Minutes from 11-7-16

 

President Jim Ruble called the meeting to order at 12:26, welcoming everyone to today’s meeting. 

 

Jason Cooper 

Greeters:

Dave Elmer and Charlie Shopp were the greeters today, and Charlie introduced the members who brought guests:

       •Dennis Gazdiewich introduced his wife Julie;

       •Dean Cline introduced Mike Brown;

       •Maribeth Plocek introduced Brady Wilkison;

       •Martha Rakestraw introduced the Student of the Month, Garrett Condelario and his mother, Kristine Condelario.  She also introduced Larry Meeboer;

       • Jim Ruble introduced Rose Mertz;  He also introduced Jackie Shulte, Cameron Wagner and Christine Vencill visiting from the Rotaract Club;

       • Brian Deurloo introduced Mark Watson;

 •Dan Odell introduced Kim Manchego;

 •Eric Easton introduced Kimberly Mazza

       • Claudia, the club’s exchange student was introduced;

 

 

Gary Pehrson had us all stand and lead us in singing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”and “Cowboy Joe”

 

Tara Short read the New Member Induction Ceremony welcoming Jeff Edgens to our Club.  Jeff was sponsored by Dale Bohren.

 

Dick Jay honored Dick Shamley with his Paul Harris Fellow +6 & 7.

 

Dan Odell was welcomed back to the club following the death of his Father.

Liz Becher’s son was having a surgical procedure that day.

Sheryl Foland asked for prayers and thoughts for her Father who would be having open heart surgery the coming week.

 

Steven Schnell nominated all of the members who helped with The Science Zone’s Trick or Treat Trail on October 29.  He stated that 4000 people attended the event.

Sheryl Foland nominated Jim Porter for taking the exchange students to the UW football game the past weekend.  She also informed the club that Jim had encouraged the exchange students to learn the words to “Cowboy Joe”.

 

Garrett Condelario from Natrona County High School was honored with the Rotary Student of the Month award.  He spoke briefly about his accomplishments.

 

1. AARP will be showing the film “Unbroken” at 7 pm

2. President Ruble informed the members that the club will still be matching all Paul Harris Foundation/Polio Plus contributions up to $500 until the end of the calendar year.    

3. The club is having a contest for members to bring in new members who are under 40 years old.  The first two members to do so; will win a dinner for 4 at Raccas Pizzeria.

Ann Ladd and Eric Easton volunteered to head up a committee to prepare for the district’s exchange students who will be visiting Casper for a skiing weekend outing this winter.

February 10 is the Casper Rotary Foundation Dinner.  Mandy George is looking for donated auction items for the event.  Contact her if you have anything to donate.

 

 

Dick Jay introduced our speaker today, Chistine Vencill who spoke about the Rotaract Club of Casper/Casper Young Professionals.  She began by explaining what Rotaract is,  a “new generation” program of Rotary.  Rotaract stands for “Rotary in Action.”  Rotaract is 10 years old and consists of members who are 18 – 35 years of age.  The club is less expensive than Rotary and there is not as much commitment involved.  The hope is that members of Rotaract will ultimately end up as members of Rotary.   In the 10 years of its existence, the Rotaract club has worked on the James Reed Memorial Park, placing 3 bike racks in Downtown Capser, creating an endowment for a Casper College scholarship and they have won the Presidential Citation Award almost every year at District Conference.  They usually have around 20 active members that have a variety of classifications so that they learn from each other.  They have an equal number of men and women in the club at this time.  They have 2 monthly meetings, a Board meeting and various gatherings throughout the month.  At this time they are working on a large service project called the Elkhorn Grocery Project.  For this project, they help patients that are leaving Elkhorn Rehabilitation Hospital to get groceries as they return home.   Other service projects include the Casper Rotary Duck Derby, the Casper Rotary Foundation Dinner, the river cleanup, “A Night in the Cold” and NIC Fest Arts Festival.   They have many goals which include going on to receive the Presidential Citation every year, bringing in members to their club that are under 25, branding Rotaract and reaching out to Casper College to, hopefully gain more members.  How can Rotaract help Rotary?  By spreading the word of Rotary, grooming members for Rotary, helping with Rotary projects and develop leaders for Rotary.  What can Rotarians do to help Rotaract? Talk to the young people in their lives and encourage them to get involved, invite them to help with their projects, support them in their projects and events and mentor to their members.

 

President Jim Ruble concluded the meeting at 1:25 and reminded us that next week we will be here again at the Parkway Plaza.