Rotateller Rotary Club of Owego, NY
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Gary Williams, Editor

Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need. Kahii Gibran

VISITORS AND GUESTS:

• Jillian Strauss, Fred’s favorite Interact student
• Mati, known for his discriminate lawn mowing
• Joao, known for his singing, amongst other things

MUSIC:

Carl led us in “R-O-T-A-R-Y”

FINES:

While Orv fined people for not wearing their Rotary pins, Matt fined the warm and exclusive table.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JANELLE, BILL RUSSELL, AND LAURA FOR BEING SELECTED TO HELP PLAN AND ORGANIZE OUR CLUB AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

PAUL HARRIS DINNER:

It will be on June 24, and will cost $15 per person.

PLANTING:

Saturday, June 7

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL:

Saturday, June 21. We will have three booths and lots of help will be needed. We will be selling shortcakes (which are at the peak of the food triangle) and cheesecake (which is to benefit the pool). We will also have a place for people to sit which will include information about Rotary.

Raffle tickets were passed around to benefit Jessica Burrell. She is still in Georgia, but it is hoped that she will be able to come home to attend her prom.

YOUTH SERVICES:

Will meet tomorrow morning at 7:30

Joao is taking advantage of this time at the end of the year to spend as much time as possible with the friends which he has made since he came here.

Mati went to Letchworth State Park with Jody and Alex and enjoyed it.

Jillian shared that Interact is winding down after a very busy year.

PROGRAMS:

Steve shared that the following programs are scheduled

May 20: The State of the Village, Ed Arrington

May 27: Duke Carroll who is an NFL Field Judge

PROGRAM:

Terry introduced Bill Thomas who is a missionary. In his 40 years he has made multiple trips to India which is one of only 59! countries he has worked in. He spoke about world poverty which has multiple causes. He mentioned the following:

• Crisis of the human spirit. This is particularly true of India where people do not see a way out of their status.
• Corruption
• Warfare, especially tribal. The war in Iraq, in addition to the problems which are more visible, has created many refugees.
• Religious persecution
• Globalization
• Fuel crisis (which effects so many things including fertilizer)
• Population increase among the poor
• Disasters, natural and otherwise

Bill emphasized that there is no panacea. Micro-lending is one help. People have to be able to help themselves. In response to Orv’s question about depression, Bill’s answer was “hope”, not that you can help everyone, but that you can make a positive difference.

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