Oct 21, 2014-Rotary Forum

By Dick Dannells

Pres. Michael Boyer began the meeting at 12:43 PM in the Steamers banquet room with the usual introduction of guests. Ashlea Boyer was called to the podium to induct two new members, Greg Steinberger, owner of Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab, sponsored by Chuck Anders, and Scott Astrosky, the insurance broker that took over Linda Osty’s insurance, sponsored by Linda Osty.

After the opening bell, Pres. Michael fined everybody in the room five dollars for not being responsive to this bell and Harlan Silva $100 for objecting. Only one table in the room was served ice cream that included Ashlea Boyer, Shannon Bowdey, Doug McMillan, Don Weber and Bonnie Morgan. All but one was fined $30, and Don was fined $50 for objecting. Surprisingly, Steve Curry flubbed an introduction and was fined $20. Joel Conn received a $20 advertising assessment. Chuck and Teah Anders are celebrating their 18^th wedding anniversary and Chuck chose to spin the wheel and to clear the dishes from his table rather than pay a $50 fine.

Greg Baker was unanimously nominated to be the 2016 – 2017 president of the club. Jay Bond requested that coats and jackets for deserving children are being collected at various stores in the Five Cities including Minor’s Hardware. A thank you card was circulated from the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization.

Eddie Aurand introduced Lt. Col. David Kramer, who was born in Moline Illinois and is a 1992 West Point graduate. He began by showing a video of some of his tour of duty in Afghanistan including some R & R in Italy. He then began his talk, which he has given to a number of Rotary clubs including his dad’s Rotary club. On June 30, 2010 he took over the command of a battalion of 300 troops for a few months with the 101^st airborne division and a number of months with the first cavalry division. The main purpose of his battalion was to provide helicopter support for the ground forces in Afghanistan. He began to bond with his men by using humor, which included having them throw pies at his face. Another bonding experience was white water rafting down some rapids with a few of his men. He had extensive experience in Iraq flying Apache attack helicopters so when he got a chance he would fly such support helicopters as the Blackhawk to more closely identify with the pilots in his battalion. The helicopters were designed to fly at low elevation, but in Afghanistan there often were required to fly at 10,000 feet, which greatly reduced their efficiency. Another thing he learned to lift morale is to take a lot of pictures of his troops. During his R & R in Italy with his wife, unfortunately two of his men were killed. In his absence, they were able to carry off this loss with the polish that he expected of his men.

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“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.”

Confucius