NEWSLETTER FOR JULY 28 & AUGUST 4, 2004

PRESENT:  :  Bilger (4^th only), Borror, Coulter (28), Heller, Jacobs, Mitchell (4^th), Rego, Schmitz, Sladen(s), Summers, Hurwitch. Visiting on the 28^th: Bob Warner with his grandson, Dekert-visiting from Fl. and Sheriff Joe McDonough. Visiting on the 4^st were Rick Koziel,  potential Rotarian, Megan Marshall and Chris Crowley and his dad – our students that we sent to Wisconsin .

Bill Coulter officiated last week and Ben this week. It is interesting to experience all the varied approaches to this task.  We are happy in our little room - somehow always room for one more! 

Secretary’s Report: Just pancake breakfast news (see above and respond to any phone requests you may encounter the next 2 days) and phonebook comments. Final calls should be going out to those who have not re-committed to the next book. PLEASE check with Janet THIS WEEK. Beatrice will take over when I am gone for the month but she will be busy just collecting the money. KEEP SELLING NEW ADS. We will accept ads until mid-September when sales close and Ed Fox takes over putting it all together.

Meeting Highlights: It was decided that we must each pay an additional dollar for the meal each week. This is to cover the tax and tip that were not included in the $12 meal. The consensus remains that this is a great venue for us. The drinks issue appears to be resolved. DRINKS MUST BE PREPAID.  

The Queen of Hearts is well embedded in the remaining deck. But that is just as well – the pot is so small…Ben won $1 on his scratch ticket though. 

Janet used the Rotary Minute to talk about Sustaining Membership and our effort to contribute $100 per member to Rotary International Foundation. Our visiting Rotarian was giving out $2 bills which is what the District uses to remind us to give $2 a week. He told us about his club’s mega foundation as a response. I was duly impressed by the number but note that they are not contributing to the international organization - only to their own community. That is NOT what we are all about. RI’s main objective is international peace and good will. A private foundation does not support that. Too bad.

Speaker – Joe McDonough 

Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department is the largest correctional facility under 1 roof. They house 641 city, county, immigration and customs and suspected terrorists in this facility. Quite a diverse lot! They have a secure juvenile facility. They are prepared with tools to change behavior of inmates and release them to the community. They prepare folks for jobs (such as auto mechanic or printer) and have re-entry programs including a step-down facility. Some suspects wait 2-4 years here for their trial. Sheriff Joe said that his department investigated 10,000 crime scenes last year. They have won a homeland security grant to computerize regional data (who’s in – who’s out sort of data). The department has a tight relationship with the Councils on Aging and Local Police. I have to admit to getting mesmerized and not recording EVERYTHING. This department is vast and powerful. From Joe’s point of view they do very many really good things. We look forward to visiting the facility later this month. We have to remember their print shop too.

Joe also talked about efforts in the High School and Junior Highs: trying to prevent “business”. He finds that the 7-8^th graders listen regarding alcohol and drugs. They run a “spend a day with” program for these kids. 

The PCSD has a low tolerance for bad behavior and use solitary confinement or 15 days in a hole with a 23 hour lock down for control. He feels inmates understand this (and change their behavior). Assaults on staff warrant additional criminal charges and thus additional sentencing.

Two final notes: 

Inmates often find Jesus in jail …and leave him there. 

And - Terrorists in the past were revolutionaries and change agents.

Note: Dues bills are out. Please pay promptly. Also, balance due for Sustaining Membership 03-04.

Remember the Rotary rule: “NEVER SAY NO” when asked by another Rotarian to help do something. 

Speakers: Megan Marshall and Chris Crowley

These two students were by us to the World Affairs Seminar in Whitewater, Wisconsin – selected by their principal.

These kids again identified this program as a life changing event. Meeting with 800 other teenagers from around the world in a university setting with world leaders for speakers was amazing. They believe there were approximately 30 countries represented and were most impressed with the flag ceremony at the beginning of the seminar. Activities included small group work as well as full group presentations. They heard novel presentations and novel opinions. They were able to work in groups of about 20 to problem solve and consensus form. Megan brought us her group report that will be put onto our web site. Walter, maybe you can make a few copies for our non-internet receivers (about 4).

To read Megan's group report, Click Here.

I asked if they would rather have this experience or receive a $1500 scholarship at the end of their Senior year of High School. With only a brief consideration they agreed that this was a very special program and they think it is more important than that size scholarship. It is always a delight to see and hear the kids we award. They truly are special – and deserve this recognition and opportunity. Well done Megan and Chris!

Alden called Chris and his dad “courageous” people as Chris lost his grandmother this week and his father, his mother. We indeed do honor their courage and express our most sincere sympathy to these men. Thank you Alden for telling us. And we thank also them for joining us in light of their loss.

My work load re the breakfast and phonebook is overwhelming. Ben will take over this newsletter and Beatrice will be collecting phonebook monies. If you have any unanswerable questions please call Ed Fox at 383.3000 – but don’t nag him! Mostly things can wait as Bart and I return on the 11^th and we will spend our first few days doing only the phonebook. We will close all sales and details as of the 15^th. We are aiming for a Nov. 1^st posting. Jack is responsible for your programming.

Have a great end to the summer and I am looking forward to a brief stay in Holland…

Yours in Rotary, until September,

Janet Schmitz

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