50/50 RAFFLE:

JOHN BARRETT asked ARVID OLSON’S guest, Rhonda Spykman, to draw a ticket. The owner of the ticket was student guest Carolyn Griffith. Unfortunately, the Aces eluded her and she received a coupon from Pizza Hut as consolation prize.

WELCOME NEW MEMBER:

GORDON CHAVERS introduced Fred Sputh, who lives with his wife, Ann, at 716 Oaklawn Drive, Lafayette, IN 47905. Phone: 474-9364 He is an orthodontist with Sputh & Ashcraft Orthodontics, Inc. 2501 Cason Street, Lafayette, IN 47904. Phone 447-7505 E-mail: fsputh@comcast.net

CHRIS JOHANNSEN introduced PDG JIM GRAHAM, whose topic was “The Legacy of Qudrat, an Afghan baby brought to the US by the Indiana National Guard for open heart surgery.” JIM reviewed the history of Hakim Wardak, father of Qudart, whose village was attacked by the Russians when he was a boy. He spent 22 years in Pakistan before returning to Afghanistan. U.S. military discovered that his son would die if heart surgery could not be performed. Hakim and Qudrat came to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis through the Gift of Life program. After successful open-heart surgery, the GRAHAMS took them into their home for a month, watched Qudrat grow into a normal child and became very attached to both father and son. Qudrat died two days after arriving back home in Afghanistan, breaking many hearts. Indiana Rotarians have contributed funds to help Hakim’s family. He graduated from college in Pakistan, opened a school to educate boys and girls, and also opened a clinic. The school is so successful that the size of the building needed to be doubled. Funds are being gathered for desks and chairs. From tragedy come new hope for a better future for the people of northern Afghanistan.

VISITING ROTARIANS:

ARVID OLSON introduced Carolyn Griffith and John Spykman from Faith Christian High School. Each received a certificate and a travel mug with the Four-Way Test to commemorate meeting with us.

Mary Jo Turley, wife of JIM TURLEY; Ric and Rhonda Spykman, guests of ARVID OLSON

Money Collectors: WES MC DIVITT and ED GESWEIN; Greeter: SCOTT RUMBLE; Invocation: BETTY NELSON; Piano: HARLEY FREY; Song Leader: HARRIET COPPOC; 50/50 RAFFLE: JO WADE and JOHN BARRETT; Help with attendance and facilitating a smooth meeting: JO WADE, TOM MORAN and JANE SMITH. Webmaster: BRUCE HARDING.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
“A promise made is a debt unpaid.” Robert W. Service from his poem “The Cremation of Sam McGee”

Highlights of Club Board Meeting:

• The board ratified the decision of the Executive Committee to purchase a new LCD projector.

• The Significant Achievement Award application featuring our Harvest Dinner, prepared by KIM MOTULIAK, was sent to District Governor CRAIG SHERMAN.

• New member PRIS GERDE has filled a vacancy on the Governance Committee.

• The size of High School Scholarship Awards was discussed. It was agreed that the awards for this year would remain the same as last year and an increase in the awards would be considered next year.

• The Steering Committee for the Harvest Dinner is working on this year’s event, scheduled for Thursday, October 24, 2013 at Four Points in the Grand Ballroom. Volunteers for subcommittees will be needed soon.

• After much discussion, it was decided to offer a “family membership”. One member would pay the full dues and the second member would pay one half of the dues. This offer would be good for the Rotary year 2013-2014 and be evaluated at the end of that year.

• JANE described progress being made on our club’s use of DaCdb (District and Club database).

• CHIP RUTLEDGE announced that BETTY DOVERSBERGER has succeeded in forming a good committee for this year’s Two Year College Scholarships.