PITTSFIELD ROTARY CLUB  7-9-08

Guests:  Adam Lawson, VP Farmers State Bank, with Murray Martin

Dane Feenstra, Intern at Farmers State Bank, with Joe Dierker

InterAct Club was to have a garage sale, but called off due to rain….

Make-up:  Julie Boren at Jerseyville

President Debbie Dugan presented a pin to Eldon Atwood for 47 years of perfect attendance.  How many of our other local Rotarians can make an attempt at this extremely remarkable record.

PDG & PP Eric Dolbeare has asked for a ‘leave of absence’.  Eric will be going to Iraq, possibly in October (after crops are out), to be employed as an Agricultural Adviser in one of 47 agricultural areas in that country.  Teams of 100-300 people make up the assistance our country is  providing to the people of Iraq to assist in making this country more productive3.  They cover all facets of business.

Eric has for years been involved in assisting people who have a great need, and we sincerely wish him well and success in this latest undertaking.

President Debbie passed out a list of  program chairs and board members.  Look at the internet site to see them.  Those without internet should see Wally, he put some away in the Rotary drawer.

BOARD MEETING… Wednesday…11:15 a.m.  at the Community Center….all Board members are to attend.

ALL Rotary members are assigned a program date, by alphabetical order.  Look at the web site to see yours.  Debbie says she’ll give everyone a month’s ‘heads-up’ so you’ll be alerted.  You can change dates with others, but let the President know you’ve made a change.

Program:  Eldon Atwood had Charles A. Barber lll introduce his program….Ruth Hulford.

Ruth was born in England, raised in Bolivia, went to college in Michigan, and will be the new Spanish teacher at Western High School at Barry.

Her parents were missionaries to Bolivia, but she attended an American school there.  Thus, she speaks 3 languages….English, Spanish and American.

She told how the Bolivian government is unstable, the president has ties to the president of Venezuela and Fidel Castro.

Their flag is Red, yellow and Green.  Their capital is  at 12,000 feet and many visitors need oxygen to survive there.

Ruth found the job at Barry on the internet, but interviewed at 3 places.  She chose Barry because ‘it felt right’……She is here on a 1 year visa, if the school applies for an extension, she can stay…

This was a very articulate young, 21 year old, woman, who whould be an excellent teacher for Spanish at Barry.