Gallipolitan
Bonnie McFarland welcomed Rotarians and guests to the regular meeting of the Gallipolis Rotary Club. Melissa Kimmel attended this meeting as a guest. Matt Willis provided the invocation for the day. Our guest speaker for the meeting was Rotarian, Henny Evans, President of the Gallia County Genealogical Society, OGS Chapter.
Rotary Foundation Coin Box – Margaret Evans turned in a very heavy coin box. We are looking forward to knowing how much Margaret was able to contribute to the endowment fund at next week’s meeting.
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. Mark your calendars for Alvera Robinson’s famous spaghetti sauce!
Friends of India – Matt Willis passed around a brochure from the Athens Rotary Club about Indo-American Friendship Day. This event will take place on June 7, 2009.
Fellowship – Lou Ann Werry provided some stories about how interesting it is to find out about family history. She also informed us that June is Fellowship month and it is also the month of weddings. On the topic of weddings, Lou Ann also told the club the “Little Brown Church” story.
Relay for Life – Jenny Evans reminded the club that the Relay for Life event will take place this Friday and Saturday. Our tent position is on the walkway between the bandstand and river. There are still times that need volunteer walkers. The Relay also needs volunteers for valet, car washing, and booths.
Program – Jenny Evans presented her mother-in-law and President of the Gallia County Genealogical Society, OGS Chapter, Henny Evans. The Gallia County Genealogical Society, OGS Chapter was founded in 1983 and has over 800 members. The main purpose of the society is to help people trace their roots back to Gallia County. It is an all volunteer organization and is located at 57 Court Street in Gallipolis. The Society is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and also by appointment.
Henny informed the club that the Society has published many books on the history of the county. Also, there are over 500 cemeteries across the county and most of the gravestones have been documented. The Society has associated Lineage Societies such as the First Families of Gallia County, Civil War Families of Gallia County, and the Settlers and Builders of Gallia County.
The Society has just released a new book entitled, “Year by Year: The Writings of P.T. Wall Volume 1”. P.T. Wall was a journalist and newspaper editor for many years. This project took over 3 years to complete and there are over 7500 names in the book. The Society also has published a Pictorial History of Gallipolis with over 500 pictures from the county’s past.
Henny encouraged the club to visit the Genealogical Society’s website, there are over 500 pictures of the county online.
Split the Pot – Jim Morrison ran STP for this week’s meeting. There was $6 in the small pot and $69 in the large pot. Rotarian Resty Alfonso won the small pot and donated it the endowment fund. Thank you, Rusty! The fine for this week was anyone that was not in Las Vegas 2 weeks ago had to pay!
Bonnie McFarland adjourned the meeting.
Attendance: Dan Whiteley, Shirley Doss, Mel Simon, Resty Alfonso, Gordan Amsbary, Kurt Dailey, Kevin Petrie, Cleeland Wilis, Jim Morrison, Shawn Siders, Jodie Anderson, James Wellington, David Nadler, Matt Willis, Paul Koch, Emily Dailey, Margaret Evans, Jenny Evans, Bonnie McFarland, Marlin Rose
Note: Jodie Anderson took minutes this week and as you can see, these minutes are not as witty as if Chuck had written them…we miss you, Chuck!