The focus of today's Club Assembly was on International projects. PRESIDENT ROB brought a chart showing a gavel, given to us by District Governor TOM FISHER (a judge), which we are to use to show progress toward Every Rotarian Every Year $100. We have realized progress with funding for our local projects in the past month, and now it's time to work on International issues.

TOM FREY, senior director for International efforts, introduced members of the committee: TERRY WEST, SUSAN HYCHKA, KEVEN JENNINGS an JACK KELLY.

TERRY introduced his committee, saying there is room for more, and explained the success we have enjoyed proposing students for the $23,000 scholarship.

SUSAN HYCHKA, chair of the International Foundation committee, encourages everyone to give to the EREY campaign. These funds support the Foundation's mission including eradicating Polio.

KEVEN JENNINGS, Polio Eradication committee chair, explained the Gates Foundation Challenge Grant. Rotary has three years to match the $100 Million Dollars grant. Our club has committed to give $1,000 annually for the next three years. All contributions toward that commitment will be gratefully accepted.

JACK KELLEY reviewed the Haiti Water project, noting that the recent hurricanes have made obtaining the required bank statements for RI nearly impossible. JACK also described the Group Study Exchange program which promotes world peace and reminded us that a group from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique will be here from April 5-9, 2009. JACK explained the 3H Grant for a Children's Burn Unit in El Salvador where 78% of children who receive burns die. Our club has committed $5,000 toward the $300,000 project. And finally JACK talked about the Open World project in conjunction with the Library of Congress. We have participated in this project to exchange ideas about legal processes with people from former totalitarian governments and expect our next group October 15-18, 2008.

Lyle Thompson, guest of MIKE PIGGOTT

MAUREEN GRABOWSKI, Ft. Myers, South, FL

Money Collectors: LEW RUNNELS and DENNIS WEIDENAAR; Greeter: JERRY COLE; Invocation: KEN EWING; Piano: RAY PEETERS; Song Leader: BOB VERPLANK: Help with attendance and facilitating a smooth meeting: JO WADE and TOM MORAN; Help with Ripples: BILL FULLER.

PRESIDENT ROB'S THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

"If nothing changes, nothing changes."
Anonymous

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