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Volume 89, Number 21 - November 18, 2003
NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Joint meeting with Kiwanis, who are in charge of program. Speaker: Rev. Joe Wick, retired pastor of First Christian Church in Lafayette and noted humorist.
MEETING FUNCTIONS:
Money Collectors -- DALE MCHENRY - 11:15 to 11:45 a.m., and TED WOLFE - 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; Greeter: PAUL POST
CLUB CONCERNS:
PRESIDENT BETTY SUDDARTH, requested members/spouses to keep the following in their thoughts and prayers: JOHN and EUDORA MC KEE; ED PAGE; FAE SPURLOCK; Marjorie spouse of DICK WALKER; BOB BROCK, Beverly spouse of OSCAR HOPKINS and BUD BAUGH.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- BOB MEYER reminded us to select our time slot and place to ring the Salvation Army Bell on Saturday, December 6th. This can be a family event as spouses, children, and grandchildren are welcome to ring the bell. The sign up sheet is at the back of the room. Check the web site to see the whole sheet.
- A few helpers are still needed to deliver holiday boxes for the YWCA'S service project. If you have a truck and a couple of hours, please sign up on the bulletin board or contact WARREN STEVENSON.
- "As part of the celebration of National Family Week, Purdue Women's Basketball Head Coach Kristy Curry has arranged for Tuesday, Nov. 25 to be Family Night for the home game against University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Family Services, Inc. has free tickets for the 7 pm game. Contact Susan Smith at president@fsilafayette.org or stop in at 731 Main St., Lafayette if you would like some tickets!"
- The Rotary Club of Columbus has received an extension on License Plate sales. Anyone still interested in having one should pick up the form at the back desk. So far $30 has been received, representing the $15 per plate donation that is returned to the member's club.
- President BETTY reported on last Saturday's District Foundation Seminar, which she attended along with BILL HATFIELD and JANE. Rotary International has awarded 37,000 scholarships since 1947. In the fight to eradicate polio, begun 18 years ago, Rotary has provided 500 million to date - second only to the 700 million spent by the U.S. government. The most recent drive raised 111.5 million. Rotary's goal is that every Rotarian give $100 every year to the foundation. That would generate over 125 million a year - twice what is currently generated. 50% of the funds go to the world fund and 50% are returned to the district for matching funds for club projects, GSE funding and ambassadorial scholarships.
- Board Meeting Report from President BETTY: For several months the board, with assistance from the Planning Committee, has been analyzing the board's role and ways to be more effective.
- Currently the board is reviewing director and committee descriptions as well as club policies. An ongoing project will be the development of a written policy and procedure manual in an effort to make it simpler for information to be disseminated.
- It was reported that several members were in arrears with their dues and the board asked the treasurer to request payment by December 1st or the membership will be terminated.
- The Rotary Centennial project to be completed by the spring of 2005 is in the planning stage with a committee of both our club and the Daybreak Club.
FAMILY NEWS:
"I am resigning from Lafayette Rotary. I will be joining the Rotary Club del Sur in Sante Fe. Thanks for all of the wonderful years in Lafayette Rotary. I will be visiting you whenever I am in Lafayette." D. Richard Smith
THANK YOU:
"To the members of Lafayette Rotary Club: My family and I sincerely thank you for your contribution to Central Presbyterian Church in Jim's memory." Nancy Emerson
PROGRAM:
SUSAN SMITH, program chair for November, prefaced her introduction with the explanation that this is part of the celebration of National Family Week. She also mentioned that DICK HOLTZ was honored at a dinner last night as an out going member of the Family Services board. SUSAN introduced Linda Poland (wife of ERNIE who was unable to be at the meeting today and missed a sparkling presentation!), Home Care Coordinator for Family Services. She explained the services offered and discussed the precautions taken when a homemaker is hired and sent to help. Melissa Lake-Spencer, the Long Term Care Ombudsman for Family Services, explained her job as advocate for nursing home residents. She also outlined the rights that are to be respected.
STUDENT GUESTS:
JOHN SANDERSON introduced Carol York from Ivy Tech College. She received a certificate and a travel mug with the four-way test to commemorate her visit with us.
GUESTS:
Mike Kramer, guest of MIKE PIGGOTT; Wanda McKinley, guest of SUSAN SMITH; and Chunki Kwon, Ambassadorial Scholar and guest of GORDON COPPOC.
THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELP WITH MEETING FUNCTIONS:
Money Collectors: DALE McHENRY - 11:15 to 12:15a.m., Greeter: PAUL POST; Invocation: JIM KLUSMAN; Music - BOB VERPLANK with HARLEY FREY at the piano; and JO WADE for help at the back table.
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- JIM KLUSMAN was the speaker at the Community Veteran's Day observance on November 11th. Since most of us were unable to attend the event and JIM was so generous in sharing his text, I'm including it as a continuation of the excellent program we enjoyed at our meeting on that special day.
"In the realm of public events, I can't think of anything more important than to offer a proper Tribute to America's veterans. How can we honor those who've put on a uniform in defense of their country? What can those of us who've worn that uniform say that won't sound self-serving? How can we express the gratitude of a nation in a way that won't be soon forgotten?
"And it's important that we do this. Right now, thousands of our nation's best and brightest are serving in far-off countries, doing things that are unpleasant, uncomfortable, and dangerous. And doing these things for us, not just for themselves or for the people of Iraq, or Afghanistan, or a number of other countries. In Iraq, They're fighting another one of those wars that doesn't have clearly drawn battle lines and easily understood objectives. We need to make certain they and their loved ones know that we acknowledge the sacrifices they're making and greatly appreciate what they're doing. In doing that, we can honor all of our nation's veterans, from the oldest to the youngest.
