Standing in for President JO WADE today was Vice President JOEL RASMUS. He introduced BARB REIF, who had the pleasure of introducing Tracy Dodds,Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame member, who began by saying that “No Women or Children in the Press Box” was written on the back of the press pass when she began her career. Dodds credits Birch Bayh and his efforts to pass Title IX of the Education Bill for her ability to be a sports writer. In the beginning there were no women’s teams to write about. A Time Magazine article in 1976 proclaimed the latest trend in sports – women sports writers – ten of them. In 1982 the first NCAA women’s basketball teams were formed. A May 1983 Los Angeles Times article by Bill Shirley labeled them pioneers in locker rooms and press boxes. That was the first time Tracy realized she was a pioneer. While telling stories about her experiences, she said that the good times were with the athletes and “basking in the reflected glory”, as Mohammed Ali said. Dodds was assigned to cover Stan Gretzky and Greg Louganis, as well as other familiar names. She says “It’s all about the story”. And along the way she played a part in replacing the statement on the back of press passes to “Working Press Only”. During the Q & A she said that her brother was an athlete at Jefferson High School, which prompted her interest in sports. She predicts that film clips on line will replace the sports section of the newspaper.

Money Collectors: CHRIS JOHANNSEN and TOM PEARSON; Greeters: LETA KELLEY and JACK KELLEY; Invocation: BARB REIF; Piano: RAY PEETERS; Song Leader:  ARVID OLSON; 50/50RAFFLE:  CECIL BLIGNAUT; Help with attendance and facilitating a smooth meeting: TOM MORAN and JANE SMITH.  Webmaster: LARRY HUGGINS.

JO'S WEEKLY WISDOM:
“Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.”
--Dale Carnegie

Highlights of the Club Board Meeting:

•    The Strategic Plan for the Club was reviewed and updated.
•    The 2013 Tax Return was reviewed and an internal audit of the Treasurer’s records was scheduled.
•    There will be a fund raising event in late Winter/early Spring.  A committee is being formed with RENEE FIGUEROA as Chair.  
•    An International Project was discussed.  There is great interest and projects have been proposed.
•    Policies were reviewed and amended.  Anyone interested in seeing them on line can follow these instructions:
1.    Search the web for “Rotary District 6560,” and click on the link provided.
2.    In the upper right corner of the District website, click on DaCdb – Database – Login.
3.    Log in using your email address as your user name and your Rotary membership number as your password.  Your membership number can be found on the address label of Rotarian magazine or on your membership card.  You may want to “bookmark” this web page.
4.    Click on “files” in the row of light blue tabs at the top of the web page.  (Note: the tab colors recently changed, so they may change again.)
5.    Click on “Club Files” in the dark blue menu right under the light blue tabs.
6.    Click on “Secure Files” under “Lafayette Downloads.”
7.    Click on the folder you want to access.
8.    The various documents will download to your computer when you click on the document.