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5K ISSUE SEPTEMBER 27, 2025
VOL. 6 NO. 9
OUR FOUNDATION BOARD
NEWS-NOTES-NONSENSE
Here comes October, our busiest month, so, buckle up boys and girls and be prepared to step up your community service efforts. Starting with today's Color Run, we have our Chili Dinner, Pints for Polio and 3 (or 4) Halloween events coming up. Get your rest, we need your help!
On Thursday Rotarian JeremyP, in his capacity as a two tern Wood River alderman, made a state of the city presentation. In a nutshell, the city is moving in the right direction, forward and upward. He views the city as a smart choice for economic growth. Property taxes are the lowest they have been in 40 years. City officials work hard to make the city safe and secure and to provide a smooth path for potential businesses to invest in downtown. All the city officials want Wood River to be known as pro-business. Jeremy concluded his presentation by reviewing a list of recent improvements/developments, a nice list.
This Thursday we will welcome our first two Service Above Self award students from EA-WR HS. The following week we will recognize two students from RHS. We will continue to recognize two students monthly from each school throughout the school year. Please give them a warm Riverbend East welcome.
Congrats to MarkV on his firm Franklin & Vaughn LLC, being named the Growth Association's September Small Business of the Month, well deserved!
Early-birders included JeremyP, Prez Mark, AllenH and MarkA.
We may be involved in as many as four Halloween events this year. It kicks off with an organizational session this coming Wednesday, October1st @ 6PM. We will gather at the Waggoner Equipment Rental office-6 Helmkamp Dr in WR. KristenB, DianeS and AlanaY have agreed to coordinate our efforts. Please come and share your thoughts about what our float/participation will look like.
There are fiveestablishments (including The Airliner) that have agreed to participate in the Pints for Polio fundraising event on October 23rd.
Do you have an interest in joining a group of Riverbend East members attending the RI convention next June in Taipei,Taiwan? Let RobinK know.
The sign-up sheet for our Chili Dinner is making the rounds. BradP and SherryT are the co-chairs. We will gather at RHS on October 17th. Ticket distribution began on Thursday. Presale tickets are $8, $10 at the door. Each member is asked to sell a minimum of 10 tickets. Everyone is asked to provide prepackaged desserts (homemade desserts are also welcome).
It's that time of year. The Turkey Fund jar will be making it's first appearance of the season this Thursday. All proceeds will benefit Operation Blessing. Thanks for your generous support!
RobinK is packing for another trip across the pond, this time to Great Britain. Safe travels.
Several members of the Wood River administrative staff were on hand to listen to Jeremy's presentation.
JoeS will soon be soliciting basketball tournament t-shirt sponsors. You in?
Belated birthday wishes go out to JeremyP on the 24th.
Our Rotary shelter cookout last week was a fine success. Thanks to MarkA for serving as our point person. A special thanks go out to MikeK, DianeS and ChrisH for helping to prepare the shelter-power washing, cleaning and staple pulling. A future repair/paint day at the shelter is in the works.
The post-nooner list included GlennB, CoryG, BradP and PattiA.
The SRI (slide right in) crowd featured DaveA, ChrisH and GlennB.
SAA RickH recruited RobinK as the lugmeister. We correctly answered 3 out of 4 trivia Q's. Prez Mark, AllenH, SherryT and RickH had Happy Fines. Did you help clean the Rotary pavilion? No?? Pay a $.
We had 20 members dining on BBQ pork steaks, twice baked taters, garlic bread, salad and yellow sheet cake.
RobinK and PattiA couldn't find the joker. SherryT won the scratchie.
Opening duties were covered by Mark's A &V and BillP.
18 members forgot to take a look at the last issue of the Eastender News.
WAITING FOR THE DINNER BELL
CHILI DINNER PLANNERS
SAUSAGE MONGERS
PAVILION CLEANUP
ALL THINGS TRIVIAL
A gas pumping defect has made certain high-end cars burst into flames and triggered a recall of which model?
A-Porsche 992
B-Chevrolet Corvette
C-Mclaren Artura
D-Lotus Emira
(Find the answer near the end of the newsletter)
Today is National Ghost Hunting Day
Which continent has land in all four hemispheres?