"During my four years as an Air Force ROTC cadet and my 26 years on active duty I came to know many veterans who were among the finest people I've ever met. I think of Senior Master Sergeant John Machenheimer, who would give you the shirt off his back and who was almost worshipped by the young airmen in our squadron. I think of General Colin Powell, who is one of the brightest people I've ever met, and whose integrity was and is absolutely beyond reproach. I think of Colonel Lee Ellis, who spent six and one-half years of his life as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. And I think of Major Dick Wackerfuss, Captain Timmy Ward, and Lieutenant John Crews, all of whom lost their lives in Vietnam. And, of course, you too can think of veterans whom you want to honor today.
"President Franklin Roosevelt, in his first inaugural address in 1933, said these frequently repeated words: "Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He was correct at the time, of course, because he was talking about the effect that fear could have on a nation that was struggling to recover from an economic depression.
"But this morning I'd like to suggest that in our current times a small dose of fear is a good thing. I believe we need to fear complacency more than fear itself. It was complacency that resulted in the destruction of the World Trade Center; it was complacency that resulted in the devastation at Pearl Harbor; and it was complacency that resulted in the appeasement of Hitler and the subsequent destruction of much of Europe.
"During my tour in Vietnam as a very young pilot, I experienced fear in different ways. Initially, there was a constant, mild fear as I adapted to living in Saigon with the news that the Viet Cong were conducting an assassination campaign in that area aimed at aircrew members. Throughout the year, there were moments of intense fear when a combat mission turned particularly nasty. But after a while I found myself becoming complacent when I learned what was dangerous and what wasn't, and I had to force myself to remain alert and to take precautions.
"Now, at times fear can be less than useful, and for some it can be disruptive. As veterans, we know that our training included a lot of discipline, which is important in controlling fear. But complacency is dangerous, as we've learned once again, and my concern is that our nation will again become complacent, that we will rationalize away the need for vigilance and strength and discipline and action, because these things aren't fun, they don't always feel good, or they require sacrifice.
"We live in a great nation. While it's true that there exist many injustices within our borders, it's also true that millions of people would jump at the opportunity to become citizens of these United States. Our form of government has many flaws, but it has served the test of well over 200 years, and it's way ahead of whatever is in second place. Our economic system has many flaws, but it has elevated the standard of living of more people than any other system in history.
"We remember that the freedoms and comforts we experience today were won at great sacrifice by those who signed their names to the Declaration of Independence and fought in the American Revolution. It's interesting to read that John Adams, returning to the United States from service as a diplomat in Europe just a few years after the Revolution, was concerned about the complacency he saw in the young nation. Alexis de Tocqueville, writing about this country in the 1830s, observed that the voters no longer concerned themselves with the important issues facing America; rather candidates won election to office by flattering the voters, telling the voters what they wanted to hear, or, just plain buying votes.
"One of the most famous American veterans of course was General George Washington. By the end of 1783, when he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the military forces of all the colonies, he had put some ideas in writing that are worth remembering today. Having won victory in the American Revolution, he said the United States have come into existence as a Nation, and "if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own."
"We have to remember that our revolution was about the notion that people should be free to govern themselves, which was not the usual form of government during that time, a time when most people were governed by kings. One of Washington's biographers, Richard Brookhiser, reminds us that the first form of self-government is governing ourselves (individually) - "not through indifference or rigidity, but through respecting our fellows and wanting to play an honorable part in the world."
"So what does this have to do with honoring our veterans? We can honor our veterans by making certain that the things gained through their sacrifice aren't exercised carelessly, aren't misused for personal gain, or aren't given up because more sacrifice is required. We can honor our veterans by wanting to play an honorable part in the world.
"In 1965, I took an oath that began, "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic," and ended, "so help me God."
"All of our veterans have taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution. It's instructive to go back and read that document, which I did recently, to see just what it is that we swore to defend. The first amendment itself is worth examining. It guarantees us freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the freedom to assemble peaceably, among other things. As you study the Constitution, you come to realize how precious a document it is, and you also come to realize just how solemn that oath was that you took, however long ago.
"But along with all those rights given us by the Constitution come responsibilities. It's discouraging to see some people complain about how their rights have been violated when it's clear that they aren't the least concerned with being responsible citizens.
"Today, all of us make many decisions that indicate our willingness to accept responsibility. I'll quickly point out some obvious ones - obeying laws, being trustworthy, seeing to the needs of those who depend on us, acting fairly to our neighbors, keeping our promises, paying our debts.
"All of these seemingly minor things - minor compared to what our veterans are asked to do - are part of the fabric that holds our society and our system of government together. Our constitution is a marvelous document that has enabled us, at tremendous cost, to build and maintain a great nation out of millions of people with different interests. It certainly is worth supporting and defending. And many have done so at great sacrifice - including their lives.
"So every time we accept responsibility, when we obey the law, even though it's inconvenient to do so, when we seek to play an honorable part in the world, we're supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States in our own way. And, we're honoring those men and women whose lives are, and have been, on the line, supporting and defending that same Constitution.
"Let's continue to honor our veterans in this way.
"And let's do it - every day of our lives."
COMMITTEES FOR 2003-2004
Click on the above link to see those who work to make our Club great.
PRESIDENT BETTY'S
WISDOM Keeping with our military leanings this month:
Dead ahead, through the pitch-black night, the captain sees a light on a collision course with his ship. He sends a signal, "Change your course ten degrees east. "Change your course ten degrees west" comes the reply. The Captain responds, "I'm a United States Navy Captain! Change your course, sir!"
"I'm a seaman second class", the next message read. "Change your course, sir."
The Captain is furious. "I'm a battleship! I'm not changing course!"
"I'm a lighthouse. Your call."
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