Port Washington approves land sale for The Blues Factory
By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel
A blues-themed restaurant, tavern and performance venue proposed for Port Washington's lakefront is taking a big step forward, with city officials agreeing to sell the development site.
The Port Washington Common Council voted unanimously to accept The Blues Factory Inc.'s $250,000 purchase offer for the municipal parking lot at its Tuesday night meeting.
The Blues Factory plans to open its $4.75 million development by summer 2017. It will mark the centennial celebration of the famed Paramount Records label, which featured African-American blues and jazz artists who created the roots for rock music.
The 17,224 square-foot parcel, south of E. Washington St. and east of Harbor View Lane, is the former site of Wisconsin Chair Co., which owned the Paramount label.
The 2016 Council on Legislation may well be remembered as one of the most progressive in Rotary history.
Not only did this Council grant clubs more freedom in determining their meeting schedule and membership, it also approved an increase in per capita dues of $4 a year for three years. The increase will be used to enhance Rotary’s website, improve online tools, and add programs and services to help clubs increase membership.
The Council is an essential element of Rotary’s governance. Every three years, members from around the world gather in Chicago to consider proposed changes to the policies that govern the organization and its member clubs. Measures that are adopted take effect 1 July.
The tone for this year was set early, when the RI Board put forth two proposals that increase flexibility. The first measure allows clubs to decide to vary their meeting times, whether to meet online or in person, and when to cancel a meeting, as long as they meet at least twice a month. The second allows clubs flexibility in choosing their membership rules and requirements. Both passed.
Representatives also approved removing six membership criteria from the RI Constitution and replacing them with a simple requirement that a member be a person of good character who has a good reputation in their business or community and is willing to serve the community.
The $4 per year dues increase was based on a five-year financial forecast that predicted that if Rotary didn’t either raise dues or make drastic cuts, its reserves would dip below mandated levels by 2020. The yearly per capita dues that clubs pay to RI will be $60 in 2017-18, $64 in 2018-19, and $68 in 2019-20. The next council will establish the rate after that.
“We are at a moment in time when we must think beyond the status quo,” said RI Vice President Greg E. Podd. “We must think about our future.”
Podd said the dues increase will allow RI to improve My Rotary, develop resources so clubs can offer a better membership experience, simplify club and district reporting, improve website access for Rotaractors, and update systems to keep Rotary in compliance with changing global regulations.
Also because of this Council’s decisions:
A Council on Resolutions will meet annually online to consider resolutions — recommendations to the RI Board. Council members will be selected for three-year terms. They’ll participate in the Council on Resolutions for three years and the Council on Legislation in their final year only. The Council on Resolutions will free the Council on Legislation to concentrate on enactments — changes to Rotary’s governing documents. Proponents predict that the Council on Legislation can then be shortened by a day, saving $300,000.
Rotaractors will be allowed to become members of Rotary clubs while they are still in Rotaract. Proponents argued that too few Rotaractors (around 5 percent) join Rotary. Sometimes it’s because they don’t want to leave their Rotaract clubs before they have to, upon reaching age 30. It’s hoped that giving them more options will boost the numbers of qualified young leaders in Rotary.
The distinction between e-clubs and traditional clubs will be eliminated. The Council recognized that clubs have been meeting in a number of ways, and given this flexibility, the distinction was no longer meaningful. Clubs that have “e-club” in their names can keep it, however.
The reference to admission fees will be removed from the bylaws. Proponents argued that the mention of admission fees does not advance a modern image of Rotary.
A standing committee on membership was established, in recognition that membership is a top priority of the organization, and polio eradication was also reaffirmed to be a goal of the highest order.
On Saturday, JUNE 4, our M-T Sunrise Rotary partner, Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, is planning a short workday to PLANT native tree seedlings and shrubs in Pukaite Woods. We'll probably work up to four hours. CAN YOU HELP FOR SOME OR ALL OF THOSE HOURS?
The new trees & shrubs will help crowd out re-growth of the buckthorn along the streambed from which OWLT volunteers (and Dave Schlageter) removed mature buckthorn through the fall and earlier this spring.
Please respond, and let me know if you (and any family or friends) can join us even for an hour or two on June 4, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. We need to know what tools/equipment we'll need.
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On Saturday, JUNE 4, our M-T Sunrise Rotary partner, Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, is planning a short workday to PLANT native tree seedlings and shrubs in Pukaite Woods. We'll probably work up to four hours. CAN YOU HELP FOR SOME OR ALL OF THOSE HOURS?
