Longtime Seward Rotarians, Jon and Bonnie Kruse were honored at the Seward Rotary Club noon luncheon meeting on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at the Jones Bank and Trust Company’s auditorium in Seward. They were recognized, honored and thanked for becoming members of the Rotary Bequest Society and presented with special lapel pins, a necklace and a crystal engraved award for including Rotary in their estate planning. Both have become members of the prestigious Rotary Bequest Society, including Rotary International in their wills.
Both Jon and Bonnie have been longtime active members in the Seward Rotary Club and enjoy attending Rotary meetings and conventions around the world as they travel abroad. They are strong and valued community leaders, not only in the Seward Rotary Club but offer their leadership in a variety of activities in the community, such as the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club, St. John Lutheran Church, the Seward County Historical Society, the Seward Arts Council, the Seward Fourth of July Committee, and a host of other clubs, organizations and activities.
The Kruse’s have hosted numerous exchange students and international visitors to Seward and are longtime leaders in the Seward Rotary Club Foundation Committee, Rotary International District Grant committee and the annual Rotary Holiday “Stuff the Cruiser” Children’s Gift Campaign.
The awards and crystal award was presented by Rotary District Endowment Fund Chairman from the Lincoln South Rotary Club, who then presented a program on the Rotary International Bequest Society program. He shared that one of the most popular ways to include Rotary in an estate plan through a will or codicil. The legal name of the bequest is to be the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
Examples to consider for the gift include a percentage of the entire estate, a specific asset, a contingent bequest and a residual bequest-to give the remainder of the estate, once all other requests are complete.
Roger encouraged interested Rotarians to consult an independent tax and legal advisor before making any charitable gift. Once the decision has been made to include Rotary in your estate, you can provide the direction on how available earnings are spent. A gift to Endowment World Fund directs support where it is most needed around the world, an Endowment SHARE allows your Rotary District to direct a portion of the spending along with a portion going to the World Fund. You can also direct support to World Focus if desired.
Funds can be designated and personalized with named funds in the endowment.
For more information on the Bequest Society of Rotary International contact Rotary International at planned.giving@rotary .org or call 1-847-866-3100
