RCGC Meeting Recap: Friday, January 22, 2016
By Gerry Kosanovic, President
GIVE CHANGE TO MAKE CHANGE: Empty that piggy back, bring in your change and help fill up the donation jug for the Rotary Foundation. Thanks for the donations this week.
The research is clear – people join Rotary for the service, but stay in Rotary for the fellowship. Great fellowship was on display for this meeting as accolades were provided to deserving club members (see below) and good-natured ribbing (of the club President, no less) set the tone for another fast hour of Rotary. We welcomed visiting Rotarian Pete Sekermestrovich, as well Eric Beasley (principal of Wilson School), guest of Becki Goslow, and Michele Mincinski guest of Randy Dobson.
Announcements:
Service Thanks: Celebrate Corvallis, the signature event of the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce, was most appreciative of the service provided by club members at the event. Even the OSU Rotaract Club devoted their Friday evening to the valet service, parking cars in the steady rain (and enjoying $214 in donations to their charity – Heifer International.)
Congratulations: To Celebrate Corvallis recognized individuals, Russ Hedge, honored as Corvallis Ambassador, and Andrea Thornberry, selected as Junior First Citizen, receiving the traditional crown from last year’s winner, Lorena Reynolds. A club nod to the coordinators and hard working duo that helps to ensure a successful event: Mike & Judy Corwin.
Stewart Laney kicked off the 50/50 card-selecting raffle with donated funds helping our exchange student, Franziska Maria Saal, collect money for the annual Rotary exchange student trip to California.
Jeff Davis is seeking volunteers for Rotary Week at the Men’s Shelter. If you would like to help on day next week (Jan 25 – 31) contact Dan Hallgrimson: prdan@comcast.net
Kate Lacy passed around a sheet, seeking volunteers to help interview students for the annual Benton County High School Career Fair on February 23. If you have the time—and this is a great service opportunity—you can volunteer at www.bchscc.org
Ben Danley reminded members of the Membership Engagement Activity. You will be asked to have coffee – then you will have a coffee (or happy hour) meeting with others. He is maintaining a list of all those that have already participated.
Ben Danley also announced that he has accepted a job in Vietnam, working for a non-profit to raise funds for The Library Project, an organization that donates books and libraries to under financed rural primary schools and orphanages in Asia. BEST OF GOOD LUCK to Ben with this new life adventure. Joy Ragsdale has agreed to assume club secretary duties for the remainder of the year, and then continue with the position for another year beginning July.
Judy Corwin made available free tickets to the Saturday, January 30 OSU Gymnastics meeting. Lunch tickets are also available for the Dam Cancer events at the Club Level of Reser – contact Judy if interested.
Lauren Gallegos fulfilled all of the requirements of new membership, thereby exchanging her temporary Red Badge for the Blue Badge! Congratulations, Lauren.
Tom Nelson and the World Service Committee are happy to report that our International Project, providing dialysis machines in Thailand, is having spectacular results. 4 dialysis machines have been installed with a training of volunteer staff to reach 500,000 people. The project is 25% complete at 7 hospitals.
Joseph Bailey (serving on the Benton County Budget Committee) introduced our featured speaker, Benton County Commissioner, Annabelle Jaramillo who provided an overview of the work of Benton County with her presentation. Annabelle grew up as Latina in Colorado, later graduating from Portland State University. In her capacity as Commissioner, Annabelle states that everyday her goal is to strive to make Benton County a better place to work, live and play. She reported that Benton County is growing and currently has a $208 million budget. The county also contributes $100K to Corvallis Economic Growth. Annabelle reported that maintaining transportation infrastructure, a goal of the commissioners, also supports businesses. Soon, the commissioners will be updating the master transportation plan; public will be invited to contribute to plan. The Commissioners asked voters to support a new jail, but the measure failed. Annabelle suggested that the commissioners heard concerns and will return with a plan that better addresses the issue while, as the same time, providing a facility that responds to needs of county judicial, mental health, and law enforcement officials. No decision as to when a new bond request will be on the ballot. She proudly announced that Benton County was ranked Oregon’s Healthiest County with country health services providing assistance to many individuals every year. The county also relocated Palestine Church, thought to be oldest in Benton County – and will restore and make available the site to public events. Regarding land use planning, the legalization of marijuana is an issue that affects this effort and the county is putting together a “community engagement” process to solicit input to revise policy.
Big sigh – no more college football to report, but Super Bowl L, that is 50, will be played in San Francisco’s Levi Stadium on Sunday, February 7th with the Denver Broncos old school quarterback pitted against the new school quarterback of the Carolina Panthers.
Next Meeting –Friday, January 29th – See you there! Program: Generational Differences. Don’t miss it.
GIVE CHANGE TO MAKE CHANGE: Bring Your Loose Change! Support the Rotary Foundation. Fill the Jug!
