February 28, 2018

 

Written by Patrick Hart

 

 

 

Tucker Olson opened the meeting this week, and Dan Lutter led us in singing "I've Been Working on the Railroad."  Dan announced that we were going to sing all verses, but unfortunately we have some elderly members, who proved too feeble to remain standing through the entire song.

 

With numbers not quite final our winter fund-raiser held on February 23 appears to have grossed at least $71,000.00, and with approximately $18,000.00 of expenses we should have over $50,000.00 to contribute to charities. 

 

Thanks to the hard work of the committee the fund-raiser was able to keep the gross attendance and revenue numbers at about the same level as last year, despite a decline in members.  People seemed pleased with the food and the casual theme, although there was grumbling over the wait time at the bar.  The committee is welcoming feedback, in the hope that we can do an even better job next year. 

 

Steve Risley reminded us that we will be taking a collection for the township food pantry next week.

 

Tony’s Collins bragged about his son’s robotic team which continues to tread new ground where mankind has never gone before.  The Carmel High School team crushed all competition at the state tournament and will now go on to the regional competition.

FUN AND FROLICS:

The person in charge of fun and frolics this week was a no show, so Tucker made up some criteria that had no logic but resulted in everyone paying money.
 
PROGRAM: 

Our speaker this week was Claress Pettengill, Director of Resource Development for the Lake County YWCA.  Claress also has a long running acquaintance with Rotary, having served as a volunteer for the eradicate polio campaign in the Phillippines in her youth.

 

YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  They have been in Lake County for 95 years, and they have four principal programs to work toward their mission.

 

The YWCA health services program concentrates on education, screening, follow thru, and referral.  There are many lower income individuals who have no idea how or when to seek medical advice, and the program can provide them with invaluable help in crisis situations.

 

Their economic empowerment program includes training in career readiness, financial literacy, and devising business plans.  They also conduct a child care program, which provides training to child care providers in the area and enables them to make referrals to parents in need of child care.

 

Finally the YWCA has a program aimed at eliminating racism through education.  

 

RAFFLE: 

This week the pot in our progressive raffle reached the fantastic sum of $1,402.00 with only seven cards left.  Unfortunately, Dennis Kratohwil blew his chance to ransom a king by pulling the nine of hearts.  Peggy Freese then won the weekly prize of $35.00.

  

NEXT WEEK:

Fun & Frolics: Elliot Pinsel

 

Greeter and Prayer: Bob Zamor

 

 

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt