PITTSFIELD ROTARY CLUB 3-12-08

Visitors:  Joe Cook, Louisiana MO Rotary Club;  Camille Donaldson, Counselor for Western High School with our student guests.. Jonas Petty, President of John Petty Construction, guest of Jeff Stark.

Rotary Board meeting next Tuesday at noon at the funeral home.

Shirley Johnston:  be there for Reality Day at 8:30 and 12:30 to help.  Need help setting up today.  4 people volunteered.  Western is again not participating…(.perhaps we need better communications.)

Jan Bleich:  Bone Screening by appointment at the Health Department on March 19…cost $25.00.  This is a non-evasive/ultrasound of the wrist/ checks osteoporosis risk.

 Diabetes Alert Day, March 25, also at Health Department.  No appointment needed.  Call 285-4407 for more details.

Jeff Stark reported on RotoAct.  Meeting with about 12 students who have joined.  Have had 3 meetings already. Have  selected two projects, replacement of trees in the communities of Pike County and a youth  art project.  They will have the state forester assist in making selections and he will also talk to the group and will assist them in working with the municipalities..  Next week, will ask Rotarians to make individual donations to help the group start a treasury.

Debbie Dugan announced that Cardinal-Cubs game tickets need to be purchased by the next 10 days…. Call Debbie o purchase those tickets to once again see the Cardinals whip the Cubs….

Visiting Western High School Students:  Kristen Menz, daughter of Peggy.  She is in National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl, Year Book staff, Drum Major, Flag Corps, Volleyball, Cheerleading, helps with the Red Crows Blood drive, a d the food pantry drive. Cooks at home and works at McDonalds.  Hobby: reading.  Plans on attending University of Kansas studying Meteorology.

Alaine Beardsley, daughter of Jon and Sharon.  Is in Student Council, National Honor Society, Yearbook Staff, Cheerleader, Pep Band, does baby sitting, works in Hannibal, MO. Will attend Illinois State  University studying Business.

Program:  Ann Revis introduced Mike Hitt who talked on Identity Theft.

Mike is an Identity Theft Credit Specialist. This took 30 hours of studying and he said he flunked the test the lst time….(And HE runs the area Credit Bureau….)

There are 5 major ways identity theft occurs…Financial, Drivers’ license,Social Security, Medical Identity are the big ones……Financial theft is 26 % of the total…..

‘If it looks too good to be true, it usually is’……

Trafficking in identity theft has surpassed the cost of drug traffic.

Try to do business locally if at all possible.. A local bank card is easier to undue, if identity is stolen on it, than a National card.

Very interesting program.

Ron Short reported that one host family had to withdraw from keeping part of the GSE Team.. If you can help by hosting, let Ron know.