August 20 2008

Kathryn Barton, Director of the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Juvenile Arbitration Program with Ginny Barr and Chip Lyerly




Rod Funderburk with Courtney Gibson

Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Club Meeting August 20, 2008 Report:

President Eddie Robinson brought the meeting to order, John Adair gave our invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. John Hanson, Sergeant-at-Arms, announced visiting Rotarians David Braught and John Stewart of the Columbia Rotary Club and Fred Medway of the Five Points Club. Jeff Baldwin introduced Bill Kopelman as his guest and Kevin Metz introduced his daughter, Lily, a second grader at River Springs, who he said had been mooching off of him all summer so he was taking her to work today.

Health and Happiness was given by Lyman Whitehead. Congratulations to Johnny and Pat Jeffcoat who are celebrating their 42^nd wedding anniversary.

John Adair told us that Shadow Day will be September 24, 2008. A sign-up sheet was passed for Rotarians to host a student for half a day (no lunch to follow this year).

John announced on August 27, 2008 we will be meeting at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Parrish Hall for breakfast and then a vocational service off-site visit next door to Adair Piano on Lake Murray Boulevard.

President Robinson said that Jack Terrell’s mother has passed and to remember the family in our prayers.

Lynn Campbell gave us a quiz on The Rotarian magazine.

Rod Funderburk gave a Foundation Scholarship update. We had two winners last year. This year, we sponsored three students and all three were winners! Courtney Gibson visited with us today and will be traveling to Ecuador and studying Spanish. Jessica Silvaggio and Emily Stanek are the two other winners:

- Emily Stanek – May 08 graduate of USC with a major in Sociology. She was seeking an academic year Ambassadorial scholarship to Mexico.

- Courtney Gibson – May 08 graduate of USC with a major in Political Science. She was seeking a 3-Cultural month scholarship to study Spanish in Ecuador.

- Jessica Silvaggio – junior at USC majoring in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish. She was seeking a 3-month Cultural scholarship to study Spanish in Spain.

We are looking for scholarship candidates for next year and were asked to be thinking about potential candidates and Foundation giving. We have the opportunity to sponsor two applicants. Lynn Campbell added that since 1964, figures for Rotary Foundation amount to $1.8 billion. Rod thanked his committee (John Wilkins, Emilie Keane, Ginny Barr and Patty Cavanaugh) for helping with the interview process. George Staples praised Rod for the work he does with the Foundation.

We had a very successful giving and sharing of Happy Dollars. Thanks to all who participated! President Robinson reminded us of the CART fund.

Ginny Barr introduced our guest speaker, Kathryn Barton, Director of the 11^th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Juvenile Arbitration Program. Ms. Barton has been Director since 1990 and has been the recipient of many awards for her work in this capacity. She gave a history of Youth Services which became the Arbitration Program in 1983. There are approximately 85 volunteers in the 11^th Circuit. There is a 24 hour mandatory training course for the juveniles. The juveniles are between the ages of 12 to 17, mostly white males, but the program is starting to see a lot of female offenders. Volunteers meet with the juveniles for one hour follow-ups for 90 days. The Arbitration Program has a 90% success rate. However, if they are put at DJJ, there is a 70% chance they will reoffend.

Ms. Barton said there is a “how to say no” program at USC for female offenders. This program involves touring prisons, sheriff’s departments, Midlands Tech (regarding GED programs), Carolina Wildlife, fire departments and nursing homes. It has been found that kids love responsibility. One of the courses teaches team work and requires the kids to write essays about their experiences. She said they have never had a negative essay and the kids find it a learning experience. Volunteers are also taught to recognize gang symbols. Ms. Barton said that gangs are in every school district, in every level of social strata. She said that more drugs are seen in affluent areas.

In summary, Ms. Barton said that it only takes a little bit to change the path of a child.

President Robinson presented Ms. Barton with a speaker’s gift. He announced the meeting would be at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and Adair Piano next week. The meeting was adjourned.

Reporter - Patty Cavanaugh