Rick Hooks
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LUV THE GOV ISSUE
August 22, 2015
DISTRICT GOVERNOR VISIT
On Thursday District Governor Steve Hopper made his 41st club visit since becoming the Governor on July 1st. (FYI-His 1st was to the Bethalto club.) Here are a few thoughts he shared with us in is multimedia presentation.
Prior to becoming a Rotarian, Steve had two Rotary encounters that paved the way for his interest in the organization. A few years ago his daughter participated in the lng term exchange program. Steve observed that it takes quite the leap of faith to turn the responsibility for taking care of your child for the next 10 months to an organization 1/2 way around the world. Steve also participated in a Group Study Exchange to Sweden (his ethnic roots) with a group of Edwardsville educators (they presented a program a few years back). Both of these events made Steve determined to repay Rotary for all the good experiences it bestowed on his family.
The Rotary Foundation spends 92% of donations on programs, earning it a 4-star Charity Navigator rating. He suggested that any denotation made by a club remember be designated for the Annual Fund. Part of the donation would be returned to the district to help fund local projects. During the 2014-15 Rotary year district 6460 members donated $901,000 to the Foundation.
Steve used his AppleTV box to present a slideshow from his phone. He reinforced some of the Rotary rebranding message that we heard on the 13th.
District membership is holding steady.
He thanked Lori for her help with the RYLA program.
Steve wants clubs to participate in a local Rotary Day to help shine the public spotlight on all the good things Rotary does. Our multi club Salute to Veterans serves that purpose.
He left us with this thought "the deeper you get into Rotary, the smaller the world becomes".
NEWS NOTES & NONSENSE
(This week's program was presented by District Governor Steve Hopper. There was video recording.)
The August 15th bulletin was opened by 57% of club members. (Up from 53% last week).
Look for the next Rotary Banner on September 5th.
There were 20 members in the house dining on beef au jus, mac 'n cheese, salad, peach cobbler and cookies.
Early arrivals included Red, Allen and Roger. The bell beaters included Dave, Patty and Rhonda.
Our guests included Riverbender ADG Lori and 'cousin' Jeff from Bethalto.
The District Governor observed that "It was nice to see Lori in her natural habitat."
Even though Dick and Rick wore long pants instead of shorts to impress the Gov, everyone was fined for not wearing a tie.
"It wasn't me"-Mark A
After the bell Brad P, Mark S and Dave took care of opening duties.
Can you ride a bike? 18% of Millennials can't.
To date, Lori reports, we have had three $10 BaseballMania winners.
The sign-up sheets for the Soap Box race and family cookout are making the rounds. Please indicate if you prefer steak or chicken for the cookout. Someone will contact you to bring a side dish. dinner is served @ 6.
Rhonda will have someone in the house on September 24th to answer all your Cosmic Bingo questions. You do not have to reserve a table. Bring your own snacks. It's fun for women and men. The goal is to have 300 attendees.
The Christmas party is about 20 weeks away. Rhonda wil draft you for help.
SAA Bill and bag guy Fred collected $$ for not knowing the answers: 16 1/2 minutes and the Louisiana Purchase. If you weren't with us on the 13th, drop a $ in the bag.
Red and Rick pulled dud cards from the 50-50 deck, leaving the $82 jackpot unclaimed. Patty headed back to work with the scratch-off safely tucked away in her purse.
That's all from here...have a fine and dry weekend!
WANTED:SOAP BOX RACER
We are once again sponsoring the Soap Box Festival. Part of the sponsorship includes one complimentary sponsor driver in the Rotary car’s first trip down the hill. If someone has a child, grandchild, etc. that would like to ride please let Lori know. Here are the basics:
Saturday, September 12th
Time of ride: Approximately 9:15-10:30 (includes time for registration, safety check prior to ride)
Age: 7 years or older
Height: 4’ to 4’9”
Weight: 55-90 lbs.
Stated height & weight guidelines are geared towards participants being able to fit comfortably in the car. THE SOAP BOX CAR & RACE HELMET IS PROVIDED.
Racer will receive a race down the hill, commemorative t-shirt and photo in soap box car.
(As of this writing, we still have a few crosswalk assignments available.)
FROM THE ARCHIVES
AUGUST 31, 2000
Mark V was our Prez. Also serving the club were Dick, Paul and Mark S. We were (probably) meeting at the ice Arena.
John Pearson presented the program.
Entertainment books were selling for $20 each. Using the Shop 'N Save coupons would pay for the book.
Mark S reported that long term exchange student Angela departed for Japan on the 19th.
SAA Nick Adams fined anyone who brought a guest with a noisy pager.
Member who are no longer members included:Tom Coles, Joyce Kitchell,Matt Maberry, Marty Marks, Paul Lowery,Candy Mark,Martha Morse,Scott Smith and Dave Triebes.
Rod won the 50-50.
Upcoming club events included:Race of Fun, Chili Dinner, Cardinal concessions, the scholarship golf tournament and Halloween parade.
DATELINE:RI
August 11th marked a significant milestone for Africa in its effort to eradicate polio from the continent. A full year has passed since Africa’s last reported case caused by the wild poliovirus.Somalia was the last country to identify a new case, which occurred on 11 August 2014. While Africa has achieved an important public health milestone, the job is not yet finished. To end polio forever, all countries – both endemic and non-endemic – must strengthen routine immunization, address gaps in disease surveillance and do more to reach children who are still being missed by vaccinators.“We cannot wind down our efforts now. We need to continue immunizing until the last country is certified polio-free, and thereafter,” says Dr. Tunji Funsho, chair of Rotary’s Nigeria PolioPlus Committee. “As long as the virus remains anywhere in the world, it is only a plane ride away.”Rotary members have played a key role in the eradication effort. They have led the way in raising funds, advocating for government support, building awareness, and mobilizing volunteers on the ground.“The work of Rotary and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has also cut through the clichéd narrative of Africa as the land of poverty, disease, and conflict,” says RI General Secretary John Hewko. “Real human development has been achieved despite the toughest obstacles and despite the opinion of many who thought we could not eradicate this disease in Africa.”Strong continued support toward polio eradication in these final years of the campaign is the best way to ensure that today’s milestone will indeed mark the last case of polio in Africa, says Michael McGovern, chair of Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee.“Rotary members have many opportunities to make a difference, including being part of history as we seek a polio-free world,” McGovern says. “Members have led the way in fundraising and lining up volunteer support for polio eradication.”Through 2018, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is matching 2-to-1 every dollar that Rotary commits for polio, up to $35 million a year.
THE BOTTOM LINE
1 in 4 workers is now required to have a license to do his or her job, up from 1 in 20 in the 1950's. More than 1,100 occupations are regulated in at least one state-The Wall Street Journal
Even though new cars are selling at the fastest rate since the end of the Great Recession, the average age of vehicles on the road is at a record high 11.5 years-USA Today
THE LAST WORD
"Karl Mark was right, socialism works. It is just that he had the wrong species."-Edward O. Wilson
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