Europe
Asia
Africa
South America
The equator runs east to west through the middle of the African continent, while the prime meridian runs north to south, right down the middle of Algeria. Because of this location, Africa experiences a fairly consistent climate throughout the year with most nations not experiencing distinct seasonal changes.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Sourced from the Eastender News, Make-Up and Banner newsletters
September 2022
We heard a presentation from Tyler Lafferty about the East Alton Park and Rec program.
MarkSm encouraged everyone to continue selling their Chili Dinner tickets.
PaulH received an early morning call while in Hawaii requesting him to chair our basketball tournament.
RobinK and JoeS were thanked for serving on the Operation Blessing board.
What's ChrisH's favorite Mexican restaurant? Casa Romero.
PattiA served as the Lugmeister.
JohnP paid a Happy Fine.
AllenH and PattiA searched in vain for the joker, leaving $151 on the table.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
DATELINE:ROTARY
SHORT TERM EXCHANGE BUILDS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
By Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan, past governor of Rotary District 7475 (New Jersey)
Our district is celebrating 47 years of Rotary Youth Exchange between New Jersey and Shikoku, Japan (District 2670). We have been committed to this wonderful Rotary program because of its ability to empower students and foster lasting change that transcends borders.
Since 1978, we have had a hand in transforming the lives of over 2,050 students, creating a vibrant community of global citizens. This year, I had an opportunity to co-lead our 20 adventurous students on an unforgettable journey to Japan. We started with little knowledge of the rich culture awaiting us. After spending three enlightening weeks with host families and exploring ancient temples and historical landmarks, we returned with a newfound perspective on life, enhanced confidence, and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.
The joy we experienced during this travel not only enriched our lives but also forged lasting bonds with more than 48 host families. In each prefecture of Ehime, Tokushima, Kagawa, and Kochi, students spent four days with different host families learning about their family dynamics and spending quality time together. We visited Hiroshima, Osaka, and many other historical sites in those four islands. The cultural exchange was priceless and our time with host families further cemented the relationship between our two districts.
The transformative power of Rotary Youth Exchange resonates deeply with the mission of our two districts’ short-term exchange program to empower youth. In the last 47 years, together, we have helped many students foster a spirit of greater understanding and helped create a brighter future. May our friendship last for another 50 years.
AND I QUOTE
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."-Aesop
"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are."-E.E. Cummings
"Success always demands a greater effort."-Winston Churchill
"True friendship resists time, distance, and silence."-Isabel Allende
SMILE
What do you call a line of men waiting to get haircuts? A barberqueue.
In fact, if you sneer at any other method of measuring liquids, you may be held in contempt of quart.
My hotel tried to charge me ten dollars extra for air conditioning. That wasn’t cool.
What do you call a beehive without an exit? Unbelievable.
Did you know that the first french fries weren’t cooked in France? They were cooked in Greece.
This morning, Siri said, “Don’t call me Shirley.” I accidentally left my phone in Airplane mode.
It's easy to convince ladies not to eat Tide Pods, but harder to deter gents.
I asked my date to meet me at the gym but she never showed up. I guess the two of us aren't going to work out.
The difference between a numerator and a denominator is a short line. Only a fraction of people will understand this.
I found a wooden shoe in my toilet today. It was clogged.
To whoever stole my copy of Microsoft Office, I will find you. You have my Word.
I used to run a dating service for chickens. But I was struggling to make hens meet.
THE NUMBERS
Global “micromobility” sales—including everything from powered scooters and skateboards to mopeds and e-bikes—will hit $340 billion by 2030, more than doubling from $160 billion in 2022-McKinsey
Base salaries for nonmanagerial workers in AI (artificial intelligence) with zero to three years experience grew by around 12% from 2024 to 2025, the largest gain of any experience group-Burtch Work
More than $500 billion is now invested in the 529 education savings program, over more than 17 million accounts
In 2014, the average size of a new home was 2,707 square feet. By 2024, that number had dropped to 2,404 square feet — roughly 11% smaller-LendingTree
Assets in money-market funds reached a record $7.7 trillion this month, with more than $60 billion flowing into those funds during the first four days of the month-Crane Data
Sales at chicken chains grew 8.9% in 2024 compared with the prior year, while burger company sales grew 1.4%-Technomic
Federal data show that religious construction spending rose nearly 17% in the 12 months running through June. Overall construction spending fell nearly 3% in the same period
(Trivia answer-B)
ROTARY'S AREAS OF FOCUS
These have been identified to help build international relationships, improve lives and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever
