Stafford Rotary

Meeting of the Rotary Club of Stafford
March 22, 2006

Guests:
President Elect Aric Wagner presided and welcomed guests: Kathy Lyall, guest of Richard Lyall; Sharon Kendall, Liz Newton and Ann Cowper, guests of Rusty Cowper; Mike Ailred, guest of PE Aric. Former Stafford Rotarians Lou Barnett and Mark Osborn were in attendance. Other visiting Rotarians were Don Mohr from the Fredericksburg Rotary and Jim Lewis from the Rappahannock Rotary.

Program:
Our program was a tour of the Blue and Gray Brewery. The brewers provided samples of their different brews. The tour was very interesting, and the club enjoyed the samples, some of the club members and guests more than others. A big thank you is due to Mark Steele for arranging this interesting field trip and lunch.

Are You Reading the Bulletin?

What mandatory training event did President Elect Aric recently attend?

New Member Corner
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

Each summer, thousands of young people are selected to attend Rotary-sponsored leadership camps or seminars in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, France, Argentina, Korea, and numerous other countries. In an informal atmosphere, groups of outstanding young people in the 14-30 age range spend a week in a challenging program of leadership training, discussions, inspirational addresses, and social activities designed to enhance personal development, leadership skills, and good citizenship. The official name of this activity is the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program (RYLA), although these events are sometimes referred to by other names, such as Camp Royal, Camp Enterprise, youth leaders seminars, or youth conferences.

The RYLA program began in Australia in 1959, when young people throughout the state of Queensland were selected to meet with Princess Alexandra, the young cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The Rotarians of Brisbane, who hosted the participants, were impressed with the quality of the young people. It was decided to bring youth leaders together each year for a week of social, cultural, and educational activities. The RYLA program gradually grew throughout all the Rotary districts of Australia and New Zealand. In 1971, the RI Board adopted RYLA as an official program of Rotary International. RYLA is generally conducted as a district activity.

What Are You Reading?

Shirley Heim recommends Teacher Man: a Memoir by Frank McCourt.
For 30 years Frank McCourt taught high school English in New York City and for much of that time he considered himself a fraud. During these years he danced a delicate jig between engaging the students, satisfying often bewildered administrators and parents, and actually enjoying his job. After much trial and error, he eventually discovered what was in front of him (or rather, behind him) all along--his own experience. "My life saved my life," he writes. At the beginning of his career it had never occurred to him that his own dismal upbringing in the slums of Limerick could be turned into a valuable lesson plan. Indeed, his formal training emphasized the opposite. Principals and department heads lectured him to never share anything personal. McCourt was too likable, too interested in the students' lives, and too willing to reveal himself for their benefit as well as his own. He was a kindred spirit with more questions than answers: "Look at me: wandering late bloomer, floundering old fart, discovering in my forties what my students knew in their teens."

The Rotary Foundation: a Message from Chairman Frank Devlyn

Dear Amigos,

I am always impressed by the way Rotarians talk about their Rotary Foundation. Often they will say their work with Foundation programs was the most satisfying experience they have ever had in Rotary. This is what makes the Foundation so compelling for so many Rotarians.

Wherever I go, I always ask people to tell me their stories. Everyone has a story about Rotary service. What stands out for me is that Rotarians will often talk about a defining moment when Rotary really came together for them; a profound Rotary moment that touched them and changed them forever.

It amazes me to learn how many Foundation programs are involved when Rotarians tell me about their best day in Rotary. A Rotarian and good friend of mine from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Bob Gallagher recently told me about his best day in Rotary:

"Four days after my daughter Michelle was born, I joined Rotary. During my first few years, I was a member of a Rotary club. I participated in projects. I went to luncheons and made friends in my Rotary club. I was like most members of Rotary.

"After six years, I finally attended my first district conference. As we left the plenary hall following the Group Study Exchange presentation, I casually mentioned to my club's president-elect that someday I would like to become involved in GSE. Life has a way of moving faster than we expect. Only 10 short months later, I truly became a Rotarian while leading a GSE team to the Philippines.

"It was during my GSE experience that my eyes were opened to what Rotarians can do when they serve with love and practice Service Above Self. While in the Philippines, I observed a Rotarian veterinarian teach villagers how to successfully raise chickens (donated by his Rotary club). This was a wonderful example of using one's vocation for service. As the leader of the GSE, I was privileged to visit an operating room where Rotarian surgeons donated their vocational services in removing cataracts from the elderly hill people who would never be able to afford the operations themselves. These grandparents would return to their families and for the first time see their grandchildren. In 1992, that was my best day in Rotary.

"A few years later, I traveled to Africa in the far northwest corner of Ghana to record our local Rotary district's projects. On this trip, I had the opportunity to immunize against polio a child who had been born since the previous National Immunization Day (NID). To this day, those two drops still represent my best day in Rotary. Last year I returned to Ghana to take part in a full NID. This experience was truly a wonderful day in Rotary."

Each of you has had a best day in Rotary. I ask you to make sure you tell your fellow Rotarians about it. It will inspire them to know about the good work Rotarians accomplish every day. I know, for many of you, your best day was an experience with The Rotary Foundation. Bob's certainly was. Mine certainly was.


Rotarians are the heart and soul of Rotary, but our Rotary Foundation is its backbone. It is the success stories that we hear and witness every day that inspires Rotarians to participate in and contribute to our Foundation. Each success we have will lead to more projects, more education, and even more lives improved. It is all thanks to you, the Rotarians who commit themselves to service — especially through our Rotary Foundation.

Your Amigo,
Frank Devlyn
The Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair,
2005-06
Rotary International President, 2000-01

Upcoming Programs

March 29
Eric Weidner, Classification talk

April 5:
Bryan Dearing, Chief Executive Officer of Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center (HCA) and Fred Rankin, CEO, Medicorp

April 13:
Detective Jessee, Stafford County Sheriff’s Department—gangs.

April 20 J
Jill Wine, Volunteer Emergency Foundation for Children

April 27
Richard Lyall, Classification Talk

Set-Up and Take Down Assignments

DATE SETUP TAKE DOWN GREETER
March 29 Carlos Melendez, Elaine Farmer Joan McLaughlin, Nicolette Ward Keith Dudley
April 5 Rusty Cowper, Eric Widener Jack Broome, Joe Howard John Lafley
April 12 Tim Baroody, Jeff Small Nicolette Ward, Joan McLaughlin Robin Sutton
April 19 Kathy Belcher, Sue Gibbs Anne Truong, Carole Green Nelda Mohr
April 26 Alethea Cruz, Ralph Sutton Harrison Simpson, Vicki Lewis Ken Clayman
May 3 Mike Torosian, Sandra Duckworth Mark Smith, Shirley Heim John Chapman
May 10 Sandy Pratt, Fred Donahoe Mary Rose, Carlos Melendez Keith Dudley
May 17 Mark Steele, Carol Foley Ann Smith, Chris Franklin Elaine Farmer


Other Dates to Remember
April Is Magazine Month

April 8, 2006 – Club leadership Training Seminar

April 27- 30, 2006 District Conference Holiday Inn - Fredericksburg, VA

May 20 –Relay for Life

June Is- Rotary Fellowships Month

June 11-1April, 2006- Rotary International Annual Convention, Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark

June 25
District Awards Banquet

Stafford Rotary Meeting, March 15, 2006
President Elect Aric presided and welcomed guests: Laura Speer, guest of Nelda Mohr; T. Campbell’s guests Dolly and Lo and their son Ryan from Singapore; Mark Osborn; and Fred Donahoe’s guest Michael Muse, Stafford County Director of Social Services. Steve Cook visited from the Crystal City/ Pentagon Rotary.

Announcements:
All incoming board members should attend the Rotary Leadership Institute.
Joan announced that we have reached 77% sustaining members of the Rotary Foundation. Remember “Every Rotarian, Every Year”.

Program:
Our club sponsors the largest Rotaract club in District 7610. Stephanie Shiffers and Andy Yoho spoke of their club’s projects this year: Homecoming Parade, Serving dinner at the Homeless Shelter, planning the Senior Citizens’ Prom, scheduled for April 1.Their Festival of Trees entry raised more money for Hope House than any tree this year. They took children from Hope House and the Brisbain Shelter Christmas shopping this year, giving the children money to buy presents for their families and themselves.

