The Spoke

Meeting Minutes

Meeting called to order by President Ron

Guests

Guests; Shannon Godfrey and Julia Gustafson, our speakers today.

Invocation

Invocation by Amy S. - there is conflict and protest going on, as close as our own state, city and neighborhoods. We pray today that calm and communication prevails, that we attempt to see points of view and find a balance towards a lasting peace.

Pledge

Everyone.

4-Way Test

Everyone.

International Theme

Unite for Good. 

Paul Harris Awards

None this week.

Announcements

Bob H. -  brought out the Memorial Blood flyers and methods of how we can sign up donate blood on March, 6. It will happen in our own meeting room from 8:00 to 2:00. You will all receive an email with that info. Call, scan, or enroll on the website. This is a combined effort with The Marsh to get 50+ pints to where they are sorely needed. Try to get 1 or 2 more to donate. Appointments are required, but they will stay at the end to accept your donation. 
ICA is in constant need for donations, food or money. Days to volunteer boxing food pop up, and look for announcements on short notice. This will be ongoing for a while. Check the ICA website for specific foods needed, and bring the bags to our meetings.

Jerald S. - the Polar Plunge benefitting Special Olympics is coming up on Saturday March 14. Be a sponsor of our team or sponsor individual plungers. The ‘Safety Meeting’ before the plunge will be at Tavern 4 and 5 at 9:00. Contact Jerald for more details. 
 

New Member Induction      

Rotary Minute

None this week.

Raffle

Andy holds the ticket, but the Joker remained in the deck. Play on.

Foundation Award Checks or Thank You's

None this week.

Happy Bucks

The reporter got a late start on the ‘why’s’, but the ‘who’s’ were Bill, Bob, Alissa, Scott N, Annika, Ron, Amy, Bonnie, and James. The ‘what’s’ were purchase of office space that worked out, trips to Mexico City, Bahamas, Charleston, the Olympics, Beth’s band, a WW2 family diary, a member’s generous contribution,  You can match them up if you were present today.

Program  

Speakers - Julia and Shannon, presenting The Common App.

It’s well known that cell phones are a marvelous invention, but with that can come problems. The distractions, dependency, loss of personal communication are especially noticeable in students in schools. The average use is 1.5 hours per day, equivalent to a lost month in a year of school. Social media replaces learning. 

Shannon and Julia are on the ground floor of solving these issues. The helped develop an app called The Commons. They are both technically trained and have found a way to bring teachers, parents, and students into an agreeable place. The Commons finds a healthy middle ground between 100% access and a complete removal of phones. 

The Commons app works by only allowing the phones to view specific things and retain parental (emergency) contact. Social media and other distractions will not appear when on the school grounds. With less phone use, teachers teach and students learn, and engage, better. All parties are taking leadership roles to make this work. Parents are now allies, not opposers, with school and teaching policies. 

The Commons app is very secure, will not store any data, there is no advertising. It only activates when you enter the school grounds. In some cases of resistance, counseling and support is available. The students conflicting attentions are paused, and directed to the teacher. 98% of teachers are strongly pro the Commons app. It is shifting the culture in schools, kids are playing sports, checking out books; the behavior is changing. 

Julia and Shannon are presenting this to many schools, administrations, and Rotary Clubs like ours. It has only an upside as it’s a win-win-win among all parties. Thanks to you both for your talk and the creativity to use your technical skills to help turn this tide in schools around. What you do will make a HUGE difference.

Adjournment

Submitted by Bob H.

Member Submissions

From Frank B. - 

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From Mike S. -