Rotary Club of LaPorte eBulletin Tuesday, March 19, 2013

rotary logoNotes from Rotary Meeting of March 18, 2013

President Deb Varnak called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test of Rotary. Mike Sutton offered the invocation for the meeting.

Leigh Morris led singing of “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

Happy $$’s – Deb Varnak, Fran Milo, Mitch Feikes, Leigh Morris, Tyler Smith, Beth Irwin, Neil Mangus.

Sergeant-at-Arms – Mitch Feikes (assisted by Kregg Van Meter with the basket) continued the St. Patrick’s Day theme by asking questions about the Irish.

Announcements –

Rotary District Conference – April 26 and 27 in Merrillville.

Special Day – June 17 is the date for the annual family picnic/Officers and Board of Directors installation/scholarship awards and the installation of Christina Dougherty as District Governor.

“Hands On” Work Day – May 18 is the date designated by the La Porte Ministerial Association.

Please contact President Varnak if you have ideas for a Rotary service project on that date.

Executive Spelling Bee – May 2 (note new date) – Silver Palace – 6:30 PM

Stacey Moody, Rotary’s liaison to the La Porte County Literacy Council, is seeking additional volunteers for the team. Team members to date are Yvonne Lindborg, Captain, Leigh Morris and Christina Dougherty.

Rotary Ramble Grocery Scramble – Among the promotions for this fall’s event beginning this summer will be an ad in the Firefighters’ Blues Fest booklet. If you want tickets for the Blues Fest, coming in August, contact Mike Arnett this week.

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy) – One of today’s guests, student Erik Nelson, accepted Marv Goad’s invitation to represent La Porte Rotary at this upcoming conference.

Presenters for Ms. Woods classroom – Deb Varnak, Beth Ingram and Bert Cook will each do one of the monthly presentations on business and work topics.

Rotary Foundation – Leigh Morris spoke on behalf of the Rotary Foundation, especially on its international service projects which focus on peace and conflict prevention/resolution; disease prevention and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and economic and community development. Rotary’s goal is for every Rotarian to contribute to the Foundation every year. $100 per year is the recommended contribution.

Program – A s part of Rotary’s focus on peace and conflict prevention/resolution, Leigh introduced Dail Wratchford, IU Health La Porte Hospital Chaplain, who spoke on the topic of World Peace and Understanding. He began his presentation by leading a moment of silence in honor and memory of Rotarian Judian Breitenbach who passed away earlier this month. Chaplain Wratchford spoke of peace in terms of Rotary’s motto Service Above Self and of the Four-Way Test of Rotary. H e identified the qualities of peace as simple, relational, consistent, and persistent. Peace is simple because it is a daily choice we can each make. It is relational in the ways we are involved with each other on a daily basis. It is consistent in that the work of peace demands our attention and diligence and willingness to be involved. And it is persistent and disciplined in that we must be active in the creation of peace. He said, “every time you choose to serve, you choose the path of peace”.

Rotarians in attendance were: Mike Arnett, Mitch Feikes, Ron Gigliotti, Marv Goad, Judy Hamilton, Bill Hedge, Beth Ingram, Norm Juday, Neil Mangus, Leigh Morris, Dale Parkison, Mike Seitz, Vern Sikora, Tyler Smith, Mike Sutton, Kregg Van Meter, Deb Varnak, Ed Volk. Prospective Member: Fran Milo. Guests: Gabrielle Gonzalez from La Porte County Herald Argus; Erik Nelson and Frances Silfa, students at La Porte High School.