HAPPY BUCKS:

Sgt-at-Arms Erich Eggers collected Happy Bucks for Operation Warm. He said we needed $372 to meet the goal of providing 350 new winter coats for needy children.  To start off, he said he would contribute $200, and asked that members give enough Happy Bucks to meet, and if possible, beat that goal.  The new winter coats cost $20, and will be distributed to students through Hannah's Treasure Chest, which is in touch with the local social agencies.

Rotarians gave generously last week, collecting more than $800, and this week added $766, exceeding our goal.

Dave Trout gave money for a coat, bragging on the grandchildren, noting that a granddaughter is now at Vanderbilt University and doing well. Peachy also gave for a granddaughter, and Greg Horn, who had not been here for a while gave for a coat and then also, after winning the 50/50 raffle, gave that money back, which was about $10 more. Bob Fry gave because he was happy, and Ann Blackburn borrowed $3 from Brian Hayes to add to the pot and then Brian added $3 with money he had left, Rebecca Quinones bought a coat and Chuck King bought a coat. Doc Hoback gave and then Don Stewart donated, noting that The Other Westmore is a book everyone should read. 

Brad Thorp gave and then John Callander and then Jack Workman added a half a coat and Irene and Katherine Ullmer gave $10 for half a coat. Joyce Young donated and mentioned the Rotary International Day being the same day as our Pancake Breakfast Day. It was not always clear how much everyone was giving, so do not consider this list complete. 
 
Fred Perez said he was giving $50 "and $50 for Rand," but Rand spoke up again, so it was unclear who was giving what...Shelley Fisher gave $3 and said her pet therapy was working well with visits to local nursing homes and the dog doing tricks for the people. 
Adam Manning paid for half a coat and Ray Werz paid for half a coat, noting that he had paid for the other half in a past week.

Ron Hollenbeck said he was buying a couple coats and mentioned that he met Peachy's son-in-law and got the inside dope on Peachy, and that he called his son-in-law Buttercup and then Peachy said he had a nickname for his son-in-law, which sounded like Gunny, but from across the room it might have been something else.

Carol Kennard bought a coat in the name of the Pancake Committee, which she said was doing such a good job that she hardly had to do anything. And it was said that Celia Weir gave $25 for the coat project. Our dear Fred, her husband, who passed away recently, would certainly be proud of her for doing that. 

Erich thanked the group for their generosity...And again, all donors may not have been mentioned, as the giving was quite rapid.

SPEAKER: Centerville Club member Rand Oliver, speaking on The Rotary Foundation. Rand stepped in for Steve Neely of the Springfield Rotary Club, who was scheduled to speak on the Rotary Foundation, Rotary's Lesotho Intl. Project 

 

 

Rand, who recently earned his Ph.D., showed some pictures of areas around the world where Rotary has helped out and he was able to be a part of the projects and visit with other Rotary groups. Below you see he got to be invited to the Nairobi North Rotary Club, among other visits.

Boyd mentioned that Rotary Foundation Month is coming up and introduced our speaker 

of the day as Dr. Rand Oliver. In AP style only medical doctors are referred to as Dr. in copy,

so Rand will be Rand as we go along here.

 Rand said he is proud to be a Rotarian because he likes how it feels to give and help others.

He said the mission of the Rotary Foundation is to advance world peace, understanding, and goodwill by improving health, education and alleviating poverty. To go do good in the world is what being in Rotary is all about, he said. 

Rand said he was invited by the late Jim Singer, a Centerville Councilman, to join Rotary. Centerville Rotarians have built area gazebos, held spaghetti and pancake fund-raisers, etc., over the years. He himself has been on six continents and visited 100 countries, and his Paul Harris Society and Paul Harris pins have allowed him to meet and become friends with other Rotarians, especially in Europe and Nairobi, he said. 

Rotary's mission to eradicate Polio and provide clean water to people around the world involves people at all levels and Rotarians in all countries. 

Rand talked about the history of Rotary, started by Arch Klumph and several of his friends. One of the first things the club did on a broad scale in 1929 was to help crippled children, which developed into the Easter Seals program. "We don't do brick and mortar," Rand said. There are traveling library programs. and projects of all sorts, both local and international, many cataloged in the monthly Rotarian magazine.

In 1947 when Paul Harris passed away, money started pouring in to the Foundation in his name, Rand said.

He said the PolioPlus  program started in 1985 and keeps getting closer to totally eradicating Polio.

Rotary does not discriminate and goes to countries everywhere, he said.

The centennial of the Rotary Foundation is the 2016-2017 celebration year. The Foundation supports ambassadorial scholars among its other work, he said. 

 Starting from the small club in Chicago, Ill., it has evolved into a world-wide organization, something everyone should be proud of, especially the Rotarians themselves, he said.

 

 

 

The group ended the session by repeating Rotary's Four-Way Test together.