Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Club July 23rd Meeting Report -
The meeting was called to order by President Eddie Robinson and the invocation given by Patty Cavanaugh. Fred Splittsberger, a frequent visitor from the St. Andrews Rotary Club was welcomed back. It was announced that past President Beetle Baily was still in the hospital but is doing well and expects to be out of the hospital and back with us by next week.
Candidates for Rotary Scholarships were acknowledged and Lyman Whitehead shared some humor with us before our speaker for the day was introduced.
The morning's speaker was Hon. James E. Smith Jr. who is in the SC House of Representatives from District 72. Mr Smith is also a Captain in the SC Army National Guard, recently returned from a year of active duty in Afghanistan. He shared with us his experiences in Afghanistan and offered many insights into the problems being experienced in that part of the world. He displayed a map of Afghanistan, specifically Zabul Province where most of the conflict is concentrated owing to the actions of the Taliban combatants. Kumar Province is also the site of Taliban attacks on both civilian and military targets. No conflicts exist in much of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is largely primitive with poor roads and lacking in many basics such as schools, wells and many of the basic needs of life. The U.S. Military is trying to address these matters in constructive ways by building schools, establishing wells for potable water and building trusting relationships to counter the destructive influence of the Taliban.
Working with the people requires interpreters which creates a problem because the enterpreters become targets for beheading by Taliban groups. Complicating matters is the illegal drug trade and widespread corruption among influential Afghans. Marijuana and opium can be legally grown in most of the country and is a widespread source of corruption and lawlessness.
U.S. Military operations in Afghanistan are plagued with problems such as improvised explosive devices "ied's" and rifle propelled grenades "rpg's". The so-called MRAPS, vehicles fitted to be non-vulnerable to ied's and rpg's are of limited value because so much of the terrain is extremely rough lending itself to attacks by the ied's and rpg's.
Mr. Smith makes a strong case for more troops to deal with the problems in Afghanistan and concentrating on things such as building schools, drilling wells and building mutually beneficial relationships with the people.
Respectfully submitted
Bill Brooks
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
July 16, 2008
Minutes of Lake Murray Irmo Rotary Club
07/16/2008
Reporter: Kevin Adams
After the invocation, John Hanson was called upon to introduce our guest from the West Metro Rotary Club, Ryan Hubbard. Lyn Richards was our pinch hitter for Health and Happiness. Jeff Baldwin was recognized for his 65th birthday while Barry Johns and his wife celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary and Larry Stohs and his wife celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. John Adair was then called upon to announce the classification speaker and invocation schedules for the remainder of the year. Next, Rod Funderburk advised that our Ambassadorial Scholar, Samantha Martin, has a blogspot for her journey to Northern Ireland: http://peaceandpaint.blogspot.com . Her email address is samathamartin08@gmail.com .
Being the impressive club that we are, we (okay a mere few of us) impressed Lyn Campbell by successfully answering his Rotarian magazine questions. It was most fortuitous “we” scored well since our District Governor, Anne Walker, and Assistant District Governor, George McConnell, were present. A second occasion to impress Ms. Walker and Mr. McConnell was Patty Cavanaugh’s induction of Gaye Campbell, Lynn Campbell’s wife, as a Paul Harris Fellow.
President Eddie Robinson put a twist on the Happy Dollar theme by creating a challenge between two former club presidents (one of which who was not present) to see who could raise the most Happy Dollars. President Eddie started things off well with a $2 award to the Absentee Former President to get him started off on the right foot. Joel Collins, the other former club president in the challenge, returned fire with a $20 Happy Dollar. When all the dust has settled, Former President Joel had $124 to Absentee Former President $4. It was the first time more than $100 had been raised in Happy Dollars in a single day!
Assistant District Governor George McConnell introduced our speaker, District Governor Anne Walker. Ms. Walker is no stranger to Rotary. She has been a Rotarian since 1988 and is a former president of the Columbia Club.
Ms. Walker started by asking how many of those present were in sales. Several folks raised their hands. She then asked the remainder of those present to raise their hands. She explained why everyone had their hands up: we are all in sales. Every time we go somewhere, we sell our personality, we sell our company with those whom we talk business, we sell our faith, etc. We also sell Rotary.
Every successful business has one thing in common: a plan. To grow Rotary membership, we must also have a plan. So Anne suggested ROTARY:
Reach out to those we come in contact. Share Rotary.
Opportunities are out there for us to advance Rotary. Seize those opportunities.
Take people by the hand. Lead them around Rotary meetings.
Ask people to come to Rotary. 90% of Rotarians have never asked anyone to a meeting.
Retention. We must retain members if we are to grow.
You need to be an advocate of Rotary if you want our club to be a great club.
She then distributed a 3X5 index card and asked everyone to write a name of a potential Rotarian on it. Anne then insisted we fold the card twice and keep it in our pocket until we ask that person to a meeting.
In the last five years, District 7770 has been recognized twice as having the largest per capita giving of all the clubs in Rotary International. In addition to repeated that feat, this year Anne would also like to add 2,000 members to our present 4500 members.
Anne then cited RI President Dong Kum Lee’s theme of “Make Dreams Real.” His initiatives include curtailing child mortality, improving literacy and providing safe drinking water in the poorest regions of the world. To reach for those initiatives, Anne reminded us of opportunities through Rotary Foundation. There is the Paul Harris Society for those who contribute $1,000 or more per year to the Foundation. Major Donors are those who contribute $10,000 or more to the Foundation. Then there is the Bequest Society for those who set aside $10,000 for the Foundation in their will. Benefactors are those who set aside at least $1,000 in their will for the benefit of the Foundation. While in Hilton Head on March 25, 2009, International President Dong Kum Lee will present pins to Major Donors and Bequest Society members. In Sumter on September 18, there will be a Rotary Foundation Seminar for all those who would like to attend.
The District Conference will be held in Columbia from March 20-22, 2009 (Friday through Sunday) at the Hampton Inn and Convention Center in the Vista. The Conference will kick off with a luncheon on Friday who speaker is an outstanding humorist. Anne promises it will be nothing more than pure entertainment and she encouraged our club to move our normal meeting date that week to Friday. The remainder of the weekend is filled with activities and outstanding speakers and will conclude Sunday morning with a worship service.
Finally, to help make wonderful things happen in our club, Anne presented Eddie with an illuminated magic wand to waive over the club. Somehow I have a feeling we will be seeing more of that!
Lastly, Eddie reminded Board members of a meeting Friday morning at 7:30 and advised us Former President Beetle Bailey is doing well in rehab. Being no further business, Eddie adjourned the meeting.
07/16/2008
Reporter: Kevin Adams
After the invocation, John Hanson was called upon to introduce our guest from the West Metro Rotary Club, Ryan Hubbard. Lyn Richards was our pinch hitter for Health and Happiness. Jeff Baldwin was recognized for his 65th birthday while Barry Johns and his wife celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary and Larry Stohs and his wife celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. John Adair was then called upon to announce the classification speaker and invocation schedules for the remainder of the year. Next, Rod Funderburk advised that our Ambassadorial Scholar, Samantha Martin, has a blogspot for her journey to Northern Ireland: http://peaceandpaint.blogspot.com . Her email address is samathamartin08@gmail.com .
Being the impressive club that we are, we (okay a mere few of us) impressed Lyn Campbell by successfully answering his Rotarian magazine questions. It was most fortuitous “we” scored well since our District Governor, Anne Walker, and Assistant District Governor, George McConnell, were present. A second occasion to impress Ms. Walker and Mr. McConnell was Patty Cavanaugh’s induction of Gaye Campbell, Lynn Campbell’s wife, as a Paul Harris Fellow.
President Eddie Robinson put a twist on the Happy Dollar theme by creating a challenge between two former club presidents (one of which who was not present) to see who could raise the most Happy Dollars. President Eddie started things off well with a $2 award to the Absentee Former President to get him started off on the right foot. Joel Collins, the other former club president in the challenge, returned fire with a $20 Happy Dollar. When all the dust has settled, Former President Joel had $124 to Absentee Former President $4. It was the first time more than $100 had been raised in Happy Dollars in a single day!
