Today, August 25, 2008: Our program today is Dr. Jack Simon who will talk about "My Year in the White House" as he recounts his days with the Reagan and G.H. Bush Administration.

Jack will discuss his 16 months in the White House Science Office during a very unusual time as President Reagan's staff was getting ready to leave and President Bush had almost no one ready to assume office.  This gave Jack a unique opportunity to work on issues that White House Fellows normally never experience.  See and hear what Jack did and what he learned about life in the White House.  Jack will also discuss what it was like to go to the President's White House Christmas Party, 4th of July Party on the White House lawn and attend a President's Inauguration.

Next Week: No meeting.  Labor Day.

September 8: District Governor Stan Sherman.

 

The Blood Drive Challenge is set for Thursday, September 4th from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tanger Outlet Center in Space F-170 between Gap Kids Baby Outlet and Maurice's. Sign up on the sheet we will pass around at the next two meetings and or call Victoria Calvin-Redwine at TangerOutletCenter to reserve your time block 517-545-0500.  It easy and painless to take an hour out of your day to give blood that will help save a life.


Tour de Livingston is off and running. Please spread the word by passing along an announcement or handing out brochures. If you have not signed up yet for one of the Committees please do so at once. Our goal is 100 percent Club Participation!

 

Thanks to those who participated on the United Way Day of Caring! This was a prime example of our Rotary Creed: Service Above Self!


Livingston County Rotary Golf Challenge


Sep 25, 2008 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Hunters Ridge Golf Club
8503 Byron Road, Howell, MI, 48855 

Come spend a few hours having a blast with your fellow Rotarians from around the county as teams from Brighton, Howell and Fowlerville compete to take home the hardware for 2008-2009.

Cost is $25.00 per golfer, with $5.00 going to a pot for Polio Plus in the name of the winning Rotary Club.


Beijing club accommodates Rotary Olympic goers

By Ryan Hyland 
Rotary International News -- 21 August 2008 

After the Chinese wushu team invited Bernardo Garcia to train with them for the Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008, the Argentine Rotaract club member and the Rotary Club of La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina, reached out to Beijing Rotarians for support.

Garcia didn't receive financial support from the government of Argentina because wushu, a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts, isn't an official Olympic sport; it is a recognized International Olympic Committee competition.

Not wanting to waste a great opportunity, he raised enough money to make the trip to Beijing. However, finding accommodations during the Olympic Games is no small feat.

Nidia Acuña, president of the La Rioja club, contacted Gilbert Van Kerckhove, a member of the Rotary Club of Beijing, to see if he could help Garcia upon his arrival. Van Kerckhove, an investment promotion adviser for the Office for Beijing Olympics 2008 Projects, came through with the gold, finding a hotel room for Garcia.

"Obviously, these are hectic times in Beijing," said Van Kerckhove. "But our club is good at arranging logistics, and we managed to find a low-cost hotel that was close to transportation."

"Van Kerckhove and the Beijing club were a great help," said Acuña. "I really appreciate the importance of an organization like Rotary, which made it possible for two different cultures to come together in order to help an athlete like Garcia fulfill a dream."

The Beijing club also found a five-star hotel for the Belgian Olympic Committee and helped Rotarians traveling abroad get competition tickets. The club hosts a hospitality cocktail hour for visiting Rotarians every Thursday evening at the Hilton Beijing during the Olympic Games.

Read about Rotarians who fulfilled their Olympic dreams.