From President Peter

My Fellow Rotarians -

It is no secret that many of us are stretched to an uncomfortable position by the state of our economy. Personally, I am working harder for longer hours with less compensation that ever before. Not complaining mind you, actually happy for the work.
 
Still, it is time to formulate your action plan on how you will personally support our Golf 4 Kids. We all know that the fruit of our efforts will bring a little lightness into the lives of children (and their families and caretakers), who through no fault of their own, struggle with life’s everyday tasks. The committee can use your help. A small thing such as calling a few members and asking for their support can make a big difference.  Please do not wait to make that call. Let’s, once again, put on an event that makes us all proud to be members of the Rotary Club of Sacramento.

Our guest speaker Ginger Rutland did a marvelous job of bringing to our attention a couple of major concerns regarding the condition of our great state - Pensions and Prisons.  
My comment regarding renaming the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to the Department of Incarceration was not intended to disparage the men and women who perform a dangerous and challenging task, day in and day out, that few of us would choose.

Locking up those among us who lie, cheat, steal and attempt to make money by selling banned substances, however, comes at a very high price.  The premise supporting our Criminal Justice System is, “If life in prison is so bad, the person who previously thought socially deviant behavior was the path to a happy and fulfilling life, will change their attitude, avoid illegal behavior and never return to prison”.
 
Cleary, this is not working.

I think, as a moral obligation, if we are willing to lock people up as punishment, we are then compelled to attempt to help them change the way they think and feel about their fellow human beings.

Quite a task to be sure!

At our meeting on November 19th you will hear about a new Rotary District 5180 Program designed to attack the root cause of this socially deviant behavior . . .  for it is far easier to raise an emotionally healthy child than it is to change the attitude and behavior of an adult.