Gallipolitan
November 18th, 2008The Gallipolis Rotary Club met for it’s regular meeting at the Holzer Clinic Doctors’ Dining Room, promptly at 7:15 am with President Deb Rhodes presiding. Our guests this morning included Dr. Grae Schuster and Dr. Matthew Rosenberg. The invocation 
was given by Matt Willis. Rotarian and VP Bonnie McFarland turned in another ’stuffed’ Rotary coin box to benefit the Rotary Foundation. This one was carefully taped shut to prevent it from exploding all over and Bonnie is hoping to regain her status for the most collected with a single box. We’ll all find out next week!
Annual Christmas Ornament Exchange–In the first order of business President Deb announced our annual Christmas dinner/ornament exchange will be held December 16th, 6:30 pm, at the Holiday Inn. This tradition started a few years back has become a seasonal favorite of members and is a chance to enjoy a relaxed evening with your invited spouse or guest. There will be a sign-up sheet circulating and we hope to everyone there. Be sure to mark your calendars!
Balloting–It’s that time again, and our club voted for leadership for Rotary year 2009-2010. Five candidates were chosen to fill these positions and the individual who tallies up the most votes becomes our next President-Elect and will serve as VP with President Bonnie McFarland in 2009-2010 and then takes over in 2010-2011. It seems a long time from now, but it will be here before you realize!
Fellowship–Lou Ellen Werry led club fellowship for the meeting acknowledging that our guest, Matthew Rosenberg, is an excellent ballroom dancer! Rotarian Jeff Lanham celebrates a birthday this week, so for a small donation a quartet was assembled including Kevin Petrie, Margaret Evans, Bob Hood, and Greg Sojka. Great job, Rotarians 
We had at least one Happy Buck, as Chuck Clark was able to brag about a new Grandson, Jackson David, born to daughter, Dr. Meredith Workman of Oklahoma City! Baby and Mom are doing great and are now home. Dr. Workman was working a 24 hour trauma shift the OU Medical Sciences Center Hospital when the event began!
Split-The-Pot–Dan Whiteley ran STP for the meeting and our lucky ticket holder was Bonnie McFarland who won the $14 small pot. Bonnie missed the big one of $120 by drawing the four of diamonds. The Foundation Fine was assessed against anyone who did NOT have to scrape your windshield this morning. Good one, Bonnie!
Program–PDG Mel Simon introduced Gallipolis Rotarian Resty Alonzo to speak about his recent experiences in Germany. Resty explained how he arrived in this country in 1957 via boat to complete his medical residency. He and Giesela met up in Hartford, CT and were married some two years later as Resty began in private practice in Bowling Green, Ohio. He joined Holzer Clinic in 1973, and recently retired from the practice of Urology. He and Giesela enjoy traveling, particularly to Bavaria. Resty shared some excellent pictures of Bavaria via DVD which showed the interesting variety of scenery in Germany.
Bavaria is the largest state in Germany and is certainly one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Bavaria is bordered by the Czech Republic on the east, by Austria on the southeast and south, by Baden-Württemberg on the west, by Hesse on the northwest, and by Thuringia and Saxony on the north. Industry produces more than half of the state’s gross output and is centered in Munich, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Hof, Ingolstadt, Erlangen, and Schweinfurt. Leading industries are electronics, computers, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, clothing, and foodstuffs. Bavarian beer is world famous. Toys and musical instruments are made by artisans. Salt, graphite, iron ore, and lignite are the chief mineral resources.
The scenic beauties and the picturesque local customs and costumes of the Bavarian Alps attract many tourists. Among the resorts are Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden, and the spas Bad Kissingen and Bad Reichenhall. Bayreuth is a cultural center, and Augsburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Würzburg are historic and artistic centers.
Resty shared a DVD movie of the Lindau area of Bavaria, a destination he often travels to on vacation. The town of Lindau dates back to the 9th century and is nestled on Lake Constance and captures all the picturesque qualities of the Bavarian alps. After looking at these pictures, we are all wanting to go to Bavaria! Thanks for sharing, Resty.
last Thursday and Gallipolis Rotarians were in all the elementary schools in the county. Greg Sojka visited Rio Grande Elementary, Jim Morrison and Debbie Saunders visited Washington, Chuck Clark visited Southwestern, Dan and Edna Whitely visited Vinton, Cleeland Willis visited Green, Bonnie McFarland and President Deb visited Hannan Trace, Denise Shockley and Emily Dailey visited Addaville, and Bob Hood visited Ohio Valley Christian. Matt Willis mentioned how Rotarians need to be ‘on your game’ as these kids are really sharp!