50/50 RAFFLE:

JOHN BARRETT asked BILL HATFIELD to draw a ticket.  The owner of the ticket was ED GESWEIN.  Unfortunately, the Aces eluded him so he received coupons from Dominos Pizza and Sun Spot Market.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION:
Chip Blatchley, Civil Engineering at Purdue, described the student-engineering project in Las Canas, Dominican Republic.  The water treatment system is designed to be self-sustaining with the involvement of the local population.  The local Rotary Club at Las Canas is one of the sponsors.  For more information, please contact Chip at blatch@purdue.edu.
PROGRAM:
Five women from the Kaluga Region (South of Moscow) within Russia presented a video describing the economy and high living standard of the area.  All of them work with protection of children’s rights.  They described how they work to prevent break-up of families, place children with foster families or in orphanages, supervise their care and protect legal rights.  Support is provided to protect or restore the family, help parents and children in foster situations and advocate for the children.  They provide material and psychological support to give the young people a sense of stability.  When they reach landmark years (adulthood at 18, marriage, parenthood, return from military service or school) extra financial support is given.  Children who grow up in an orphanage are not prepared for independent living, so an agency provides psychological and legal assistance from ages 16 – 23 year. They help young mothers to prevent the emergence of new orphans.  Children in orphanages participate in volunteer activities to teach them to give back to society.  

This Russian system is stricter than ours and very expensive.  In the meeting following the luncheon presentation they expressed how surprised they were when visiting our juvenile court that abused children were not immediately taken from the parents.
In front, left to right: Marina Seysenbayeva and Natalya Gladilova.  In back, left to right:  Diana Bychayeva, Okasan Yermakova and Yuliya Shkurina
VISITING ROTARIANS:

SUZANN SHACKLETON, Attica/Williamsport; FRANK BRUGGNER, Fishers
HIGH SCHOOL GUESTS:

CHUCK HORNER introduced Sophia Fox and Ryan Madden from Harrison High School.  Each received a certificate and a travel mug with the 4 – Way Test to commemorate meeting with us today.
THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELP WITH
MEETING FUNCTIONS:

Money Collectors: BETTY DOVERSBERGER and JIM BODENMILLER; Greeters: BRYAN METZGER and JOHN TROTT; Invocation: DAN BERGER; Piano: BOB GRIFFITHS; Song Leader: HARRIET COPPOC; 50/50 RAFFLE:  CECIL BLIGNAUT and JOHN BARRETT; Help with attendance and facilitating a smooth meeting: TOM MORAN and JANE SMITH.  Webmaster: LARRY HUGGINS

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
“The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”  Plato