RCGC Meeting Recap: Friday, August 28, 2015 With the anticipation of wet weather on the horizon, our speaker left us swimming in data. We’re also happy to report that Stephanie Douglas gave birth to Savannah Jean Douglas on August 24th at 4:49pm. 7lbs 7oz, 21” long. We wish Stephanie, Savannah and the entire family our hearty congratulations for the best of good health. We’re also curious as to the results of the Kalmar baby pool! Friday’s meeting was on the quiet side—seems like August vacations take precedence (like Michele Kellison in Italy!). The meeting began with an Inspiration by Andy Tucknott (with one child hanging onto his knee). Andy inspired us with quotes from Norman Maclean’s book. Mclean retired at the age of 73, only to write his first book A River Runs Through it and Other Stories the following year at age 74. We then welcomed visiting Rotarian, Pete Sekermestrovich, and guests: Abe Drabkin; and Marlene Hawk. We also gave a warm welcome to Andy Tucknott’s two little boys – with the youngest pulling up a high chair to the table.
Announcements:
Helen Higgins announced that the United Way “Day of Caring” is scheduled for Friday, September 18th with Charlie Mitchell has as lead, has a full team. However, Helen is seeking another Rotarian to take the lead with a morning team (8:30am-11:30am) to provide service for that day. If interested, contact Helen Higgins. Also, if you have a business that would like to form a team to engage with this service project, contact Jennifer Moore to sign up a team.
Club members have the opportunity to travel to Abidjan, West Africa to participate in a polio immunization exercise and attend the 10th Annual West Africa Project Fair. This life-changing experience has limited space available costing $1,800 (double occupancy) for the November 10-19, 2015 trip. This is a great opportunity to Be a Gift to the World and experience an extraordinary opportunity. If interested, contact Bradford Howard (RI International Director): travel@howardtours.net
Stan & Glenda Baker, happily sailing the seas around Greece, have initiated planning for a great social event – our annual Holiday Party. They seek others that want to be part of the planning. With a return expected in September, e-mail either Stan or Glenda with your interest.
The Board of Directors of the Club is offering an opportunity for members to apply for a “Mini-Grants.” Club members can submit a proposal for creative, action-oriented service projects that will benefit others in the community—with grants requests from $50 – $1,000. If you would like an application (or additional information) contact Gerry Kosanovic: drgerryk@gmail.com
Joy Ragsdale announced that this is the final week for donating school supplies. Rather than providing needed school supplies to one particular school, we have selected to give all collected supplies to the Corvallis School District, specifically, the Student Opportunity for Success Program that serves children of poverty in the district. Coordinator Chris Hawkins has stated that there is a critical need for backpacks as well as other school supplies. Bring school supplies to Joy’s office—2015 NW Grant Ave—or to the meeting next week. Additionally…….
Locke Williams has volunteered to order backpacks from Amazon to be delivered before our meeting next Friday. Anyone that would like to join in this purchase can send Locke their pledge for as many backpacks they would like to sponsor. The cost is $12 each and they come in a variety of colors so he will purchase an assortment. Members are encouraged to send their pledge to Locke no later than Tuesday evening, September 1st: lockewilliams@comcast.net
Our featured speaker was Kent Kuo, director of Enterprise Computing at Oregon State University. The focus of Kent’s presentation was Student Academic Success. Kent is the former Registrar at OSU, stating that in 2011, when students wanted to understand their status toward graduation, they had to physically visit the registrar’s office. This has been updated with technology. Now, active students have on-line reporting data available that will provide them with an accurate accounting of their academic status. They can also look at different majors to see how their completed coursework aligns with other programs. This encompasses the work of his office to use technology as a strategic asset to develop greater efficiencies with institutional and administrative functions. Kent presented data screens that help explain, among other things, retention rates, probability of graduation, and other predictive elements. With affiliation with the University Education Alliance, a consortium of 22 universities in the nation, OSU can now utilize enormous amounts of data, heretofore overwhelming in its scale and scope, in a very strategic and calculated manner. Kent demonstrated the on-line interrogation of multiple sets of data in the system – allowing for a better understanding of key academic questions. In sum, it was an enlightening and fascinating presentation of technology as a tool for both individual and institutional success. Next Weeks Meeting: September 4th—Beth Sheehan on Membership and Retention