Pastor Fred then introduced Mr. Lefkowich, faculty sponsor, and the co-presidents Sara Flynn and Sara Epper. The club raised money this year by working for Sandy Pratt and by selling duck adoptions. They prepared Thanksgiving baskets for needy families, visited nursing homes to discuss Stafford history with the residents, tutoring children, and preparing a tree for the Festival of Trees.

T. Campbell talked about the International Officers Program. Dolly and Lo were the first family he sponsored, in 1993. They’ve been close friends ever since.

AG Carol Foley made a brief statement about how important Interact and Rotaract are to the work of Rotary International.

Fines and Happiness
Richard was fined for signing in on the wrong sheet.
Ralph asked Chris a trick math question.
Shirley Heim reminded us that the Rotaract Club began during Ralph’s year as president. She’s very happy about the Senior Citizens’ Prom. The Rotaractors are taking children from Hope House roller skating.
Steve Cook said he’s always happy to visit Stafford. He challenged us to increase our membership so we will once again be in the over fifty member category.
PE Aric told us that Aric Christian had suffered a seizure on Saturday. Linda Burdette showed up to help out right away.
Pastor Fred announced that his grandson is ranked fifth in the nation in wrestling in his weight class.
Joe Howard took his grandchildren to Williamsburg.
Mark Osborn said he liked for us to be reminded often that Rotary is an international organization.
T. was happy that Lo and Dolly have come from Singapore to see him and Shirley. Then he told a funny story about Buck. When we were Christmas caroling at a nursing home, Buck pinned a sign on T’s back that said, “He’s with Rotary. Please let him out.”

The meeting closed with the Four Way Test.

Are You Reading the Bulletin?
Ray McKemie of District 6900 gave three examples of what your $100 contribution to the Rotary Foundation could do. Name one of them.

New Members Corner
Presidents-elect Training Seminar (PETS)
President Elect Aric recently attended PETS. This is what this mandatory training is about.
The Bylaws of Rotary International require that the governor-elect of each district, in cooperation with the current governor, schedule and conduct a training seminar for the incoming club presidents of the district, preferably in March. This two- or three-day Presidents-elect Training Seminar, commonly referred to by its acronym, PETS, is a motivational and leadership training session designed to prepare the future club presidents for the office they will assume on 1 July. Among the subjects covered are the presentation of the RI theme for the coming year as well as information about effective service projects and The Rotary Foundation. Time is also devoted to reviewing the role and responsibilities of a club president. Incoming club presidents also learn about goal-setting, selection and preparation of club officers, club administration, membership recruitment and orientation, and RI and district resources. In some areas of the world, two or more neighboring districts conduct Multidistrict PETS. Multidistrict PETS groups have found that their larger numbers help them attract popular Rotary speakers, provide incoming presidents with a perspective beyond the district, and generate more diverse strategies for effective club leadership. This year Virginia districts combined to hold Virginia PETS.

What Are You Reading?
Nicolette Ward recommends A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett
Just one short step ahead of the law, cowboy and lost soul Tully Mars finds himself fishing for a living in the Caribbean. Tully Mars, a 40-ish ex-cowboy turned guide at the Lost Boys Fishing Lodge island resort, undertakes various sojourns around the Caribbean, to Mayan ruins, a jungle safari camp, a spring break bacchanal in Belize. Nothing much happens except that Tully meets a parade of colorful natives and expatriates, including a Mayan medicine man, a British commando and a 103-year-old woman who skippers a sailing schooner and wants to restore a historic lighthouse on Cayo Loco, the titular island.

