The Music Committee decided a couple of weeks ago that we needed a rain dance. Just thinking of it produced some rain, but today Chief BOB VERPLANK and brave ARVID OLSON performed a candle lighting ceremony. The drumming and fire must have worked because TOM MORAN appeared with a giant umbrella as we sang "Singing in the Rain". Fun. Thanks to the Music Committee!

PRESIDENT TERRY introduced DISTRICT GOVERNOR CRAIG SHERMAN, who thanked the Board of Directors for meeting with him prior to lunch. The song "Who Shall Speak?" was spoken, not sung, by CRAIG. He asked what individual Rotarians planned to do to grow Rotary in themselves. When there is a plan for individual growth, then the Clubs can focus that growth using a business model that reflects the Strategic Plan for Rotary International: Humanitarian Service, the Six Focus Areas of Rotary; and Enhancing Public awareness in communities. To enhance public awareness, we need to tell our story. There is a section on Rotary International's web page where clubs can tell what they are doing. There is also a template for a brochure available on-line.

CRAIG described plans for the District Conference; announced that a GSE team from Pakistan will arrive here the week before the conference and asked the Lafayette clubs to host them that week; said that for the 3rd year a team of Riley Hospital doctors and nurses would go to Uganda to teach heart surgery; gave us cups for change to help us to save money to give to the Rotary Foundation; and updated the Polio Eradication progress. In 1985 there were 350,000 cases of polio in the world. Last year there were 650 cases; and so far this year there are 125. The disease still plagues Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Go to endpolionow.org for more details.

He ended by encouraging us to tell our Rotary story, reminding us of the song ? Who will speak if you don't?"

BOB FEUER and JOHN FOSTER, Daybreak; WARREN STEVENSON, Punta Gorda, FL; STEVE CURRENS, Kokomo Sunrise

Money Collectors: CHUCK HORNER and FLOYD GARROTT; Greeter: BRUCE HARDING; Invocation: MARIELLEN NEUDECK; Piano: RAY PEETERS; Song Leader; BOB VERPLANK; 50/50 RAFFLE: CECIL BLIGNAUT 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:

"I don't know the key to success, but failure is trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby        

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