PROGRAM:

VICE PRESIDENT JIM KLUSMAN introduced Trish Maxwell, Director of Lafayette Adult Resource Academy, Trish Maxwellwho gave us an update on the work of that organization. It is now under the umbrella of the Department of Workforce Development and has a Work One Express in the same building. Thirty-five years ago LARA stood for Lafayette Area Reading Academy and it’s primary purpose was to address adult literacy. Now the name replaces Reading with Resource and they have four ways to help. They teach English as a second lauguage to whole families; teach students wishing to attain their High School Equivalency Diploma (much tougher than the old GED), help eliminate remedial courses at college by teaching college and career readiness; and participate in Accuplacer, a job placement service. The need to fill positions is huge, but the applicant must be qualified. LARA is open all day for the convenience of students, most of whom work at least one job. Daycare is offered in the evening – where the children are speaking all different languages! Working with the juvenile justice system, LARA helps young people with adult responsibilities to keep school as a priority as they work and take care of their families.

There are 25 staff members and lots of volunteers. Fifteen hundred students are enrolled currently, but they hope to have 2,000 soon. Funding is contingent upon the success of the students and enrollment.

Trish asked us to help spread the word by referring students, to donate and to volunteer. For more information, please go to: laralafayette.org


VISITING ROTARIANS:

GAIL BRICKLER, Monticello, IN


STUDENT GUESTS:

DENNIS SAVAIANO introduced Alexandria Southern and Andrew Starkweather from McCutcheon High School.  Each received a certificate with the Four-Way Test to commemorate meeting with us today.

THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELP WITH
MEETING FUNCTIONS:

Money Collectors: PRIS GERDE; Greeter: LARRY HUGGINS and JOEL RASMUS; Invocation: JIM BODENMILLER; Piano:  RAY PEETERS; Song Leader: MAURI WILLIAMSON; 50/50 Raffle: CECIL BLIGNAUT and CHRIS BIANG. Help with attendance and facilitating a smooth meeting: VICKI BURCH and JANE SMITH.  Webmaster: LARRY HUGGINS.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
From the second paragraph of Object of Rotary:  “Encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society."

JANE'S CORNER:

Highlights of the Club Board Meeting:
•    An electronic task force will be appointed to explore new ideas to communicate with current and prospective members.  It will include Rotarians and non-Rotarians.
•    Results of the opinion poll taken at a recent luncheon meeting were announced and discussed.  
•    The Club Secretary’s status as an independent contractor was backdated to January first to comply with Indiana law.  

Following the very successful matching grant campaign with the Community Foundation, the Lafayette Rotary Club Foundation database has been updated to reflect your contributions, whether they were made directly to the Community Foundation for Rotary or to our Foundation.  It also reflects the matched Dollars.  The statements sent with Birthday Table letters show what we believe your contributions to be – along with the match amount.  We would appreciate it very much if you would check your statement when it arrives and contact us if corrections need to be made.