Assistant District Governor George McConnell introduced our speaker, District Governor Anne Walker. Ms. Walker is no stranger to Rotary. She has been a Rotarian since 1988 and is a former president of the Columbia Club.
Ms. Walker started by asking how many of those present were in sales. Several folks raised their hands. She then asked the remainder of those present to raise their hands. She explained why everyone had their hands up: we are all in sales. Every time we go somewhere, we sell our personality, we sell our company with those whom we talk business, we sell our faith, etc. We also sell Rotary.
Every successful business has one thing in common: a plan. To grow Rotary membership, we must also have a plan. So Anne suggested ROTARY:
Reach out to those we come in contact. Share Rotary.
Opportunities are out there for us to advance Rotary. Seize those opportunities.
Take people by the hand. Lead them around Rotary meetings.
Ask people to come to Rotary. 90% of Rotarians have never asked anyone to a meeting.
Retention. We must retain members if we are to grow.
You need to be an advocate of Rotary if you want our club to be a great club.
She then distributed a 3X5 index card and asked everyone to write a name of a potential Rotarian on it. Anne then insisted we fold the card twice and keep it in our pocket until we ask that person to a meeting.
In the last five years, District 7770 has been recognized twice as having the largest per capita giving of all the clubs in Rotary International. In addition to repeated that feat, this year Anne would also like to add 2,000 members to our present 4500 members.
Anne then cited RI President Dong Kum Lee’s theme of “Make Dreams Real.” His initiatives include curtailing child mortality, improving literacy and providing safe drinking water in the poorest regions of the world. To reach for those initiatives, Anne reminded us of opportunities through Rotary Foundation. There is the Paul Harris Society for those who contribute $1,000 or more per year to the Foundation. Major Donors are those who contribute $10,000 or more to the Foundation. Then there is the Bequest Society for those who set aside $10,000 for the Foundation in their will. Benefactors are those who set aside at least $1,000 in their will for the benefit of the Foundation. While in Hilton Head on March 25, 2009, International President Dong Kum Lee will present pins to Major Donors and Bequest Society members. In Sumter on September 18, there will be a Rotary Foundation Seminar for all those who would like to attend.
The District Conference will be held in Columbia from March 20-22, 2009 (Friday through Sunday) at the Hampton Inn and Convention Center in the Vista. The Conference will kick off with a luncheon on Friday who speaker is an outstanding humorist. Anne promises it will be nothing more than pure entertainment and she encouraged our club to move our normal meeting date that week to Friday. The remainder of the weekend is filled with activities and outstanding speakers and will conclude Sunday morning with a worship service.
Finally, to help make wonderful things happen in our club, Anne presented Eddie with an illuminated magic wand to waive over the club. Somehow I have a feeling we will be seeing more of that!
Lastly, Eddie reminded Board members of a meeting Friday morning at 7:30 and advised us Former President Beetle Bailey is doing well in rehab. Being no further business, Eddie adjourned the meeting.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
July 9, 2008
July 9th, 2008 Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Meeting
President Eddie Robinson called the July 9th meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance.
Guests in attendance for this meeting included Allen Shumaker, the Hood Family and President Robinson’s Wife Sylvia.
Lyman Whitehead gave us a few stories to show why we should be proud to be an American.
A few announcements were made that included acknowledgement of the SC Jr. Golf Association being awarded the distinction of a Top Jr. Golf Group in the country by Golf Digest Magazine. Past President Beetle Bailey was recognized and wished a speedy recovery from Knee replacement surgery. Carl Manheim was recognized and is said to be recuperating well. An encore appearance By Representative James Smith is scheduled for July 23rd since there was an abundance of interest in his topic last week.
President Elect Ginny Barr introduced today’s guest who is with the SC Department of Education’s PACE Program- Mr. Dick Thompson.
