ROTARY CLUB OF JASPER
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2003


MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT -

Fellow Rotarians:

It’s an interesting world that we live in. Amidst tax hikes, budget cuts, email viruses, unrest in Iraq and political debates, we’ve got lots to talk about - and think about. There are few sure things in this world - and we can always count on Rotary to be one of them. Rotary is a stabilizing force in this world, always seeking peace, understanding and solutions to problems. We are fortunate to be affiliated with a group that continues to be firm in its resolve with a clear goal and a focus on goodwill. Please remember to invite others into our group who have the qualities we seek - an interest in improving our community, time to devote to helping our fellow man, a willingness to serve, and high moral and ethical standards.
We have just inducted nine new members into Rotary and are happy to have them. Be sure to help them understand and enjoy their new role. We are also winding up preparations for the annual Charity Golf Tournament. Please, come out on October 10 and join in the fun! We can still use a few more teams. We can always use more volunteers.
We have also inducted eleven new Interact members and look forward to working with them this year. It is our responsibility to instill the desire to serve at a young age if we expect future generations to carry on the ideals of Rotary. Rotarians will need to speak to and work with this group throughout the year, so be thinking about the message you want to convey to them when it is your turn. There will also be speaking opportunities at Walker High School throughout the year. This will be a perfect opportunity for you to talk about your vocation, why you are proud to be a Rotarian, and what you hope tomorrow will bring.
Thank you all for all that you do.
Yours in Service,
Pam Fikes


SPEAKERS IN OCTOBER

October 7       Senator Curt Lee will bring us up to date on the results of the special session of the legislature. Introduced by Max Perdue.

October 14    Speaker introduced by Pat Nelson

October 21    Speaker introduced by Gary Cowen

October 28    District Governor Don Hadden will be our guest and will be introduced by Clyde McSpadden.

BIRTHDAYS                          ANNIVERSARIES
Fred May Oct 1                       Greg and Terri O'Rear Oct 1
Trudie Seirafi Oct 8                 Ted and Lisa Killingsworth Oct 20
Max Perdue Oct 9                   Gary and Julie Cowen Oct 23
Jay Betts Oct 10
Craig Price Oct 12                   NEW MEMBERS
Bill Wells Oct 15                      Amy Freeman
Larry Lapkovitch Oct 17
Tommy Simmons Oct 22        GUESTS
                                              Allen Seehusen


ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Theme for October is Vocational Service.

Board Meeting - Monday, October 13th.

There will be no meeting on Tuesday, November 11th due to the Veteran's Day Holiday.

Members responsible for speakers in November: Don Kilgore 4th, Lou Vick 18th; Skip Newman 25th.

Beginning in October, members will be billed an optional $10 per quarter which is designated to the Jasper Rotary Foundation. This is in addition to the optional $25 that goes to the Rotary International Foundation.

Rotarians may order member shirts by signing up at a regular meeting or by email at pfikes@dir.state.al.us. Shirts are $19 for S-XL, $21 for XXL and $22 for XXXL.

The Board of Directors will be taking nominations for officers for the 2004/05 year for Secretary, Treasurer and President-Elect -(President 2005/06), beginning October 1st. Elections will be held in December.

The PolioPlus Campaign drive will begin November 1st and run till March 2004. We have pledged to give a total of $10,000 to Rotary International over a three year period. Last year, we were able to raise $3,800. Our goal this year is $3,100 - which is $35 per Rotarian. Thanks to the efforts of Rotary, one billion children have been immunized worldwide since 1985. By 2005, Rotary's financial commitment will reach a half billion US dollars.

Important Statistics: Current membership figures as of June 30, 2003 -
Rotary Members Worldwide 1,227,545
Rotary Clubs Worldwide 31,561
Rotary Countries 166
Rotary Districts 529
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International was created in 1917 for the purpose of "doing good in the world". Through the Foundation, Rotarians sponsor international educational and humanitarian programs, where $90 million is invested annually.

Don't forget to check out our official club website at www.jasperrotary.org.


ROTARY SPOTLIGHT

EMWF - The East Meets West Foundation...was founded in 1988 by Le Ly Hayslip, a Vietnamese refugee whose harrowing story is chronicled in her memoir When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. The EMWF implements a wide range of humanitarian projects, mostly in central Vietnam. Because there currently are no Rotary Clubs in Vietnam, Rotary Clubs from all over the world partner with EMWF to provide much needed services to the region.
With the help of Rotary Clubs in the United States and grants from Rotary International, the EMWF has brought clean water to about 4,000 villagers in a community near the city of Da Nang. Water projects in Vietnam are popular and much needed when you realize the extent of the problem. A high water table and frequent flooding combine to pollute shallow village wells with muddy, brackish water. The wells are further tainted by runoff from pesticides, fertilizers, and untreated animal and human waste. Hand dug wells usually contain water the same color as the soil and test for sulfur, arsenic and chemical contaminants such as Agent Orange and Agent White which cause health risks such as intestinal and liver disease, skin infections and illness such as typhoid.
Other projects implemented in the Rotary Club/EMWF partnerships include: The entrepreneurial pig program which is a simple program with profound effects. The EMWF provides eligible families with basic veterinary training, pig feed, instructions and a piglet at a cost to the program of $20. Because pigs bear about 30 offspring per year, one piglet can generate more than $700 during its lifetime which is a significant sum in a country where families commonly earn less than $1 a day. Partnerships have also served to provide kindergarten programs, schoolhouses, homes for the homeless and residential facilities for unwed mothers. The costs of these programs are minimal but the impact is significant.