Apologies for the tardiness of the newsletter this week.  A combination of weather related issues and computer issues has created a plethora of problems.

 

A small but hearty group of Rotarians gathered for the first meeting of the New Year.  We were happy to welcome back Rotarian Roger Hinerman.  We hope to see a lot more of him in 2010!

 

Other visitors were Bill Boone, Sandor Vegh (guest of Jake Hill - a new Edward Jones rep. in our area) and our speakers for the day Tammy Alvoid and Sue Schmitter-Motta.

 

Lottery Master Doug Wells was in attendance today and allowed Larry Menchhofer to win the small pot of $14!  Is it my imagination, or does he seem to win a lot?  Thankfully, he was not able to pull a winner for the BIG POT and the total of $50 continues to grow.

 

Larry Kienzle took $2 from Larry Menchhofer's lottery win, and followed that up with a $1 fine each to Bill Boone for being late and Roger Hinerman for not being with us often enough.  Mark Hamon and Jake Hill paid $1 for wearing their coats in the "house" and Doug Wells, Mark Hamon and Jim Robinson paid $1 each for wearing ties (Larry just LOVES than one now that he doesn't have to wear one!).  President Dave paid $1 for donating such tacky cards to the lottery (palm trees?) and Susan Aldridge got hit for a $1 for bragging about her Disney vacation.

 

Happy Bucks:  Bob got a new puppy named Lucy; Jim Robinson was VERY HAPPY about the Rose Bowl; Larry Willard passed on a $1 donation from Andy Horn (I think he misses us!); Larry Menchofer gave back another $1 for the priviledge of wishing everyone a "Happy New Year"; Lucy Burchan's daughter just turned 20 (she, of course, gave birth at age 10); Ben Hollinger is celebrating his anniversary and child's birthday this month; Damon donated $5 in honor of his family's "holiday miracle" - a change of doctor and medication has brought his father back from the brink of death due to Parkinson's symptom, and he is now enjoying life again.  Congrats from us all, Damon!

 

President Dave announced that we had received a nice thank you note from our waitress, Kim, for the holiday gift we gave her.

 

Dave is working on a tour of the new Central School for our Club.  It will have to be an evening meeting due to safety regulations, and we will follow the tour with dinner at Pizza Crossing.   More details to follow.

 

Bob announced that the Pancake Feast is scheduled for May 1st!  Mark your calendars and DON'T MAKE ANY OTHER PLANS!  We need everyone to get involved and sell those tickets!

 

Jan. 11 - Andrew McGhee

Jan. 18 - No meeting - Martin Luther King Day

Jan. 25 - Bob Lilley

Feb. 1 - Damon Kuhn

Feb. 8 - Kathy Krumlauf

Feb. 15 - No meeting - Presidents Day

Feb. 22 - Larry Kienzle

 

Even though Ben Hollinger introduced our speakers since they are part of his organizations programming, Mike McGreevy is claiming that it was his program. 

 

Ben introduced Tammy Alvoid and Sue Schmitter-Motta to tell us about The Employment Connection.  He also wanted us to know that "MRDD" is now officially known as the Hocking County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

 

Tammy and Sue gave us some information about 2 grants that they have received to help individuals in their programs become work ready and to actually engage in internships and job shadowing.  For every one of their clients that they can transition into the work force, their is a major reduction in the amout of tax dollars needed to support that individual.

 

They currently have 15 individuals from Hocking County involved in the program offering paid internships with local businesses.  The grant to help make clients work ready through job shadowing and community service work is just getting started.

 

Ben, Tammy and Sue all ask that you keep their clients in mind, and to keep and open mind if they call on you as a possible placement site for one of their people.