Rotateller Rotary Club of Owego, NY
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Gary Williams, Editor

Thought for the day: “When you carry out acts of kindness you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says yes, this is how I ought to feel.” Harold Kushner

Owego Rotary members braved snow and ice once again to attend today’s meeting.

GUESTS: Paul Stear, the younger. We welcomed him with song.

BIRTHDAYS: We sang Happy Birthday to Carolyn W. as she played the tune for herself.

SONG: America the Beautiful

FINES: Carl gathered a fair amount of money from those who didn’t make it to the Leap Day progressive dinner and those who missed what the March Rotary theme was. That would be literacy. Check out the cover of the latest Rotarian magazine (and read the inspiring article) to see which great music icon is promoting reading.

HAPPY DOLLARS: There were a lot of happy people.

Although Mike Slavetskas headed back to the hospital for further work today, he was lucky enough to be home over the weekend. He was spotted by a couple of Rotarians in beautiful downtown Owego on Sunday. Hurray! He looks forward to being home again soon.

EXCHANGE STUDENTS: absent today because of inclement weather. It was extremely quiet without them. Both Mati and Joao will be going to a certain wedding in Texas with Laura and Toby this week.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Don’t forget the Jessica Burrell chicken BBQ benefit event this Friday 4-7 at OFA. Tickets sold locally, at the door or just make a donation if you can.
• Let Steve know how many of you will be attending the Tuesday, March 11, 2008, evening meeting. Bring the family for this Family of Rotary event. OFA musicians will be the feature. There will be no lunch meeting on that day. The price of the full evening meal is the same as regular lunch price. Cocktails/conversation at 6 with dinner starting at 6:30.
• Sign up to attend Rotary Leadership Institute being held March 29th in Owego. The Club pays the cost.
• Sign up for the District Assembly, to be held April 5, 2008, in the morning. This meeting takes place at Chenango Valley H.S. and is a series of really good – and different – workshops. Something for everyone. Our own Interactors will be making a presentation for one of the workshops.
• POLIO: John Jones, a survivor of polio, read an article about ridding the world of polio. In spite of the goal to eliminate polio by the year 2000, it is still with us, albeit in much reduced numbers. Four countries, Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan, still have cases. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently challenged Rotary to a matching funds contribution. In order to try to finally eradicate polio, it may be that the more expensive Salk vaccine, with two injections, may be needed, rather than the much cheaper oral doses of live virus, which can actually be the origin of a small percentage of polio cases worldwide. In any case, John urged us to be generous in funding polio eradication.

PROGRAM: Our fellow Rotarian and Superintendent of Owego Apalachin Central Schools, Bill Russell, outlined the plans for the upcoming capital improvement project, repairs and refurbishments to be undertaken at school buildings and grounds in the district, in the somewhat near future. The expense must be put before voters, although there will be no increase in taxes for the work, in order to approve the expense from the reserve fund. The vote will be held on March 25, 2008. Watch for mailings and explanations prior to the vote to help understand the scope of the work.

NEXT WEEK: Evening meeting for the Family of Rotary. 6 PM at the Treadway with OFA musicians during the social hour as well as for the program. It will be great.

50/50: Astounding, defying all odds and, frankly, embarrassing, it was won by Orv – AGAIN. The prize money is aimed, though, to the Jessica Burrell collection.

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