Today's exciting and informative Annual Meeting was orchestrated by the Music Committee. They celebrated our upcoming Independence Day with appropriate music. JOHN SANDERSON opened the meeting by recognizing past presidents (a group he is happy to join!) and Seuss Plaque recipients.


Row 1. Carpenter, Courtaney, Fuller, Griffiths, Hemanm Hychka
Row 2. Koehler, McHenry, Moran, Nelson, Turley, Verplank


Suess Awardees by row:

1. Bennett,Bartholomew, Bodebmiller, Cohen, Coppoc, Courtaney
2. Donat, Doversberger, Frey, Fuller, Galbraith, Griffith
3. Griffiths, Hanks, Harding, Hatfield, Heman, Hobbs
4. Kelley, Kelley, Kepler, Klusman, Koehler, Landgrebe
5. McCarthy, Mitchell, Mithoefer, Moran, Norberg, Peeters
6. Post, Rew, Smith, Suddarth, Turley, Turner
7. Verplank, Wade, Ziemer

He then turned over a well-worn gavel to ROB GALBRAITH, our president for the 2008-2009 year. President ROB presented JOHN with his year's worth of RIPPLES, the traditional Gavel Plaque and a diamond studded President's pin. He also surprised JOHN with a very special Seuss Plaque. ROB thanked JOHN, the nominating committee, and the Senior Directors for this year (FRED ANDERSON, BETTY DOVERSBERGER, TOM FREY, JEANNE NORBERG) noting that we are off to a good start. He encouraged all members to wear their Rotary pins proudly and told us that we would all be learning the "Elevator Speech for Rotary" in the next few weeks. When someone asks about the pin you are wearing, members will be able to give them a short description of what Rotary is all about.

JACK KELLEY gave an overview of the GSE team from Africa, five water wells we have provided in Haiti, and the proposed Children's Burns Hospital in El Salvador.

JIM KLUSMAN talked about the Gus Macker Tournament and its primary function to raise funds for charitable purposes.

RICHARD BARTHOLOMEW, President of the Lafayette Rotary CLUB Foundation, described the works of this important arm of our club. The new name helps to distinguish it from The Rotary Foundation. A new Assistant Treasurer is needed. Anyone interested in that job should contact him or JANE.

CARL REW reported on the Salvation Army Bell Ringing effort last Christmas. The kettles brought in $3,892.14. Club contributions amounted to $8,445.00, totaling $$12,337.14 for our efforts.

It was JIM HOBBS pleasure to introduce 35 year member TIP TYLER'S widow, Ginny and 50 year member BUD BAUGH'S widow, Pat. Each was presented with a floral bouquet.

FRITZ COHEN explained the Shots Not Spots Community Project and announced that the next one would be Wednesday, August 6th. Mark your calendars!

BILL LOVELL reported that the 10 - 12 members of the Rotaract Club have been very busy with Gus Macker, The Feast of the Hunter's Moon, Transitional Housing, Salvation Army, The Wheelchair Project, fund raising for Cancer research, Game nights and picnics. BILL noted that he and BETTY SUDDARTH would very much like to retire. Anyone interested in this group should let BILL or BETTY know!

PRESIDENT ELECT CHIRSTA KECK had the privilege of announcing that TOM MORAN was chosen ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR. He was President in 1990- 1991, has chaired many committees; is always assisting JANE with attendance, thereby making him the unofficial second greeter. He is active in many community organizations, giving his time, talent and treasure. TOM was presented a framed certificate with a note saying that the Club contributed $50 to The Lafayette Rotary Club Foundation in his honor.

TERRY WEST, chair of the Ambassadorial Scholar Committee, explained the process for hosting Inbound and proposing Outbound Scholars. Our connections to Purdue provide us with outstanding candidates for the Outbound program.

SUSAN HYCHKA gave a very quick overview of The Rotary Foundation, explaining the different levels of giving. In the "Every Rotarian Every Year" program, we are all encouraged to give at least $100 per year. This year, thanks to several generous members, our total contribution to The Rotary Foundation was $22,974.00, which amounts to an average of $102.56. SUSAN congratulated the Club for meeting this important goal!

BETTY DOVERSBERGER explained the Vocational Scholarships (now called Rotary Scholarship) and the overwhelming number of applicants. This prompted several generous members to supplement the budget, allowing us to give five $1000.00 grants and five $500 grants.

LETA KELLEY reported on the five $1000 scholarships that were awarded to local high school students.

JEANNE NORBERG explained that our Back Pack Program will provide weekend meals for 80 Miami Elementary School students who qualify for government meals. This is a big project of major importance. She also requested volunteers for the Gus Macker Tournament for 2009. This tournament is what funds the Back Pack project.

Betty Sanderson, wife of JOHN SANDERSON; Carol Galbraith, wife of ROB GALBRAITH; Barbara Kingma, wife of GORDON KINGMA; Mrs. Bud Baugh and Mrs. Ginny Tyler, guests of the Club.

Money Collectors: VICKI BURCH and ELDON ORTMAN; Greeter: JIM HANKS; Invocation: KEN EWING; Piano: BOB GRIFFITHS; Song Leaders: JOHN BARRETT, CORKY MITCHELL, ARVID OLSON, BARB REIF, JANE TURNER, and BOB VERPLANK; Help with attendance and facilitating a smooth meeting: TOM MORAN and JO WADE; Help with Ripples: BILL FULLER.

100%CLUB:

ANDERSON (3); BROYLES (2); BURCH (2); CHISCON, A (3); CHISCON, M; COURTANEY; DELL; DOVERSBERGER (4); EWING; FARKAS, J (21); FARKAS, T (576); FEUER (306); FILMER (149); FREY, H (250); FREY, T (2); FULLER (289); GALBRAITH; GRABOWSKI (2); GRIFFITHS (4); GUSTAFSON; HANKS (4); HARDING, C (2); HARDING, B (60); HATFIELD (330); HEMMER (3); JANLE (131); KECK (149); KELLEY, J (68); KELLEY, L (68); GRIFFIN KOEHLER (203); LANDGREBE (216); MCDIVITT (13); METZGER; MILLER, W.R. (431); MITCHELL (221); MORAN (2); NORBERG (5); POST (12); RAHDERT (10); RUNNELS (3); SANDERSON (77); SMITH, JAMES; SMITH, JANE (3); SMITH, KEITH (3); SMITH, SUSAN (191); ST. JOHN (124); TROTT; VERPLANK (518); WADE (175); WALKER and WEST (180).

Congratulations to PAUL POST who had 1 year; BRUCE HARDING who had 5 years; TERRY WEST who had 15 years; DAVE LANDGREBE who had 18 years; and TOM FARKAS who had 48 years of 100% attendance at the end of June, 2008.

Go to Lafayette Rotary Home Page