PITTSFIELD ROTARY CLUB District 6460 8-30-06

Visiting Rotarian: Barbara Baker, Jacksonville Sunrise... (Barb was very instrumental in starting this Rotary Club, and also had Becky McCartney as a member there in the past). She also’ mans’...(or to be politically correct, should it be ‘ womans’).....the Jacksonville office for Representative Ray LaHood.

Visitors: Carol Merna, who runs the Peoria office for Representative Ray LaHood..

Marvin Paxton with Dawson Dean; Trent Hayden with Chris little; Dan Long with Debbie Dugan. Dan is a prospective member.

Carolyn Casteel had heart surgery at Prairie Heart Center, Springfield.

Debbie Dugan reported that Tim Halpin, Jennifer Mowen, Richard Smith and Tim Leahy have been proposed for membership.

President Anna Revis reported Rotary District 6460 District meeting will be October 6 & 7 in Springfield. She has the forms for people wanting to attend.

Program: Becky McCartney introduced Congressman Ray LaHood. She offered a very interesting sidelight, that she had met Representative Ray LaHood in his lst term and he actually spent considerable time with her. She said she really enjoyed getting to know someone in Congress, who really works for the people.

Representative Ray LaHood congratulated the local group that has put together the ethanol plant, noting that the equity raised and taking advantage of such a opportunity is extra-ordinary.

The energy bill passed by Congress jump-started ethanol. It spreads out the use of gasoline, and will help reduce the need for overseas oil. It’s great 4 for the environment and is definitely a Win -Win situation.

The war is on everybody’s mind. 9-11 and Terrorism has resulted in 2000 new FBI and a similar amount of Border Patrol agents to be enlisted co combat terrorists agenda.

This has cost lives and a lot of money.. But, we haven’t had a major tragedy in this country for 5 years, We’ve learned a lot of hard lessons about those wanting to hurt America.

Congressman LaHood’s son, Sam, is currently in Bagdad, Iraq. He reports that some things ARE

working. 70 percent of the people voted in the elections. 16 out of 18 provinces are Peaceful.

The main problem is in Bagdad.

The war has been expensive. 2500+ American Citizens have lost their lives to help provide freedom for the people of Iraq.

10 Billion $ per month is being spent in Iraq. The national debt went from 3 Billion $ to 8 Trillion $ while he has been in office, basically due to 9-11....But, al-Qaeda has been brought down.

The election this fall will be important. They may have to call up more Marines. Where there has been a lot of argument about this, he has not heard any complaints from the troops themselves.

We will still have a presence in Iraq for many years, as we have in Germany, Japan, and Korea.

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The Iran problem really needs to be resolved by the entire world community. Iran’s leader has an abundance of both oil and money, and has the capability of promoting all middle east radical groups. He has the majority support of his people.

Ray will be going to Lebamon and meeting with the leadership in that country.

Hezbolla has been building up in the southern part of that country, doing things that the government should have been doing for the people, funding much of the social programs, improving the infrastructure, at the same time importing weaponry into the area. This has been funded by Syria and Iran.

Hezbolla needs to release the two soldiers that were kidnaped as a start to resolve the conflict. Need also to meet with Israel as well.

Health care is a problem in this country and Congress needs to positively address the 40 million in the United States that do not have health insurance.

Congressman Ray LaHood covered a lot of area in such a short time. We are honored to have such a man representing us, and taking the time to meet with us. Thanks, Becky for making the arrangements.

Rotary Board will meet Sept. 7 at noon, at the FSB... bring your own lunch....(or diet)