A Request from Al Brewster
Joan,
Hi- hope all is well and you have not taken off to Italy to check out that property info I sent to you- at least not yet. I just received a Christmas card that had been forwarded (very slowly) from our Fredericksburg address that was from Derek (the young police officer) that stayed with us last year. In it he said he had tried to email me but my address had changed, and he included his address, unfortunately I can not read his writing of his address and when I tried it - it was rejected as non existent. I was wondering if anyone there in the club still has contact, or an email address for anyone in that group? I would like to get back to Derek with a response.
Thanks
Al

Other Dates to Remember
March 25– Rotary Leadership Institute
April Is Magazine Month
April 8, 2006 – Club leadership Training Seminar
April 27- 30, 2006 District Conference Holiday Inn - Fredericksburg, VA
June Is- Rotary Fellowships Month
June 11-14, 2006- Rotary International Annual Convention, Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark
June 25 District Awards Banquet

Upcoming Programs
March 22 Blue - Gray Brewing Company Field Trip
March 29 Eric Weidner, Classification talk

Set-Up and Take Down Assignments
March 29Carlos Melendez, Elaine Farmer, Joan McLaughlin, Nicolette Ward, Keith Dudley

Meeting of the Rotary Club of Stafford
March 8, 2006
Guests:
President Randy Burdette presided and welcomed guests: Richard Lyall; Melanie Davis and Shad Montague, guests of Ralph Davis; Ann Cowper, guest of Rusty Cowper; Kat Kammar, guest of Aric Wagner; Donald Duckworth, guest of PDG Sandy Duckworth; Kristan Windsor, guest of Jeff Small; and Graham IV and Meghan Green, guests of Carole Green.

Quiz:
Shirley Heim won the quiz, but several other members called out parts of the answer. AG Carol Foley’s area includes the Rotary Clubs of Stafford, Rappahannock, Fredericksburg and Caroline County.

Announcements:
Carole Green thanked the club members for the support they’ve given her family during this difficult time.
PDG Sandy talked about the establishment of the G. Graham Green Iii Music Scholarship Foundation.
Mark Smith announced that the St. Patrick’s Day party will be held March 15 at the Chimneys at 525 Caroline Street.
Joan McLaughlin announced that we are now 75% sustaining members of the Rotary Foundation. Our goal is 100%.

Program:
Mark Steel introduced our guest speaker, Dr. Jean Murray, superintendent of Stafford County Schools. Dr. Murray talked about the mission of the Stafford school district and the growth in recent years. There are now twenty-seven schools, five new schools in the last four years. Two more schools will open in September, Austen Ridge Elementary and Dixon Smith Middle School. Stafford school exceed Virginia state wide Standards of Learning scores and exceed both national and state SAT median scores. The county offers three sites for Governor’s School. Career and technology education programs are offered at all five high schools.

Stafford schools have managed school growth without ever having to use portable classrooms.

Other achievements Dr. Murray mentioned were the successes of the school bands, choral groups and sports teams. The demographics of the school district have been changing. There are 100 more ESL students now than there were in September. There are 143 homeless students enrolled in Stafford schools, 40 of these students are refugees from the Gulf Coast.

Dr. Murray had suggestions on how to be involved with Stafford schools.
¨ Breakfast Buddies - We have had Rotarians take part in this program.
¨ Big Brother Big Sister programs
¨ Adopt a Classroom ( visit their web page for more information http://www.adoptaclassroom.com/)
¨ Visit the schools to read with a child.
¨ Attend school sports events. Get a gold card.

During the question and answer period Dave Varrelman asked about recent studies that boys are falling behind in the classroom.

To learn more about Stafford County Schools visit their web page at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Div/Stafford/

Speech Contest
Nicolette introduced Eric Laird , the winner of our club’s speech contest. Eric presented his winning speech on living the Four Way Test.

The meeting concluded with the Four Way Test.

Are You Reading the Bulletin?

When was Paul Harris Fellow recognition first proposed?

The answer can be found on our club blog http://www.staffordrotary.blogspot.com/

New Member Corner
Paul Harris Fellows

Undoubtedly, the most important step to promote voluntary giving to The Rotary Foundation occurred in 1957, when the idea of Paul Harris Fellow Recognition was first proposed. Although the concept of making US$1,000 gifts to the Foundation was slow in developing, by the early 1 970s it began to gain popularity. The distinctive Paul Harris Fellow medallion, lapel pin, and attractive certificate have become highly respected symbols of a substantial financial commitment to The Rotary Foundation by Rotarians and friends around the world. By 2002, some 813,000 Paul Harris Fellows had been added to the rolls of The Rotary Foundation.

