Darrel Ehrlick, and John Stewart—joking that they collectively had “four hundred years” of experience. The board has worked to secure a succession plan, and announced the new board members being added. The Foundation is transitioning to offering scholarships every two years instead of every four and will be increasing fundraising activities to support this initiative. John Stewart will assume the presidency of the Foundation on July 1st. Jock emphasized that while many Rotarians understand the Foundation’s purpose, many do not fully grasp its scope. He committed to delivering future presentations to clarify the Foundation’s impact and future goals.
Guest Presentation: Billings Community Foundation
Zack Terakedis, Executive Director, and John Greenberger, Finance Director, of the Billings Community Foundation (BCF), delivered a comprehensive presentation on their organization’s mission, services, and impact. The Foundation was founded in 2007 as a regional arm of the Montana Community Foundation. It became independent to better serve Eastern Montana, which previously received insufficient attention. They now serve nine counties, with partnerships extending to 11–12 counties. BCF acts as a “charitable bank,” helping individuals and organizations direct resources to causes they care about. Services include: Donor-advised funds (DAFs); Endowment management; Montana Endowment Tax Credit; Pass-through accounts; Fiscal sponsorships; and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). BCF supports local nonprofits by focusing on board education, teaching financial literacy and fiduciary responsibilities; partnering with the United Way and the Chamber of Commerce to train nonprofit boards and executive directors; and offering fiscal sponsorship, bookkeeping, and grant reporting services. The presentation ended with a Q&A with the membership.