It really felt like fall today with the drizzle, chill and changing leaves in our valley! Twenty-nine Rotarians and 6 guests were greeted by Frank this evening.

 

President Karen led the Pledge, Jack followed with America the Beautiful. Jack also gave the invocation asking for special blessings for our community of service, that we will know the joy of caring and sharing with the less fortunate in our life of service. Our guests today included our speaker Grady Grove, brother Charlie home for fall break, aunt Aimee Bristol, as well as exchange students Uryu and Anna, and Jo Anne and Albie's grandson Alliet.

 

Announcements: Light Up Naples committee is meeting Tuesday at 6 pm at Rose's * Frank has raffle tickets and dinner tickets for Camp O * World Polio Day at Brew & Brats is 6 pm 10/24, bring a dish to share * Nov. 9th is Rotary One Summit, see John for info * Grape Fest shirts are still available from NHS at Morgan Hose Building, Thursdays, 1-3pm or see Cindy.

 

Grady thanked our club for sponsoring him to attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards). It is like going to camp to learn leadership skills. Grady wasn't sure it was for him but was very glad he did it. RYLA took place over 3 days at FLCC with 23 students and 3 chaperones, including Carrie and Bill. The first day when everyone arrived, most were on their phones, not talking. During the time there, they got to know each other and engaged a lot. Students were put in three groups - Grady was on the T-shirt committee. They shared breakfast and learned the rules. Then group teambuilding began with activities like making a tower of cups, string and rubber bands and building with spaghetti and marshmallows (we tried that - not easy!). There were sessions on mental health and meditation. Bedtime was 11:30pm but a fire alarm went off at 1 am!

In between sessions, each group worked on their project. Grady's team designed the RYLA T-shirt. See pics at right. The other 2 groups made paper plate awards and created a yearbook of memories and pictures. Grady's favorite thing was his parents karaoke. The thing he would change would be the chaperones (his parents!). He learned that leadership can be expressed in many ways. Quiet people can have great ideas for problem solving. Everyone can lead in their own way. He has stayed in touch and met up with several from the group since his RYLA time in July.

 

The Ace of Hearts was $35 today with nearly a full deck. Grady picked #5890 which was Blanche's ticket. The card drawn was the Queen of Spades. Oh, well...

Happy Bills today were many for having Judy back after surgery, Grady's RYLA experience and program, good luck for Grady and team in the golf tourney,  Bill and Carrie's anniversary, Rose's birthday, and thinking of Laurie who was sick today.

Jack's Rotary Moment came as he was setting up a new laptop at home, transferring about 37000 pictures. Up popped a photo of Carrie, Bill, Charlie and Grady dressed for a 2007 Christmas pageant when Grady was a newborn. Perfect!

Liz attended a meeting of the District 7120 mental health wellness committee. They worked on a strategic development plan to focus on how to bring their work to all the clubs in the district. Future programs will bring speakers to each club.

 

Next week we will have an induction of new member, Dierdre Stevenson, owner of The Sutton Company.

 

Karen led the Four Way Test and adjourned the gathering at 6:51pm.