PITTSFIELD  ROTARY CLUB  District 6460  March 7,2007

Visiting Rotarian:  Joe Cook, Louisiana, MO

Birthday’s in March:   Johnson Stilwell, Dan Long and Debbie Dugan.. (she didn’t say how old…)

Make-ups:  Chuck had a envelope FULL from Eldon Atwood, out in California….

Student Guests:  Spencer Heaton, son of Peter and Paula, does everything at school in Band and in Math.  He also mows yards and works at Eastside Gardens.  Plans on attending University of Iowa, majoring in Engineering.

Ashley Jones, daughter of Allen.  She is on the Student Council, plays softball, works at Web Design, has a hobby….drawing.  Will atten Western Illinois University in Graphic Design

PDG Eric Dolbeare gave some really good news on the grant for Casa Hogan in Mexico… The grant has been funded.   He is planning on taking a working group down to Mexico to do more work on the Casa… probably about the 16 June…… Want to go along and have a REAL experience of helping others have a better life…check with Eric….

Reality Store   200+ students arrived and went through the experience of learning what things MIGHT be like in their future, and what choices they make can effect their future and potential lifestyles.

The students gave feed back, which Shirley Johnston will share with us.  

BUT, only 19 of our 53 Rotarians signed up to assist with this Rotary project…is that a proper input for a very good, proven program?????????

WE  too, did learn a lot….  Too many, (our observation) could not utilize simple math skills without the assistance of a calculator…  (Had  more than several have to use the calculator to subtract 100 from a larger figure….)

Program: Max Middendorf introduced Sue Gleckler who spoke to us on Cancer, and the ‘Relay for Life’ that will take place on June 8 &9, here in Pittsfield, to raise money to assist in ridding our lives from this disease….

One out of three of us will contract some form of cancer during our lives.

American Cancer Society assists in maintaining ‘quality of life’, while on the ‘cancer journey’, by assisting with companionship by cancer survivors, providing transportation to treatment (with volunteers doing the actual transportation)….

SUPPORT ----when referred by the medical provider…The patient is paired up with a cancer survivor who is specially trained   (more on ‘Reach to Recovery where the patient is matched as closely as possible so the survivor can share experience3s with the patient…

They maintain a program of ‘Look good, feel better’, where women, especially, are assisted with improved self image….with free make-up sets,  to help cope with appearance related to the side effects of treatment.  A ‘Wig Bank’is also provided for those needing it.

CALL   1-899-ACS-2345 for information about cancer…..or  go to www.cancer.org  ---for all you need to know about Cancer….

When you get that far, type in your ZIP Code for special help that is available in this area.

Remember…the ‘Relay for Life’ will be June 8/9 on the Courthouse Square, Pittsfield….

This is YOUR chance to join the fight against Cancer… and, more importantly,

Because of YOUR participation, lives are changed and lives are saved. 

You can increase the opportunity by forming a team, becoming a corporate sponsor, walking in the survivor lap….or by joining the planning committee…

And finally…Contributing to the event to help get rid of this disease, which, as indicated previously, will effect one out of three of us in our lifetime…..

Want to help even more… call Noelle Smithers:  285-1906, or Sacha Pruett 217-473-2071.

I got a lot out of this program………….it hit home personally, since out of 11 kids that lived to be adults in my Mother’s family, 9 have died of Cancer……that will make you think….and there were 6 different types involve….. .’nuff said…..