Smoky Hill Rotary held a club assembly Monday, where the various heads of committees brought everyone up to date on the happenings in their particular areas. 
1. Sergeant at Arms and PP Paul Urtz, though not strictly part of the assembly program, gave an impassioned plea for membership. Attandance was light Monday, and Paul invited everyone to look around, because, without a significant push for new members, the two tables of Rotarians may be our future. Most of us joined Rotary in our late 30's or 40's, but we have since aged together. Many of us are now retired, which means we don't have as many of those important daily business contacts that produced so many of our members. The old rules for recruitment are probably out the window anyway as we and our service arean have changed dramtically. We may need to rebrand ourselves, even "recharter" ourselves in some respects in order to continue to serve the many people here in Aurora and around the world whose lives are better because of this club. 
2. President Nancy followed up Paul's comments by announcing that there will be a club assembly on membership on Oct. 16 where ideas generated by club members and the membership committee will be presented and discussed. If you have any ideas, please pass them on to President Nancy.
3. PP Terry Remigio, Club Service chair, announced that the next social event will be at the Cheluna Brewery in the Stanly Marketplace on Oct.14 at 6:00 pm. Evites will be sent out shortly. The Holiday Party will be sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but no date has been set.
4. Pat Pogue, Community Service Chair, had a list of activities to report on:
    a. The Christmas Gift program in conjunction with Century Elementary will again be done in connection with the Holiday Party.
    b. The Ronald McDonald House events have been set for the year, on a quarterly basis.
    c. Smoky Hill continues to look for ways to expand our connection with Colorado Feeding the Kids, providing pre-packaged meals. Pat will be meeting with Century Elementary to see if this is something they could use.
    d. The next meeting on Peaceful Schools in Century Elementary will be Sept. 28. If you would like to participate, please contact Hugh Radke.
    e. The next Habitat For Humanity day is set for Oct. 21. PP Al Horton will get you hooked up if you would like to get involved.
    f. Smoky Hill will once again participate in the Valentine's Day visit with kids and families in Children's Hospital, either on Feb. 13 or 14. Look for more information on this wonderful event.
5. Hugh Radke, Foundation Chair, reminded us that Smoky Hill was second in District 5450 in per capita annual giving with $416 per member. The imprtant thing, however, is not the award, but the tremendous good that can be done with the money raised. Polio Plus is still going. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledges to match donations up to $50 million in the coming year.
6. PP Bev Edwards reported on the extensive activities on the International Committee:
    a. Smoky Hill will be the lead club on a new Global Grant to place medical equipment in the urology department in a hospital in Romania. Our friends at the Oradea Rotary Club will be our local contact. The Globat Grant Committee (a separate group from the International Committee, but comprised of Smoky Hill Rotarians) is currently working on securing the funding necessary to make this project a reality.
    b. SHRC is involved in a project in El Salavador to place new toilets in a school.
    c. We are helping fund a project in Nepal to equip a maternity ward.
    d. We are involved in the Bicycle Water Pump project in Uganda, which will supply water to crops.    
    e. The orthopedic equipment project in Kluge, Romania, is nearing completion Dedication is scheduled for Oct. 13. Bev is considering attending and invites anyone else to join her on this exciting opportunity to participate in an international trip.
    f. In conjunction with Assist International, Smoky Hill is helping provide medical equipment to a hospital in Calcutta, India.
    g. We are providing support for the Breathing For Life project in Ethiopia. The $350,000 project will allow hospital to generate oxygen for use in the hospitals of the region.
7. Mark Rank, Vocational Services made a plea for ideas for offsite visits. If you have an idea for one, please let Mark know.
8. Youth Service Chair, PP Craig Essex reported that we will be sending 9 students to RYLA and Young RYLA in the coming year. DAVA of Auroa and Rangeview High School will once again be partnering with us in the selection of attendees. Conider becoming a counselor on RYLA or Young RYLA. If this interests you, talk to Craig. Craig is also working on reestablishin our relationship with Roteract. Smoky Hill Rotary is the sponsoring entitly for our local Roteract.
9. PP Joe Hughes handled the message from Membership. He echoes Paul's words on the subject. If you have membership ideas, pass them on to him, PP Gary Frisch, or PP Clay Fell.