50/50 RAFFLE:

CHRIS BIANG asked BOB VERPLANK to draw a ticket. The owner of the ticket was MARIELLEN NEUDECK, who unfortunately did not draw an Ace. She received a \$10 gift certificate from Executive Dry Cleaers.

ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR:

PRESIDENT TIM described the many contributions made to the club by DON GENTRY and presented him the plaque and the honor of being our club's Rotarian of the Year. Congratulations, DON!

PROGRAM:

With ARVID OLSON acting as Master of Ceremonies, BOB VERPLANK at the computer, and BOB GRIFFITHS at the piano, the Music Committee led us through the "Pass the Gavel" program that has become a cherished institution in our club.

JACK KELLEY reviewed the Uganda Heart Team project, where a team of doctors and nurses from Riley Children's Hospital went to Uganda to teach doctors and nurses there how to perform heart surgeries on children. Twelve children who had at most a year to live were given the possibility of long lives. The $16,000 project began with a smaller grant from our club. JACK thanked the club for making it possible to save several lives.

CATHY BARRON described the process of getting backpacks to children at Miami School. She also thanked the contributors and volunteers. The three major volunteer efforts are delivering the food to the school, packing the backpacks and distributing the backpacks. She showed the club (using a LARGE check) that members wanting to contribute should make checks payable to the Lafayette Rotary Club Foundation and on the memo line write PROJECTS FUND.

GORDON COPPOC showed photos of the GSE TEAM from Ukraine. The visit was made very successful by the hosts, judges and lawyers. He thanked the volunteers noting that the Ukrainians had a meaningful time in our community.

RICHARD BARTHOLOMEW gave us a quick update on the Lafayette Rotary Club Foundation. More than $250,000 has been awarded to local organizations over the years. The current balance in the Foundation is about $422,000. So far $28,000 has been raised toward a $100,000 goal where the Community Foundation will match contributions by 25%. And the Foundation is matching contributions by 25% for funds collected to honor outgoing PRESIDENT TIM to be used for RYLA (TIM'S choice).

LETA KELLEY ran down the list of Family of Rotary events this past year. Four to Eight couples played Euchre several times. There was a Holiday Open House and a special holiday program in December; backpackers involved spouses and children in that activity; and family was involved in the tornado cleanup efforts of some members. Next year there will be another trip to the opera and the possibility of meeting at the retirement communities.

PHIL TUCKER explained that the Membership Task Force is collecting information and acquiring input from business leaders to form an action plan to implement the ideas.

SUSAN HYCHKA thanked the committee working on this project, noting that the meetings had moved from Adelino's balcony to Main Street Cheese and Wine's Uncorked. There were many facilitated discussions on a variety of subjects, participation in a business open house, service projects involving Food Finders and backpacks, and two fund raising dinners for local projects. The first dinner at MAZA raised $300 and Ivan Brumbaugh from Uncorked presented a check to SUSAN for $365. Thanks to Ivan for his participation!

MIKE PIGGOTT said that 512 children are involved in this year's PALS program. Rotary donates three bicycles to the program. MIKE thanked the club for contributions and smiles on the kid's faces.

Following a video on Rotary International, JIM TURLEY thanked members of the International Foundation Committee. He also reminded us that in the June issue of The Rotarian, Indian was declared polio free. The July issue of The Rotarian has an envelope and form to make contributing to The Rotary Foundation easier. Every Rotarian has an obligation to give something to the Foundation every year.

TIM LUZADER opened the meeting today by asking 50 year members to stand. BOB VERPLANK joins that group this year. He then asked all past presidents to stand. This is an impressive group! Following that the present Board members stood. And then anyone who had served on a committee or volunteered for activity stood. At the end of the program he expressed that it had been an honor to serve as president and reassured us that he will continue on the board of directors one more year. He then introduced TERRY WEST as the new President of the Club, handing him the gavel.

TERRY WEST presented TIM with a Gavel Plaque and new President's pin with a beautiful diamond in the center. He then showed a list of his programs for this past year.

Click here to View BOB VERPLANKs slides.

GUESTS:

Ivan Brumbaugh, guest of TIM LUZADER; Josh Loggins, guest of BILL FULLER; Bill Kiel, guest of GREG KAPP; Jonathan Fisher, guest of ROB GALBRAITH; Mina and Omar Baha, guests of ZARJON BAHA; Janet Broyles, guest of DAN HEMAN.

THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELP WITH
MEETING FUNCTIONS:

Money Collectors: JOE BONNER and BRYAN METZGER; Greeter: ZACH BROWN ; Invocation: JACK KELLEY; Piano: HARRIET COPPOC and BOB GRIFFITHS; Song Leader; ARVID OLSON; 50/50 Raffle: TERRY WEST and CHRIS BIANG; Help with attendance and facilitating a smooth meeting: JO WADE, TOM MORAN and JANE SMITH. Help with Ripples: BILL FULLER.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

From Joe Wick in 2003: "Thanks help three times ? when you give thanks to someone, when you receive thanks and when it is overheard."

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