Rotary News

  The Rotary News

                     September 22, 2008                             Karl Sandelin, Editarian

            President Rex led us in the national anthem without accompaniment, after which Gordon Duisterhof gave the invocation, first observing the financial difficulties of which we suddenly are aware, and asking for guidance in the difficult times in which we find ourselves.

            A fun-filled meeting with many comments from Rotarians followed, some of which are reiterated:

            Dinners for Eight 2008-2009:  Giff Blaylock invited Rotarians to join, and described the positive experience he and Anne had found in taking part last year and distributed sign-up forms.  In the program, Rotarians and spouses/significant others are randomly teamed with three other couples.  Each couple hosts one meal during the year (details are worked out by the groups).

            Sounds like fun - I'm in!  - it is a wonderful way of getting to better know members of the club in, an investment that will be rewarded many times over.  Our club is relatively large; in the district we are just second to Lansing.   A large club brings to its members many advantages - good programs and the ability to be part of an organization that is a factor in the community, and that is able to give meaningful support to programs (as the club has, many times, locally and internationally).  There also are challenges.  Meetings must be well planned, have a tight agenda; most of our members travel some distance to the meeting, have professional responsibilities and tight schedules, and thus miss the opportunity to build friendships.  Rotary has much to give to each of us, and to maximize the Rotary potential for ourselves (it's OK to be selfish in this!), find it in programs outside the formal meetings!

            Polio Eradication.  Past President and Assistant District Governor Rick Briscoe who closely follows R.I. communications reported tragedies that occurred.  Thus the summary of the weekly polio update meeting will not be posted this week out of respect for two physician colleagues and their driver who were killed by a suicide bomb on Sunday, 14 September in Kandahar, Afghanistan where they were working on the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.  Also, recently there were armed attacks that injured two polio workers in Somalia.  Rotarians' work on polio eradication thus involves great personal risk.

            To help meet the cost of the polio eradication, the Gates Foundation has made a 100 million dollar challenge grant.  The President of R.I. has challenged every club to raise $1000 per year for three years.  Our district governor has worked out what is needed, per Rotarian, to meet the challenge for the district.  It is $20 per year per Rotarian.  To support the eradication effort and honor Rotarians that work for it and risk their lives, let's meet the challenge!  

            Musicians Needed.  Amy Remmert made a passionate plea for Rotarians with musical instrument skills to help with music to accompany our singing - reportedly part of Rotary since 1905 when at a meeting an autumn night "The buzz of conversation had ended, and at his own initiative, Harry Ruggles sprang to his feet and called out, "Hell, fellows, let's sing!"

            STRIVE.  In this program Rotarians serve as mentors to high school students at Kalamazoo Central High School.  Jill Eldred has led the program for a number of years (six?).  The program is there for students that face challenges in meeting graduation requirements and who have expressed an interest in having the help of a mentor.  A   mentor Rotarian is paired with a student of the same gender; joint meetings of all mentors and students are held a few times during the school year, and in addition, each mentor and student determines what needs to be done. 

            Your Editarian is now a mentor to his third student.  The first mentorship was with a senior who graduated; at that time it was a one year relationship.  Mentors afterwards generally felt that we should begin with juniors, thus a two-year relationship today.  The second mentorship was very fulfilling - the student, of Mexican heritage, exhibited leadership qualities at the RYLA camp, joined the army on graduation, served two terms in Iraq, and is now a sergeant instructor at an Army Ranger school in Florida .  The third mentorship is now in its second year, and we are hopeful to manage graduation in the spring.  Most mentors feel that they have made positive contribution.  This has taught me much and has given a better understanding of the world in which we are living.

            Jill Eldred needs new mentors - male and female.  If you wish to help a young person become a contributing member of society - join! - Sounds like I can help - I'm in! 

            The District Foundation Raffle.  Many Rotarians have generously bought blocks of tickets - Mary Hawk, Jill Eldred and Karl Sandelin are ticket sellers.  And, especially noteworthy - many potential winnings have been gifted to either Kalamazoo Rotary Charities, or Charities' STRIVE account.  We are hoping to sell 300 raffle tickets - at this point we have about 100 unsold.  We are grateful for everyone's help!

          Our Program. "Collaborating to Solve Animal Welfare Issues," a competent and informative presentation by Aaron Winters, Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Humane Society and Stephen Lawrence, Director of the Kalamazoo County Animal Services.  We were given a look into the future with an explanation of  the needs to offer service to animals (many are abandoned pets).  The problem: there are too many animals, care is needed, and people need to be educated.  A new Animal Care and Rescue Center will help facilitate this; preparatory planning work is under way.

            The Monday Kalamazoo Gazette, City Life, had a report, "Horse Neglect on the Rise - the number of abandoned pets, livestock shoot up as economy fails."

            We are living in challenging times!

            Program for Monday, September 29: "How Safe is Michigan's Environment?" - a presentation by Kalamazoo District Supervisor David O'Donnell, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, introduced by John Dillworth.