PITTSFIELD ROTARY CLUB      10-15 & 10-22-08

Visitors:  Jim Maggett, Farmers State Bank, Jerseyville, with Murray;  Greg Lessan, Principal, Western High School Barry, with student guests.

Visiting Rotarians:  Susan Ellenbrock, Quincy, Assistant District Governor; Nancy Water, and Sandy Edgar, Bickford Cottage, Quincy.

Shirley Johnston covered RotoAct planned activities.

Carole Bradshaw covered  Rotary Radio Day planning.

Student visitors from Western HS:  Lucas Shiveley, son of  Mike & Sherry.  He is in track, baseball, football, and golf.  Plans to go to U of Illinois, majoring in Zolology.

Program:  Connie Schroeder brought us up to date on Illini Hospital.

She has been with Illini as Administrator for 8 years, (and doing an excellent job…added by your writer)….

Illini has 193 employees, a local budget of approximately 5 ½ Million Dollars…..

They have just received the Highest Rating that a hospital can get in Illinois for their patient care.  That made them #1 in the state!!!

 The Mission of Illini Hospital is:   To provide excellent health care in our community.

Their Vision is:  To identify and meet the communities health care needs.

Connie passed out a Illini Health Services Directory that told us all of the services currently available.    .

I personally can vouch for the ’Excellent Service Close to Home’….Take the time to visit our local hospital and see for yourself how great it is…

10-22-08

Visitor:  Kilee Smith DO new Doctor at the Illini Health Clinic with Connie Schroeder.

Brief report on the Radio Day was given.  143 businesses participated, 63 paid in advance, and $7, 225.00 has been reported thus far.

President Debbie reported that we will have NO meeting on December 24^th, we will meet on Dec. 31.

$500.00 as been donated to the Access Illinois program for processing donated deer for the local food banks.  (Anyone wanting to make additional donations can contact Brenda Middendorf at 285-4114)…..

Program:  Phil Conover, Business and Industry Consultant for John Wood  Community College (bother of Joe… who was Editor of the Quincy Herald Whig), spoke on his new role as Dean of Work Force Education.

He is in charge of the Truck-Driving, Nurses Training, Business and Industry Program and Agriculture Education for John Wood.

Truck Driving education is really progressing  Currently have 17 enrolled in the new 6 to 8 week course.  It has been speeded up because of the need for drivers.  There are 1100 drivers employed by the local truck lines, and they feel the need for 1700.  Pay is from $40,000 to $50,000 per year, depending on the type of driving done.

There is a great need for over the  road truckers.

Agriculture, the areas largest industry, needs to be emphasized  at John Wood.  ADM is building  a large animal research facility at Mendon.

Phil says Agriculture is the answer to the problem by being the only consistently producing new materials from the soil.

He says that employers are asking for employees that will come to work regularly on time, work all week, and that understands what worker/boss relationship should be….

Increasing ‘Soft Skill’ training… needs to be done. Teaching rudimentary skills for example, in the construction industry.

In the Health science there is a need for more capacity and matching of curriculum to the testing for licensing..

John Wood Community College wants to be a good partner will the area businesses and citizens.