Rep. Clyde Evans Addresses Gallipolis Rotary
Ohio House Representative and Rotarian Clyde Evans spoke to Gallipolis Rotary and presented his Ohio legislative update to our club. It is not always convenient for Clyde to attend meetings and attend to his duties at the Statehouse and we are grateful for his remarks today.
President Deb Rhodes welcomed our guests to the meeting today including Assistant District Governor Lee Hubbard, Melissa Kimmel who will be joining our ranks soon, and our speaker, Clyde Evans.
Rotary Foundation Fundraiser—Chairperson Shirley Doss reminded members the club’s fundraising event for Rotary Foundation will be a Spaghetti Dinner to be held June 13th at the Gallia Senior Center from 5-7 PM. President Deb has spoken of this event several times as our club’s action project to benefit the Foundation’s efforts to raise the match for the Gates Foundation funding for Polio Plus. Rather than just writing a check, RI President, DK Lee, emphasized each club hold a fundraiser and raise the awareness in our community to support Rotary’s Polio Plus program. Alvira Robinson will be on hand to provide the ‘secret sauce’ and direct the sauce chefs who will be helping. Mark your calendars for this fun evening.
Rotary Mile—It’s not too early to start planning for the first project of the new Rotary year, our club’s Rotary Mile. Jim Morrison announced this year’s youth run just before the annual parade will be held on Friday evening, July 3rd. Margaret Evans has ordered the T-shirts and trophies for this event. Jim distributed copies of the History of the Rotary Mile, reprinted from a Tribune article written by James Sands that appears on our web site. We need a good number of Rotarians to help at the Shake Shoppe with registration and an equal number down at the finish line to organize the competitors and hold them for trophies and photographs. Shirley Doss volunteered her SUV to follow the runners and pick up any stragglers. Jim agreed that would be a great idea because in year’s past either the Coroner or a Funeral Director picked up these folks!
Assistant District Governor Lee Hubbard spoke to our club about the 
winding down of his four year term in this District 6690 post. ADG Lee commended Gallipolis Rotary for the high degree of service provided to our community. Bragging on us a bit, Lee remarked that Gallipolis Rotary is the strongest of the four clubs in sustained service to our county and that it is done with style and fun! Lee is turning over the ADG job to our own Matt Willis who will start his term July 1st. President Deb presented Lee with a certificate from Gallipolis Rotary for the donation of a special book in be donated in his honor to an area elementary school.
2009-2010 Rotary Banner—In his first official task, soon-to-be-ADG 
Matt Willis presented in-coming President Bonnie McFarland with the 2009-2010 Rotary Theme banner, ‘The Future of Rotary Is In Your Hands.’ We will be displaying this banner weekly on the door to the dining room.
Incoming VP/President-Elect—President Deb Rhodes announced that Lou Ellen Werry has accepted the position of VP/President-Elect for Rotary year 2009-2010. Lou Ellen will be working closely with President Bonnie McFarland in making next year a great Rotary year for Gallipolis Rotary. Congratulations, Lou Ellen!
Split-The-Pot—Rotarian Jim Morrison ran STP for the club meeting and asked Melissa Kimmel to draw the winning ticket for the small pot of $6.00, which was held by Bonnie McFarland! Not new to this, Bonnie carefully drew a card for the large pot of $65.00, missing it narrowly by drawing the ten of diamonds. Bonnie named the Foundation Fine against anyone who did not attend yesterday’s Memorial Day Parade.
Fellowship—Lou Ellen Werry ran club fellowship for the meeting today and announced we had two birthdays to celebrate today—Bonnie McFarland and Matt Willis. The pair decided to name a special quartet for the event consisting of ADG Lee Hubbard, Gordon Amsbary, Margaret Evans, and Chuck Clark to croon out Happy Birthday! Lou Ellen pointed out several notable birthdays on this day. One little known fact in Rotary lore is Donald Duck is an honorary Rotarian of the Palm Springs, California Rotary Club. Lou also urged club members to think of a good ‘Clean Water’ project for our club to do next year. There were a number of Happy Bucks purchased by PDG Mel Simon, Matt Willis, and Chuck Clark.
Program—Our speaker, Ohio Representative Clyde Evans, was introduced by Municipal Court Judge, Rotarian, and daughter, Margaret Evans. Clyde spoke briefly about several notable Gallipolitans including Ellis Hamrick of Rio Grande, who became the model for the statue of the West Virginia Mountaineer. Rep Evans spoke about several of the important budget issues facing Ohio. Ohio legislators have been attempting to work out the details of a compromise budget to solve the mandated school funding issue. It turns out the group will have to start over and time is running out.
Budget matters are never easy issues to work out and politics and special interests are there to divert the limited funding. Any compromise in this budget may actually provide LESS state funding for schools than in years past. It is probably safe to say there will be cuts and more fees in Ohio’s future.
A question and answer period followed our speaker’s remarks and club members asked a number of interesting and pointed questions of our speaker. President Deb presented Clyde with a certificate from our club for a book which will be donated to one of our area elementary schools in his honor.
Reminder—Relay For Life–Jenny Evans is our club’s chair person for this year’s Cancer Society Relay For Life, June 5th. There will be 10-12 slots for walkers and the sign-up sheet was circulated for the first time. If you are going to buy memorial luminaries be sure to call Jenny so our club can get the credit towards our goal! Mark your calendars for June 5th!