It was a beautiful sunny spring day in Delphi as the Rotary Club met for what could be our most educational meeting in years.
 
                It was a beautiful sunny spring day in Delphi as the Rotary Club met for what could be our most educational meeting in years.  Kyle Cross lead off, pinch-hitting for President Underhill, followed by Ken Lavy with the blessing.  Next up was a delicious chicken dish with all the trimmings prepared by the Methodist Ladies.  Jeff Smith was a big hit raising funds as Seargent, striking out the side with a series of unhittable Rotary trivia questions. 
A larger than normal crowd of students was present to take in the festivities, as prospective RYLA participants were called up to join the usual compliment of junior Rotarians.  Announcements were heard relating to a busy rotary weekend, including RYLA at Camp T and a Saturday canal work day at Trailhead Park.  Future events included the District Conference in Shipshewana on April 29th and 30th, the RI Convention in New Orleans in May, and a special presentation at next week’s meeting about the upcoming Gala Fundraiser at the Opera House. 
The attention of all in attendance then turned to the podium as Ken Lavy introduced the speaker, Dr. Rolf Scharenberg, professor of nuclear physics at Purdue.  Dr. Scharenberg dazzled the crowd with a timely, entertaining and multi-faceted presentation.  His clear and easy-going delivery struck the perfect balance between complex subject matter and a curious but scientifically unsophisticated audience.  The Club learned that the value of a good scientific education is not confined to the lab.  In addition to the practical applications of Dr. Scharenberg’s ongoing activities with quark-gluon plasma, the Club was introduced to the work of shale-gas pioneer George Mitchell and the 100 year supply of domestic energy this technology will provide.  Dr. Scharenberg also shared the story of his own son’s work with gene-cutting proteins which could potentially lead to cures for a myriad of maladies, including HIV.
The Club adjourned a little smarter and with a renewed sense of optimism of the ability of good old American ingenuity to face the challenges of a complex world.