October 18
 

Today we again have two student guests. Rebecca Rawlins is from Gering high. She is active in cross country and track as well as many organizations. Her goal is to attend either Nebraska Wesleyan or BYU and study art and design. Noah Hergenrader is a senior at Scottsbluff High and is also a runner. He is undecided in what school to attend but wants to study Business management and computer science and return to the area. John Massey announced that the Rotary Foundation committee has set goals for 2017. In honor of the international Foundations birthday, our club wants to be a 100% Paul Harris Fellow club and to raise $20,000 for the foundation. In order to meet this goal, the club is offering a matching contribution program, starting with those who do not have a Paul Harris Fellow and then extending it to those who do.  Our Program today is the Open Sky Policy Institute. We welcome Renee Fry, Executive Director, and Jo Giles. The Institute began in 2008 when a group of concerned businesses and citizens of Nebraska decided that a non-partisan organization was needed to study the fiscal responsibility of the Nebraska state government. Funds were collected and the non- profit organization was formed. Ms. Giles presented their research. Within the next five budget cycles, it appears we are going to have a budget shortfall and the legislators need to decide how to fund this and continue the obligations to the state. In the past, the state has decreased funding for K-12 education and let local governments pick up the tab, which usually translates to an increase in property tax. The research shows this hurts lower earners more than high ones. The overall goal is that you stay informed and let your representatives know your opinions.