After opening the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, President Gail Moseley turned to Chief Jeff Film for the invocation. She then thanked Steve Dunton and Dave Renninger for getting us signed in and welcomed Special Agent Kevin Aurand, our speaker.
CONGRATULATIONS:
Rotary Anniversaries: Annette Oborn is celebrating 10 years as a Rotarian this week and Elizabeth Eaken, 9 years.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Dave Christman shared that it is his son's 30th birthday today. He commented that it is amazing how fast those years go.
Bob Sweitzer told us that last Friday he became the proud grandpa of Anthony George Karam III who is the son of Bob's daughter, Julie and her husband, Andy.
Bill Choler shared that he is the proud grandpa of Cooper Henry Malin who is the son of his daughter, Lindsey and her husband.
DRAWING: The pot will continue to grow since the 8 of clubs was drawn this morning at Dick Hall's table.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Marv Mills has moved to his daughter's home at 456 Middlestone Way, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. He would appreciate cards or notes from his fellow club members.
Brad Ruth told us that we will take two of the winners of our Four-Way Speech Contest to the district competition on April 22. They will present the speeches for our club on April 19.
Steve Dunton shared that the Bunny Hop has been moved to this Saturday, April 8, due to the bad weather last weekend. If anyone can help, particularly during the afternoon shift, please let Steve know at 330-618-0368. The event goes from 10:00-1:00.
Mary Dula asked us to please help at the Foodbank if at all possible this month since the Interact students will not be able to be there. Extra hands will be very important! It will be on Wednesday, April 26 from 4:30-6:30 at the Foodbank. Sign up as you sign in next week or let Mary know you can help at 330-715-6358.
An excellent CPR Training was held last Wednesday at the Safety Building, led by Stow firefighters for our fifth Wednesday activity. 19 people were trained.
Ronald McDonald House residents will be fed this Friday with meals from Dontino's Restaurant, courtesy of our club.
On April 15 from 1:00-3:00 we have an opportunity to help our Interact students make tie-blankets. There is no sewing involved and anyone can do it. They help us so many times, that it will be a good chance to help them. This is part of a project in preparation for the District Conference when students from all over the district will have blankets ready to give to Children's Hospital.
Bulldog Bags items that are being requested from us by April 12 are: cups of soup, mini bags of pretzels, bars of soap, 24 or 32 oz. containers of pasta sauce and 1 pound boxes of pasta. Donations can be brought to the meetings or dropped off in the lobby of City Hall or at the library.
PROGRAM:
For his member moment, Chief Film, our program host, told us that when Lou Dirker was Chief, he told Jeff about Rotary and suggested strongly that he think about membership. Through his membership, Jeff has volunteered at the Foodbank, Ronald McDonald House, Heroes Day and has felt enriched by these activities.
Jeff then introduced Special Agent Kevin Aurand who after he grew up in Eastlake spent most of his career based in Washington D.C. until his recent move to Hudson. He has worked on the presidential detail for George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joseph Biden. One of his "interesting" experiences was guarding the Obama daughters as teen-agers.
He explained that on April 18 of 1865 the operation was established to combat counterfeiting. That evening Lincoln was shot and the purpose of the group changed. However it took until 1901 for the purpose of the Secret Service to move officially from counterfeiting to guarding Presidents. It was then that President McKinley was shot. It took until 1968 for the first female to be accepted into the position. It was in that same year that it was decided that presidential candidates should be guarded as well as the Presidents themselves. At this point, they have the most police powers of anyone in the country.
There are other areas that involve the Secret Service. Today it is identity and credit card theft. He cautioned the audience strongly that no reputable and responsible individual or group is going to ask for payment in gift cards. 911 was a definite challenge, as they needed to learn to concentrate on airspace as well as ground attacks. However, only one member of the Secret Service was lost. In other situations, Hurricane Katrina opened doors for fraudulent claims, Columbia was frought with problems and patriotic crimes have caused a need for cyber technology. Finding qualified people to hire is their biggest challenge right now. To find out more information goto www.secretservice.gov.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Saturday, April 8, Bunny Hop Trail at Silver Springs Park 10:00-1:00.
Wednesday, April 12, 7:30 a.m. Weekly meeting at Bellacinos with Dr. Michelle Hilaire, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Friday, April 14, 7:15 a.m. Board Meeting at City Hall
Saturday, April 15, 1:00-3:00 blanket making with Interact
Wednesday, April 19, 7:30 a.m. Weekly meeting at Bellacios with winners of our Four-Way Speech Contest
Wednesday, April 26, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Volunteer time at the Foodbank
Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, District Conference at the Marriott in Warrensville Hts.
Saturday, May 13, Heroes Day
Friday, June 16, Golf Outing at Fox Den
Wednesday, October 11, Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction at Guys Party Center in the evening.
Submitted by Andy Denton
Andrea Denton
330-474-7265
330-414-1934