The companion to the Paul Harris Fellow is the Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member, which is the recognition presented to an individual who has given, or in whose honor a gift is made, a contribution of $100, with the stated intention of making additional contributions until $1,000 is reached. At that time, the Sustaining Member becomes a Paul Harris Fellow.

A special recognition pin is given to Paul Harris Fellows who make additional gifts of $1,000 to the Foundation. The distinctive gold pin includes a blue stone to represent each $1,000 contribution — from $2,000 to $6,000. Red stone pins signify gifts of $7,000 to $9,000. Paul Harris Fellow Recognition provides a very important incen­tive for the continuing support needed to underwrite the many programs of The Rotary Foundation that build goodwill and understanding in the world.

Happy Cup
Ralph Davis joked about his daughter’s fiancé, but admitted that he likes him.

Harrison made some father-in-law jokes.

Aric was happy that Kat visited the club.

Pastor Fred is happy that Melanie and Chad are getting married. He’ll perform the ceremony.

Mike Torosian is happy that adopt-a-classroom is available as a way individuals and companies can help classroom teachers.

Shirley was happy Richard came to the meeting. She called to our attention that Mark Smith was in the paper because he was voted outstanding Virginia local Jaycee president this year. Good work, Mark!

Joan McLaughlin enjoyed Dr. Murrray’s program. She’s especially happy about Stafford Schools’ special education program. Joan is going to Florida to see her mom and Red Sox spring training.

What Are You Reading?

Ralph Davis recommends Bucket of Blood, The Ragman's War by R. S. Sukle

Here’s Ralph’s review. Since I grew up in a coal mining town myself I want to read this book.

The book” BUCKET OF BLOOD the Ragman’s war” is good reading for anyone interested in American history, the creation of the coalmining union, and the efforts of companies to break and eliminate the worker’s efforts to protect themselves.
R.S. Sukle is the author and she currently resides in Marion Va. The story is based upon actual letters and stories told to her by her family. Her father was an organizer for the United Mine Workers and a communist. Her older brother is a character in the book.

The location of the war is actually in western Pennsylvania in a town named Russellton. This small coal mining town is where the union actually began and the first strike occurred. The book covers the coal companies “coal police/iron police” efforts to the actual intervention of federal troops on behalf of the coal companies

News from Shirley Heim

We all received this email report from Shirley, but just in case you didn’t read it carefully, here it is again. Pay attention.

Basket Bingo
The officers and Interact Sponsor of SHS postponed their fundraiser to the 31st of March. The Greene and Jacoby Families were very close to many at SHS and Mike Miller, the sponsor, felt that in respect to all, another date should be scheduled. We appreciate their caring as a part of our Rotary Family.

Senior Citizens' Proms
The NSHS Students hosted a prom on March 11th in the cafeteria at NSHS. The UMW Rotaractors will be hosting their Senior Citizens' Prom April 1 from 2to 5 pm in the Great Hall at UMW. Please tell those who enjoy having fun to come and have a great time as the students spend a lot of time making sure that these are special events. In addition, without the financial support of the Stafford Rotary these events would not be possible.

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)
We are looking for rising seniors who would like to participate In the RYLA camp at Prince William Forest Park on April 21,22, and 23rd. These are motivated students who will enjoy leadership workshops and what Interact calls serious fun.

Local History Grant
Our club received $ 2000 to purchase local history books for the nursing homes in Planning District 16. With the help of our Interactors we are meeting with the residents and discussing the books with them. We have had many interesting discussions with them. If you want to join us, just tell us a convenient time for you and we will make the arrangements.

Relay For Life- The Fight against Cancer
This wonderful event is scheduled for May 20th at Pratt Park. We are now forming our team. There are many ways you can help. Last year we were one of the top teams raising over $10,000. Our Goal this year is $11,000. Stafford High Interact already has their team.

The theme for the March 15 luncheon at Brooke Point High is “The Ides of March". They are hoping you will enjoy this Italian luncheon and also that some of you will don a toga on Wed. March 15th. Since this World Rotaract Week several Rotaractors will be joining us at BPHS.

