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AUGUST 5 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.

AUGUST 12 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. Pamela Cicioni.

Joe Mills led the club in “Take Me Out To The Fish Fry”, sung to the melody of “Take Me Out To The Ball Park”.

Dick Trammel introduced Dean James L. "Skip" Rutherford of the University of Arkansas, Clinton School of Public Service. Though not a Rotarian, the Downtown Little Rock Rotary Club awarded Rutherford a Paul Harris Fellow for his work on education and community service in Arkansas.Rutherford spoke about attracting the best and brightest to public service. The tragedies of 911, Tsunami, and Katrina have brought many youth to a focus on public service as a vocation. Russ Swearingen of Rogers, nephew of Dave Swearingen, is a student at the Clinton School of Public Service. Rutherford also spoke very highly of student guest Jonathan Mwaba who is also a student at the Clinton School of Public Service. Rutherford sees Mwaba as a great world leader, and someday as President of Zambia.

The Clinton School of Public Service has students in 28 countries. Unlike many schools, the Clinton School is focused on in-field learning whether it is working with emotionally challenged children in Benton County, teaching in South Africa or India, helping in the Sudan, or working with small businesses in the Delta in Arkansas. He talked about having an impact one small business at a time, one community at a time. He talked about the school's focus and multi-disciplinary approach to management, financial administration, and conflict resolution. In 2004, the first Master's Degree in Public Service was established at the Clinton School of Public Service.

Rutherford talked about education in general. Arkansas remains 50th in the nation in education in Master's and Bachelor's programs. He indicated historically, even in 1837 when the Arkansas legislature was established, until today, education in Arkansas remains an uphill battle. In 1837, while two Arkansas legislators had a knife fight over a bill regarding a bounty as part of the state's first ever state legislative session, Rutherford contrasted that with the fact that in 1837, Michigan was establishing a University.

He observed that by national standards, Arkansas education costs are low, but by Arkansas standards, the state's education costs can be prohibitive for many students. The average student today graduates with a Student Loan Debt of $19,000 for Bachelor's degree, $30,000-35,000 for a Master's degree, $72,000 for a Law Degree, and $135,000 in loans for a MD. He added that does not include the heavy credit card debt that many also incur.

Rutherford indicated there are two new programs that could have a significant impact on education: First, he was excited about a new program called "Operation Maine" that is an incentive for keeping great local talent in their home state. In Maine, students who stay in the state to work following graduation with an Associate's or Bachelor's Degree, will receive a state income tax deduction off their student loans. In addition, if employers use this to recruit new employees, then the employer also gets a tax deduction. He hopes that the Arkansas legislature will consider a similar program for Arkansas. Secondly, he talked about a state lottery that could provide $60M to $100M for scholarships. He indicated that irregardless of how people feel about the lottery, it would have a significant impact on education.

He pointed out that Higher Education is a direct link to Economic Development in the state.


August 5 & August 12 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. Still need lots of help!!! Wendy also has more tickets if you’re sold out….

• Corey Davidson requested help from Rotarians. Mercy Medical Center has donated supplies to the Rotary District Medical Supplies Network. Assistance is needed to load the supplies onto a truck.

• Hal Savage announced that the club currently has 130 members. He reminded committee chairs to turn in names of members who attend committee meetings, as committee meetings will count as make-ups. The club received a thank you from Allison McElroy on behalf of ADC for the club's $3000 donation to ADC.

• Rick McLeod announced upcoming Rotary event on September 27: a Rogers' community pride night. BBQ & lots of fun for all. More info to follow.

August 5 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

August 12 VISITING ROTARIANS & GUESTS:
Ken McKenzie made the introductions:
Michael Gower announced Paul Hively
Betsy Reithemeyer announced Roy Clinton
DeAnne Witherspoon announced Dr. John Sugg
Biff Averitt announced Ann Averitt
Beth Stephens announced Geoff Rosen
Darrel Smith announced Caleb Smith
Dick Trammel announced Jonathan Mwaba, a student from Zambia who attends the UA Clinton School of Public Service
Chris Gilreath from Downtown Fayetteville Rotary Club


IN THE NEWS:

ATTA BOYS & GIRLS (Make-ups):

Greg Hines @ e-club x 2

UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
TBA