Tuesday, February 28th, the Rotary Club of Conroe listened raptly Obie Shaw, a fitness expert from Beaverton, Oregon, talked about the sorry state of American fitness. Despite continuing efforts to improve America's physical fitness that have been going on since the Eisenhower administration, we continue to fall behind. Mr. Shaw urged us to forget the idea that exercise should be fun and to think of it as work. Work being an idea that Rotarians can wrap their heads around. Instead of trying to exercise for 30 minutes 3-5 times a week, one needs to exercise 20 minutes everyday. That way there is no room to bargain with yourself about what day you will exercise next.

Continuing Programs

Our club has always focused on the needs of children everywhere.  Programs vary over the years, but these are the programs that have continued over the years:

Dental Program.  For over thirty years, our club has provided free or low-cost dental servicer for Conroe school children whose families are financially unable to obtain dental care necessary to relieve the severe pain their children have to endure.  As a result, these children are unable to participate in their classes or in school activities.   School nurses know to “Call Rotary” when they encounter a child suffering from such pain.

Mentor Program.  Each school year, Rotarians volunteer to serve as mentors for students attending Runyon Elementary School.  This school serves one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in Conroe. Each participating Rotarian meets privately with a child who requested a mentor.  Each mentor may talk with, read to or just play a game with their assigned child to help that child meet and handle his or her problems. At least once each year, the mentor’s children visit the Rotary Club at one of its weekly meetings.  The Club also supports the School Library at Runyon Elementary with weekly donations of books.

Interact Club at Conroe High School.  This club is now one of the largest and most active clubs in the school.  As often as possible, the Interactors visit the Club at its weekly meeting, and Interactors and Rotarians work together on service projects.