District 7610 Leadership Training Meeting -April 8th-Colonial Forge High School The Interactors under the catering service of JLJ (Just like Jesus Caterers. Ask Shirley or Joyce Steele if you don’t understand that name) will be hosting the all-day event.

Olde Forge Community
If you will recall the Rotary program which Theresa gave several months ago, this Stafford community has many needs. Rick Potter and I had been working on a computer lab as late as the Tuesday before the tragedy. The club will continue projects for Olde Forge.

The North Stafford Interact Club has just completed their annual 30 hour famine .I filled my Explorer with much food for the after school clubs meeting at Berea and Hull's on Tuesday and Thursday as well as food for the families. In addtion to all of this food that the Interactors collected from the community, they brought in $1150 to be sent to World Vision as a part of the 30 hour famine.

The Rotary Foundation

Each year, people in the United States spend a portion of their money on snack foods ($18 billion), candy ($24 billion), ice cream ($20 billion), cosmetics ($30 billion), pet products ($31 billion), weight-control products ($33 billion), beer ($45 billion), soft drinks ($60 billion), fast food ($103 billion), and legal gambling ($550 billion). Together, these items total $914 billion in spending.*
According to UNICEF and the World Bank, it would take about $28 billion a year to end malnutrition, immunize all children against preventable diseases, and end illiteracy across the globe.

“The Rotary Foundation’s literacy projects empower children to learn and rise up from poverty,” Trustee Chair Frank Devlyn noted in his November 2005 Rotary International Web
site message. “Our clean water projects help prevent children in poor villages from dying of water-borne diseases. Our Ambassadorial Scholarship and Rotary World Peace Fellowship programs enlighten the next generation of world leaders to challenge the ravages of war and build bridges of peace and hope that link us all.”
These programs are all made possible by our contributions to the Foundation. In 2004-05, the Foundation spent $46.1 million on humanitarian grants projects, $27.8 million on educational programs, and $36.1 million on polio eradication efforts, for a total of $110 million.

Would you be willing to give the Foundation the equivalent of a container of ice cream, a six-pack of beer, or a hamburger every week to support its work? For example, just a $100 contribution would help provide textbooks for an elementary school in Zambia, deworming tablets for more than 100 children in the Philippines, or three cataract surgeries in India. In whatever country you live, think about your priorities, and let’s support the Foundation’s
efforts to make a difference in the lives of people in need around the world by giving up just a few of the many things that we all take for granted.

Ray McKemie, District 6900 (Georgia, USA)
Annual Giving Subcommittee chair, contributed to this article.
* Sources: Various trade, news, and public
advocacy organizations

Other Dates to Remember

March 13-18, 2006 – World Rotaract Week

March 15—St. Patrick’s Day Party

Saturday, March 18 – 8 p.m. -Family of Rotary Event
An Evening with the Fairfax Symphony -Concert Hall, George Mason University
Parking: Parking Lot/ Street / Garage (Next To Concert Hall)
Price: $25.00 Make checks payable to Fairfax Symphony and send to Gwen Cody AG Carol Foley.

March 25– Rotary Leadership Institute

April Is Magazine Month

April 8, 2006 – Club leadership Training Seminar
April 27- 30, 2006 District Conference Holiday Inn - Fredericksburg, VA

June Is- Rotary Fellowships Month
June 11-14, 2006- Rotary International Annual Convention, Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark
June 25 District Awards Banquet

Upcoming Programs
March 15 Meeting at Brooke Point High SchoolWorld Rotaract Week-UMW

March 22 Blue - Gray Brewing Company Field Trip

March 29 Eric Weidner, Classification talk

Set-Up and Take Down Assignments
March 29
Carlos Melendez, Elaine Farmer, Joan McLaughlin, Nicolette Ward, Keith Dudley


Please take your assigned turn. If you can’t make the meeting that day, arrange for a substitute.

Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions

The Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions was adopted by the Rotary International Council on Legislation in 1989 to provide more specific guidelines for the high ethical standards called for in the Object of Rotary:
As a Rotarian engaged in a business or profession, I am expected to:
¨ Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve;
¨ Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of the ethical codes of my vocation, to the laws of my country, and to the moral standards of my community;
¨ Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards in my chosen vocation;
¨ Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors, customers, the public, and all those with whom I have a business or professional relationship;
¨ Recognize the honor and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society;
¨ Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community;
¨ Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations to the public concerning my business or profession;
¨ Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship.

Meeting Makeups Schedules
MONDAY: Culpeper, Holiday Inn, 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY: Orange, 7:30 A.M. Cape Porpoise Lobster House at 182 Byrd Street (Business Route 20)
WEDNESDAY: Rappahannock-Fredericksburg,
Fredericksburg Baptist Church, 7:30 a.m.
THURSDAY: Caroline County, Aunt Sara’s, 7:30 a.m
Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg Country Club, 6:30 p.m.
Warrenton, Fauquier Springs Country Club, noon
Woodbridge, Westminster Retirement Community, 12:15 p.m.
ANYTIME: E-Club, On-line: http://www.rotaryeclubone.org/
http://www.rotaryeclubny1.com/
http://www.rotaryeclubsouthwest.org/

Meeting of the Rotary Club of Stafford
February 22, 2006

Guests:
AG Carol Foley presided and welcomed guests: Carole Green’s guests were daughters Tabitha and Meaghan and granddaughter Cleo. Visiting Rotarians were John Atkins and Ron West from the Rappahannock Rotary and Jeff Moore from the Mechanicsville Rotary.

Quiz:
Vicki Lewis had the correct answer.

Program:
The speaker was Linda White, assistant editorial page editor of The Free Lance Star and novelist. Linda’s husband Larry spoke to us about the FBI several weeks ago. Linda joked about some readers complaining that the Free Lance Star is too liberal while other readers complain that the newspaper is much too conservative. They must be hitting just about the right balance!
Her first published novel is named after Bloody Point lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay. After reflecting a bit on the characters of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln, Linda talked about the long involved process of getting a novel published.
Her first novel was completed in 1993. Rejections from publishers became a common, but depressing event in her life. Linda spoke about her reliance on faith to get through this period.
When her second child began college Linda went to work for the paper, continuing to write her fiction. She laughed when she told us that the child who was entering kindergarten when began writing fiction was in college by the time her first novel was finally published.
She and her husband both love sailing, so she incorporated that into the story. Rick Potter’s boat is a featured setting in the novel because it looked perfect for an action scene.

The meeting concluded with the Four Way Test.

Announcements


The Group Study Exchange team will be in our area May 2 through May 5. This is the week after the district conference.

Remember. The district conference will be held in Fredericksburg this year. Register now.

Are You Reading the Bulletin?

What clubs constitute AG Carol Foley’s area?


World Rotaract Week
Every year, World Rotaract Week is designated to honor the chartering of the first club in North Carolina, USA, on 13 March 1968.

To commemorate Rotaract's anniversary in March, partner with your sponsoring Rotary club and attend each other's meetings, complete a service project together, and encourage a nearby Rotary club to sponsor a new Rotaract club in their area.

Participating clubs can receive special recognition from Rotary International if activities are submitted to RI staff by 15 April.

New Member Corner
Paul Harris Fellows

Undoubtedly, the most important step to promote voluntary giving to The Rotary Foundation occurred in 1957, when the idea of Paul Harris Fellow Recognition was first proposed. Although the concept of making US$1,000 gifts to the Foundation was slow in developing, by the early 1 970s it began to gain popularity. The distinctive Paul Harris Fellow medallion, lapel pin, and attractive certificate have become highly respected symbols of a substantial financial commitment to The Rotary Foundation by Rotarians and friends around the world. By 2002, some 813,000 Paul Harris Fellows had been added to the rolls of The Rotary Foundation.

The companion to the Paul Harris Fellow is the Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member, which is the recognition presented to an individual who has given, or in whose honor a gift is made, a contribution of $100, with the stated intention of making additional contributions until $1,000 is reached. At that time, the Sustaining Member becomes a Paul Harris Fellow.

