TODAY’S PROGRAM
James "Skip" Rutherford/ Dean of UofA's Clinton School of Public Service

LAST WEEK’S PROGRAM:
Rick McLeod, President, led the club in the singing of “America” and the saying of the “Pledge of Allegiance”. The invocation was given by Rev. Biff Averitt.

Wendy Kumpe led the club in a new song, “Take Me Out To The Fish Fry”, sung to the melody of “Take Me Out To The Ball Park”. There are sign-up sheets to work at the upcoming Fish Fry fundraiser, August 22, 2008 at Frisco Fest, downtown Rogers.

Mike Gower announced Gary Alecusen who spoke about the Rogers Booster Club. The Rogers Booster Club is structured to support sports for all of the Rogers Schools to support a positive rivalry to our teams. It is a way for individuals and business to support both high schools and the middle school programs that each has their booster clubs. The booster clubs fill the financial gap to the school budgets to help worthy programs. They support 30 student scholarships each year, championship rings for students and needed equipment such as the Oakdale weight room equipment. The Booster clubs are funded by membership and concessions at the events.

Richard Shewmaker introduced Louis Epley who spoke about Polio Plus. Richard used a film by Rotary International to give an overview of the programs, where it started, the success of this program and the support and challenge by the Bill Gates Foundation with a $100MM matching grant to push this program to completion, the eradication of Polio. Polio has gone from a world wide epidemic affecting about 1,000 young people per day to eradication in all but four countries, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Louis gave the program a personal touch by telling of his experience of being a Polio survivor. He was diagnosed with Polio at 17 years of age and told of a difficult rehabilitation and how he was one of the lucky ones. Louis Epley challenged Rogers Rotary to provide financial support to the Rotary Polio Plus program, to meet the $100MM match by the Gates Foundation and to complete the task of Polio eradication worldwide.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Wendy Kumpe reminded us of the Fish Fry August 22, 2008 at Frisco Fest. There is still time to signup and support this fundraiser. Wendy also has more tickets if you’re sold out….

VISITING ROTARIANS & GUESTS:
DeAnne Witherspoon made the introductions:
Gus Rusher a 36 year member from Brinkley Rotary Club
Jerry Danehower from Rogers Early Risers
Michael Gower announced Gary Alecusen and Paul Hirely
Bruce Branch announced Gary Kleck
Richard Shewmaker announced Steward Epley

IN THE NEWS:

ATTA BOYS & GIRLS (Make-ups):

UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
TBA