Rotateller Rotary Club of Owego, NY
Tuesday, October 3, 2006 Gary Williams, Editor

VISITORS AND GUESTS:

• District Governor Mark Krebel and his wife, Pat
• Debbie Demers is a member, but doesn’t usually attend the luncheon meeting. She brought students with her since she organizes Interact.
• Bethany Lenox
• Amy Carver
• Katie Ajaeb, whose father was a member of the Club
• Mrinalini Koka, from India
• Suzanne Schagen, from Holland
• Genevieve Gibson
• Marlyn and Jim Ebbers from Idaho who are visiting

MUSIC:

Carl and Carole led us in “Sing out a Song of Rotary”.

YOUTH EXCHANGE REPORTS:

After such busy weeks last week, the girls were a little more subdued this week. Suzanne was ill and had a lot of homework. They both were at the Pumpkin Fest which suffered from inclement weather (and Mrinalini wearing sandals). Mrinalini did get to play in her first volleyball game. The money from the Pumpkin Fest will go to Tracy’s Hope which is a fund raiser for families with a member who has breast cancer. With Laura’s assistance, the girls brought pumpkins for us to purchase. I have a great one in the office now. The Newark Valley Interact Club now has 25 members who regularly attend their meetings. They are working on awareness at this time.

HOLIDAY PARTY:

Laura announced that Groton will be doing the orientation for the students this year, but we will have the opportunity to have the exchange students here for the Holiday Party. They will be here for two nights and three days, December 7 – 9. The Youth Committee is very busy and is doing many important things. Please consider attending the next meeting to see if there are ways in which you can assist.

Judy Kip ran the meeting today which was nice to see except for the reasons she was recruited. Al came to the meeting late because Lois had been in the hospital, but is doing better. Matt was not here because his father died. Orv and Carolyn were at a reunion of one of the helicopter groups Orv flew in.

ROTARY FOUNDATION BANQUET: October 19

CHAMBER BUSINESS SHOW is this Thursday

The idea of a Club Assembly to review all of what is being done with students was discussed at our table. More understanding will help more people to become involved and see how they can participate.

FINES: John Spencer

• Steve for criticizing Judy
• Debbie for Interact
• Paul Stear paid for Mrinalini who left her lunch in John’s car and he had to drive back to the school with it.
• All who have not done anything with Mrinalini or Suzanne

Congratulations to Judy and Bob Kip on their 36th wedding anniversary

In addition to Interact, Debbie is involved with the Greater Binghamton College Day. You can find out more on line at: http://www.greaterbinghamtoncollegeday.org/.

PROGRAM:

Judy introduced DG Mark Krebel who reminded us of the exchange luncheons which we used to have with the Endwell Club. He also won $200 in our raffle last year (and a ticket which Laura sold to him). He has been a salesperson for MUSAC since 1978.

There are 529 Rotary Districts and DGs. This past weekend they had a Zone Institute in Hershey, PA with about 400 people in attendance. We are his 34th club visit. District 7170 has 43 clubs, soon to become 44. Every Club is unique. He has not found a dysfunctional club. Each has its own passion. He was wearing his official Rotary uniform which includes a tie designed by Laura Boyd who is the wife of the RI President. It incorporates a puau shell and Pat was wearing one is a necklace. The RI Theme this year is “Lead the Way”. Mark had been thinking of having “Fun with a Purpose” as the 7170 theme, but liked the RI Theme so much, that he decided against it.

While the membership internationally has increased slightly to 1.2 million, the membership in our district is down 20%. We are starting a new Club in Dryden on October 10, which will meet on Thursday mornings at 7:30 AM. Mark mentioned that he would love to have Chuck Preston at the Rotary Foundation Banquet. Mark mentioned that he joined Rotary in 1977, but that he really became a Rotarian in 1999. Rotary is a smorgasbord. The experiences of their son through Rotary awakened this for both Pat and himself.

The three Presidential Emphases this year are:

• Clean Water
• Literacy (Maria and Susan)
• Health and Hunger

There will be a membership and Foundation meeting on November 11. There will also be a Leadership Institute at the Treadway on March 31. The District Conference this year will combine three districts for the first time. 7120 to our west and 7190 in the Capital District. It will be on May 4 – 6, 2007 at Turning Stone.

Judy presented Mark with a Stakmore table as is out tradition from longer than I have been a member. I think that Fred told me the history of this, but I am not sure that I remember it correctly. Perhaps he will share it with us.

50/50 Ed

Mark and Pat passed out pins for everyone.

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