A special recognition pin is given to Paul Harris Fellows who make additional gifts of $1,000 to the Foundation. The distinctive gold pin includes a blue stone to represent each $1,000 contribution — from $2,000 to $6,000. Red stone pins signify gifts of $7,000 to $9,000. Paul Harris Fellow Recognition provides a very important incen¬tive for the continuing support needed to underwrite the many programs of The Rotary Foundation that build goodwill and understanding in the world.


What Are You Reading?

Rusty Cowper recommends reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

Brown's thriller is an exhaustively researched page-turner about secret religious societies, ancient cover-ups and savage vengeance. The action kicks off in modern-day Paris with the murder of the Louvre's chief curator, whose body is found laid out in symbolic repose at the foot of the Mona Lisa. Seizing control of the case are Sophie Neveu, a lovely French police cryptologist, and Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, reprising his role from Brown's last book. The two find several puzzling codes at the murder scene, all of which form a treasure map to the fabled Holy Grail. As their search moves from France to England, Neveu and Langdon are confounded by two mysterious groups-the legendary Priory of Sion, a nearly 1,000-year-old secret society whose members have included Botticelli and Isaac Newton, and the conservative Catholic organization Opus Dei. Both have their own reasons for wanting to ensure that the Grail isn't found. Brown has assembled a whopper of a plot that will please both conspiracy buffs and thriller addicts.

Next Year March Will Be Literacy Month

July is currently designated as Literacy Month on the Rotary calendar. Noting that July is not the best month for literacy-related events and projects, since it is the first month of the Rotary year and northern hemisphere schools are on vacation at that time, the Board agreed to move Literacy Month to March starting in 2006-07 (March 2007).


For many years, Rotarians have been active in efforts to reduce illiteracy, from building schools and paying salaries of teachers to serving as tutors to collecting and distributing books and audiovisual materials to libraries. Rotarians are working with governments to create large-scale replicable literacy projects in the developing world. Considerable progress has been made in recent decades in reducing illiteracy; yet, close to a billion people lack the most basic literacy and numeracy skills. Millions more are functionally illiterate, lacking the skills necessary to meet the demands of everyday life

Other Dates to Remember
March 10-11 Virginia PETS

March 13-18, 2006 – World Rotaract Week

Saturday, March 18 – 8 p.m. -Family of Rotary Event
An Evening with the Fairfax Symphony -Concert Hall, George Mason University
Parking: Parking Lot/ Street / Garage (Next To Concert Hall)
Price: $25.00 Make checks payable to Fairfax Symphony and send to Gwen Cody AG Carol Foley.

March 25– Rotary Leadership Institute

April Is Magazine Month

April 8, 2006 – Club leadership Training Seminar
April 27- 30, 2006 District Conference Holiday Inn - Fredericksburg, VA

June Is- Rotary Fellowships Month
June 11-14, 2006- Rotary International Annual Convention, Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark
June 25 District Awards Banquet

Upcoming Programs

March 8 Dr. Jean Murray, Stafford Schools Superintendent
March 15 Meeting at Brooke Point High SchoolWorld Rotaract Week-UMW

March 22 Blue - Gray Brewing Company Field Trip

March 29 Eric Weidner, Classification talk

Set-Up and Take Down Assignments
March 29
Carlos Melendez, Elaine Farmer, Joan McLaughlin, Nicolette Ward, Keith Dudley

Please take your assigned turn. If you can’t make the meeting that day, arrange for a substitute.
Meeting Makeups Schedules
MONDAY: Culpeper, Holiday Inn, 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY: Orange, 7:30 A.M. Cape Porpoise Lobster House at 182 Byrd Street (Business Route 20)
WEDNESDAY: Rappahannock-Fredericksburg,
Fredericksburg Baptist Church, 7:30 a.m.
THURSDAY: Caroline County, Aunt Sara’s, 7:30 a.m
Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg Country Club, 6:30 p.m.
Warrenton, Fauquier Springs Country Club, noon
Woodbridge, Westminster Retirement Community, 12:15 p.m.
ANYTIME: E-Club, On-line:
http://www.rotaryeclubone.org/
http://www.rotaryeclubny1.com
http://www.rotaryeclubsouthwest.org
http://www.rotaryeclub3310.org/index.asp
http://www.rotary-eclubd3450.org/en/