Westward Ho and South

August 1, 2007
The Safari goes West to Oswego for breakfast.
Breakfast may be my favorite meal. This morning was no disappointment.
The Denver omelet may have one of the best ever! A fluffy, cheesy delight.
The a/s didn't work and it was pretty warm.
The Oswego Club is active and exciting, think about a fundraiser that includes a Polo
game. Horses, sponsors, rotarians and the FAMILY of Rotary not mention making money for charity.
This 3 year old club has 55 members and is growing. They have hosted 4 Youth Exchange Students and have sponsored 2 Interact Clubs. The Heifer project will be a focus this year along with several other projects. Last year they received a Rotary Grant for a project and will apply again this year.
I was very pleased to induct Kevin Salizar as a new member, if this keeps up we WILL have a banner year in membership.

The Rotary-ship [Ford Expedition] heads south to The Rotary Club of Dwight.
President Jenny Paulsen is a bright light in the District.
If you make up at this Club you will be very pleased with the new meeting place.
The Mansion is just that, a large old mansion that has been converted into a really nice restaurant. This location is light years ahead of the previous location, way to go Jenny!!
This Club is 69 years old, has 20 members and struggling for membership in a small town.
This Club has heart and has a few very involved members and with some growth it
will be back in a big way.
The Dwight Club honors every high school senior that will enter the military with a $100 check and a plaque that is installed at the school on the wall of honor.
Good luck and be safe to our new military volunteers.
Good luck to Jenny and the Dwight Club.

I now head East to Homewood for a Strategic Planning Committee meeting at
PDG Rick Thiernaus' new offices-very nice!
158 miles today. 466 miles so far just for Club visits.


August 3, 2007

The caravan leaves for LaGrange at 10AM, I almost had to change the meeting to another day. You see my Managers eldest daughter was about to go into labor
Thursday evening and he didn't know if he would be in on Friday. Service above Self
was evident when she had a little boy at about 9.5 lbs and my Manager showed up at
about 10AM just in time for me to head to La Grange-Thanks Cassie and Marty-.

No Chicken today! The lunch was great BBQ brisket with cheese on the broccoli and
very nice oven browned potatoes. Desert looked fabulous but I couldn't tell what it
was, keylime pie or ?==it was in fact a fantastic almond cream cake.

La Grange was my hometown and I met my wife at the Lyons Township youth center.
It was nice to be at home.
Last year our District began "The Paul Harris Society" [$1,000 every year to the Rotary
Foundation]. La Grange has Brooks Fuller and he had 15 members from his Club at
the charter night dinner and he already has 3 more for a total of 18. Way to go Brooks. Thanks
La Grange reached 473% of there Foundation Goal or $472 per capita and $19257.00
donated to the Rotary Foundation.
Rumors have it the PRID Ted Gifford and the La Grange Club may start a new club in
La Grange Park, Ted, you know, was a Founding and Charter member of the La Grange Club.
A rotary float in the Pet Parade, pilgrim pacer run walk to benefit Polio Plus, defibrillators for the Police Department, an annual raffle and a bullet proof vest for a police dog are just a few projects this club supports.
This is a strong Club with great potential.
Oh and one last thing, not that Linda Yates doesn't have enough to do, she will be starting the first "Inner Wheel" Club for women that are not Rotarians and will be the
"right hand of Rotary" If you are interested contact Linda her contact information is on the web at Rotary6450.org
Talk to ya'all next week.
Art