by Tammy Taylor
Staff Writer
Every Monday at lunch time, the Meninak Club meets at the Radisson. Its mission? To lend help where none is available, and with the induction of a new president, the mission will be met with renewed conviction.
Bill McCamy, chief operating officer at Logistic Business Solutions and retired Navy captain, officially became president of the Meninak Club Monday.
“I’m very humbled and honored to be elected as president after being in Meninak for only a short period of time,” said McCamy. “I’m excited about the opportunity.”
As president, McCamy has four goals he would like the Meninak’s to accomplish during his tenure. The primary goal is to increase membership by adding another 40 members to the organization’s roster. The next effort is to offer a “business to business portal” Meninak members can access through their website.
“Our goal is to lend help where none is available, but we also want to help each other out,” said McCamy.
McCamy wants to be able to provide Meninak members with a way to contact each other when they have a project or a need where another member can help provide assistance. He believes it is important for the organization’s members to help each other first in order to be successful in helping others.
The third goal is to ensure the money provided by the Meninak’s two charity projects is going to organizations and scholars that really need the money.
“We provide funds for organizations to the tune of $30,000 for a one-time capital improvement project,” said McCamy. “I want to make sure that when we give the money to an organization this year that is an organization that absolutely, positively needs the capital.”
McCamy is being just as meticulous about the distribution of the organization’s five $5,000 annual scholarships. He wants to make sure that only those students who show superior academic and extra-curricular excellence, but also those who need the scholarship to further their education, receive the money.
The new president’s final goal is to make the Meninak luncheons a must attend event.
“I want to make sure that our programs are interesting and exciting,” said McCamy. “I want to make sure that the speakers cover the wide spectrum of the natures of all our members, and that we have a good time.”
“Team 2004” is what McCamy calls the Meninak officers who will help him accomplish his goals as president.
“They put in their lion’s share of time,” said McCamy.
And he would like to see everyone involved in the organization make a collective effort toward the goals he has established for his term in office.
McCamy appreciates the camaraderie at the Monday meetings. He also enjoys how the speakers allow him to stay informed on what is happening in Jacksonville.
“As far as our speaker program goes,” said McCamy, “I’d give it an ‘A’. We have interesting people who talk about timely subjects.”
Speakers have included Mayor John Peyton, Bernard Goldberg (formerly of CBS), and Fox News’ Fred Barnes.
Funds for the Meninak Club’s two charity projects come from two resources. First is the annual membership assessment. The second is contributions made through voluntary participation in the Meninak Foundation, now called the Bill Drennon Foundation.
McCamy has been involved with Meninak since he moved to Jacksonville 10 years ago through the recommendation of a friend. Before being elected president, McCamy served as the organization’s Activity and Membership chair. He has also worked with the United Way for eight years where he is currently on the board of governors.
Visit www.meninak.org for more information on Bill McCamy and the organization.