RCGC Meeting Recap: Friday, February 26, 2016
By Gerry Kosanovic, President
READERS NEEED: Lincoln School was a last minute participant to the annual “Read Across Corvallis” to be held on Wednesday, March 2nd. If you can spare 30 minutes to read to Lincoln students, contact Lu An Carone-Rhodes ASAP: luancarone13@hotmail.com
Today’s meeting began with Tiffany Bailey providing the inspiration and leading the club in the Pledge of Allegiance. Jennifer Moore then introduced visiting Rotarians Pete Sekermestrovich (Corvallis), Christy Young (Roseburg), Barb Clauson (Corvallis) with guest Evelia Ramos (Outgoing Student Exchange-Corvallis), Rob Thurston (Corvallis), and Christy Young (Roseburg). Visiting Guests were Benny Atorniolo (guest of Becki Goslow), Mike Bernard (guest of Russ Hedge), Shea Saralecos (guest of Scott Elmshaezuer), Monee Johnson and Cohen Johnson (guests of Mark Kalmar), Savannah Douglas (daughter of Stephanie Douglas), and Michele Mincinski (guest of Randy Dobson). Randy Dobson introduced a lively club activity entitled “Third and Goal” designed to help the club reach the Presidential Citation, otherwise known as the club president’s goals. Mark distributed headshot placards of your club president, challenging members to ensure that 100 “unique social media posts” are viewed, to include those at #ROTARYGC. If that happens, your club president would spin the “Wheel of Immediate Gratification.”
Announcements:
Service Thanks: To Rotarian volunteers who helped make the annual Benton County High School Career Convention a huge success. Rotarians conducted mock interviews with juniors as well as presenting to small groups regarding career opportunities. The OSU Rotaract Club provided coverage of the information table during the entire convention – thanks to Luna Fagan, Geoff Dejanvier, Liz Wells, and Hamza Molvi.
Membership Challenge: Randy Dobson reintroduced the club member challenge to help the club president meet 2015-16 goals. Social media has witnessed lots of hits that included the club president’s face, and with two other challenge goals met, the club president “rotated” the wheel twice, having to [1] do the chicken dance, and [2] read from a move script. The reading of the script was accomplished – the chicken dance was deferred until next week’s meeting.
Middle Level Student of the Month: Van Melick conducted the month recognition program for middle level students, honoring students from Ashbrook Independent School and Linus Pauling Middle School.
Rotarian Magazine Feature: Van Melick’s photo was published in the Rotary magazine, featuring our “Read Across Corvallis” program to advance literacy in our community. Tip of the Rotary hat to Lu An Carone-Rhodes for coordinating this program!!!
Barb Clausen promoted a Mexican dinner fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Corvallis’ outgoing exchange student held on Sunday, February 28.
Tiffany Bailey announced that the annual Student Essay Contest needs essay readers that will occur on Saturday, February 27th at the Benton Community Foundation Board Room.
Ted Anderson & Don Klaus provided leadership in the singing of “Happy Birthday” to all February born Rotarians. We also identified the February 23rd birthday of Rotary International, 111 years old!
Lu An Carone-Rhodes announced that she is seeking Spanish readers for the annual “Read Across Corvallis” celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 2nd. Contact Lu An if you have 30 minutes to spare to read to elementary children: luancarone13@hotmail.com
Athlete-Scholar-Citizen Judges Needed: If you can stay after next week’s meeting to help judge the CHS and CVHS nominations for athlete recognition, please plan on 20 minutes or so – your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Cam Little introduced our featured speaker Dr. Herschel Weeks, former Chief of Party for USAID, Capacity Building and Change in Afghanistan. Dr. Weeks has led also aid projects in Bangladesh, Eritrea, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, and Tajikistan. The aid projects work with the authority of the USAID – under the Secretary of State. It determines what will be funded, how much will be provided and where. US Foreign Policy guides it. Assessments and analyses are accomplished in Washington D.C., as well as in the field. First step is to identify gaps in food security, health, needs for policy, and financial security of vulnerable populations. Thereafter, the job is to develop a causal model to fill the gaps, sometimes with multiple projects, and sometimes it is a “mega” project. In Afghanistan in 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture reached less than 2% of farmers. Developing internal capacity is the key component of the public sector. Key components of the program include: policy, legislation, enforcement, leadership, staffing, training (for agriculture and technical skills) infrastructure, planning, budgeting, and the ability to “just do it.” Thereafter, review and revise the project.
Next Meeting March 4, 2016 State of the City with Mayor Biff Traber
BRING YOUR LOOSE CHANGE! Give Change to Make Change
– Support the Rotary Foundation – Feed the Collection Jar!!