Mr. Thompson explained the Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) to the Rotarians as a program created by Governor Dick Riley in 1984 as part of the Education Improvement Act. PACE is designed as a program for those considering a Career change to earn a Professional Teacher’s Certificate in three years while being employed as a classroom teacher. PACE teachers account for 10%-12% of the approximately 5000 teachers hired in South Carolina each year. The Pace teachers are placed in Critical Needs Subjects i n middle and high schools around the state.
To become a PACE teacher you need to take the Praxis Exam and attend an intensive 10 day training program. For three years you will take classes and attend workshops while you also teach in a classroom under the supervision of a teaching mentor.
Mr. Thompson answered questions on the program that details the Critical Needs Subjects. For additional information you can go to www.scpace.org.
President Robinson thanked Mr Thompson for speaking and presented him with a Rotary pin. Some additional announcements were made to let the Rotarians know that going forward we will have Happy dollars on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday meeting and Classification Speeches on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday meetings. Also the CART fund buckets will be on the tables every Wednesday for your donations.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Rotarian of the Year
Past President, Beetle, presents Rotarian of the Year award to Carey Hite
Past President Beetle made a special presentation for the Rotarian of the year to Dr Carey Hite. Dr Hite has initiated 4 new Rotary members and runs the blog for our club.
July 2nd 2008
Ginny Barr introduces our speakerOur Speaker Representative James Smith
President Eddie (first day as our new President) with our speaker SC Representative James Smith
Reporter Notes 2 July, 2008
President Eddie Robinson called the meeting to order and the JROTC Color Guard from SCDJJ posted the colors.
Mrs. Medway from the Five Points Club and Mr. Stewart from the Columbia Club were recognized as guests.
Member John Wilkins daughter Haley Grace (fourth grader at River Springs Elementary) made a gift to the club of $8.00. This is money she has earned by working a lemonade stand and car wash in her neighborhood.
Past President Beetle made a special presentation for the Rotarian of the year to Dr Cary Hite. Dr Hite has initiated 4 new Rotary members and runs the blog for our club.
President Eddie Robinson introduced the officers for the upcoming year.
John Adair made an announcement for members to sign up for the invocations at meetings.
Lynn Campbell announces he was going to be quizzing the club again on the Rotary magazine but was considerate enough not to start at this meeting.
President-Elect Ginny Barr introduced our speaker The Honorable James E Smith, Jr.
Representative Smith is a native of Columbia. He is a graduate of USC and obtained his law degree in 1995. He is a partner in the law firm of Smith, Ellis, and Stuckey PA, serves in the House of Representatives for District No. 72, and served as a JAG Officer and Infantry Officer in the South Carolina ARNG.
Rep. Smith spoke to our club about his tour in Afghanistan as an embedded tactical trainer. His primary job was to defeat the Taliban forces by developing connections and mentoring local tribesmen in the Jaldak and Qalat region.
He lived and operated with 9 other US soldiers, interpreters and body guards out of a fire base that maintained constant combat operations in his area. He and his fellow soldiers had to be constantly vigilant because the Taliban rewards $80,000 for the assassination of US soldiers.
The Taliban forces numbered about 400 – 500 in the area and lived and worked among the locals so they were difficult to identify. During his tour they were able to eliminate about 120 – 140 Taliban fighters including a Mullah that had been able to evade capture on numerous attempts by our special forces.
Rep James talked about many positive changes taking place. One is that when a unit’s tour is up they are being replaced by other qualified soldiers to continue the past achievements. Rep James said that even though we need a larger presence that the forces there are winning over villagers which in turn reject the Taliban forces. Also, he said the most significant change was that the Afgans understood that there are sacrifices to be made in order to improve the situation for future citizens.
Rep. James told the club about some of the challenges that we still face in the area. One problem he identified is that Afghanistan supplies 90% of the world’s opium. Due to the corruption within the government and the money involved he said it is difficult to control the trade. Also, he said the Taliban is resorting to more aggressive tactics primarily due to the successes made by the military. Another problem he revealed was with Afghanistan’s neighbor Pakistan. He said that due to some cultural divides and historical conflicts it appears as if Pakistan is trying to undermine the new government’s efforts.
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