Club Business
President Mary Thomas Gilbert brought the meeting to order. Dick O’Donnell led us in prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the US flag. Mary Thomas read aloud the beautiful fourth stanza of the Star Spangled Banner.
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
We had no guests or visiting Rotarians today. Mary Thomas wished Francois a Happy Sixth Anniversary. His son’s first birthday is also fast approaching.
March Birthdays and Anniversaries
3 | Jwan Johnson | 8 | Francois and Andrea Masuka |
11 | Matt Patel | 27 | Joseph and Susannah Williams |
30 | Susan Watson | ||
Next week Dan Seiler has the program.
Click here to see all scheduled program dates and responsibilities.
General Announcements
- Micah Fox asked club members to be thinking of people to invite to our next Rotary Information Hour, which will be held on March 24 at BBW from 11 until Noon. This is a great opportunity for prospective members to learn more about Rotary in general and membership in our club. Guests will be encouraged to stay for lunch and the regular meeting.
- Micah also asked us to complete the recent fundraiser survey, if we have not yet done so. In addition, he will be issuing a six-month assessment survey soon regarding our transition to BBW. We want your feedback.
- Dick announced that former member Ryan Keur is the new owner of the Burlington Royals.
- Mary Thomas notified the club of the planned Rotary Reads Car Show which will held on March 21st in the Holly Hill Mall parking lot. This will raise money for this worthwhile joint literacy project. We are looking for sponsors @ the $200 level. Let Mary Thomas know if you are interested. Micah added that there will be live music, inflatables, and food trucks, providing a nice family atmosphere. All of this is weather permitting.
Happy Dollars
- Brooke Carpenter said that Western Alamance High School Interact Club incoming president, Savannah Bernston, gave a wonderful speech at last weekend’s Rotary speech contest. She was our club’s representative at the contest. See the details below.
- Francois informed the club of the sad news of Thomas Phelps’ mother’s death.
- Dick announced that his mentor, Earl Hadden, will be speaking at his Alamance Leads meeting on Monday morning, March 9, 8 am at ACC’s Dillingham Building.
- Mary Thomas lauded her kids for being able and willing to both load and unload the dishwasher without oversight. Huge news! She is also looking forward to some time with her husband at a conference.
Rotary District 7690 Speech Contest
On Saturday, February 29,2020 Rotary District 7690 held its annual Four Way Test high
school speech contest at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown.
Students presented speeches aimed at their fellow students using Rotary’s Four Way test
as a guideline for a lifetime of ethical behavior. Rotary’s Four Way Test states:
Of the things we think, say, or do
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The students were asked to make a speech addressed to their classmates on how the Four
Way Test can be used to make ethical decisions in their lives. Fifteen students participated in the District Competition. The winners of the 2020 District Contest were:
- 1st Place – Chloe Hunter of East Surry High School, sponsored by the Surry
Sunrise Rotary Club. - 2nd Place – Zach Thompson of Wesleyan Christian Academy, sponsored by the
High Point Rotary Club. - 3rd Place – Charlotte Renner of Pinecrest High School, sponsored by the
Southern Pines Rotary Club. - 4th Place – Nick Abele of the Early College at Guilford, sponsored by the
Greensboro Airport Rotary Club. - 5th Place – Christina Agnew of the Chatham Charter High School, sponsored by
the Siler City Rotary Club.
Person Responsible for This Week’s Program
Ryan Risko grew up in Michigan and had to make some adjustments when he moved to NC regarding wearing the right color blue, sweet tea, and the proper interpretation of “Bless your heart.” Ryan is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley. He has been a member of our club since last July. He serves on the Youth Services Committee.
Program: Gary Stasco – Assistant Scout Executive and COO, Boy Scouts of America, Old North State Council
Gary Stasco spoke today giving us an overview of scouting. Jason Powers was also on hand. Jason is the District Director for Alamance County.
W. D. Boyce was an American newspaper man and entrepreneur. According to legend, he was lost on a foggy street in London when an unknown Scout came to his aid, guiding him back to his destination.The boy then refused Boyce’s tip, explaining that he was merely doing his duty as a Boy Scout. Immediately afterwards, Boyce met with General Robert Baden-Powell, who was the head of the Boy Scout Association at that time. Boyce returned to America, and, four months later, founded the Boy Scouts of America. This version of the legend has been printed in numerous BSA handbooks and magazines. There are several variations of this legend, such as one that claims he knew about Scouting ahead of time.
Boyce returned to the United States and with Edward S. Stewart and Stanley D. Willis. He incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910 and applied for a congressional charter. The bill was tied up with a charter for the Rockefeller Foundation and Boyce withdrew it after many delays. Around this time, William Randolph Hearst, a rival newspaperman, formed the American Boy Scouts (ABS), a group that lasted through 1918. Between business and travel, Boyce did not spend much time on the new organization. Edgar M. Robinson, a senior administrator of the YMCA in New York City, learned of the new Boy Scout program and traveled to Chicago where he agreed to help Boyce organize the Boy Scouts as a national organization. Boyce pledged $1000 a month for a year to support the program– but reports indicate only three or four payments were actually made. Robinson returned to New York to begin the search for members. After a series of meetings in early 1910, the Woodcraft Indians led by Ernest Thompson Seton, the Boy Scouts of the United States headed by Colonel Peter Bomus and the National Scouts of America headed by Colonel William Verbeck were absorbed into the BSA. The National Highway Patrol Association Scouts headed by Colonel E. S. Cornell and the Boy Pioneers (formerly known as the Sons of Daniel Boone) headed by Daniel Carter Beard were folded. The BSA National Office opened in the 28th Street YMCA in New York City on June 1, 1910. The first managing secretary (the precursor to the Chief Scout Executive) was John Alexander, a YMCA administrator from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By autumn BSA had 2,500 leader applications from 44 states and 150,900 youth inquiries.[Wikipedia]
The Alamance County District today boasts 51 meeting groups with some 1100 youth participants and about 400 registered adult volunteers. Jason Powers is the only paid staff. His responsibilities include starting new units, recruiting youth participants, recruiting and training adult volunteers, and raising funds.
Stasco addressed the changes that have taken place over the past many years with regard to issues over sexual orientation and gender inclusion. Since 1998 enrollment levels across the board have dropped some 30%. Gary told us that the Scouts are always looking for better ways to market their product.
During the Q&A session, Sam Powell asked if the Scouts’ youth protection training is available to everyone, regardless of their affiliation with the Scouts. Gary said it is something pioneered by the Scouts some thirty years ago and is open to anyone. Jason Powers said he actually teaches the course to groups as one of his duties.
Gary addressed the bankruptcy issue, which only affects the national organization and not the Old North State Council. He told us that it is strictly being pursued to protect the assets of the organization as individuals are suing them over past events, trying to get at the $200 million set aside to self-insure. The national organization takes on complete responsibility for all such liability, which releases the local clubs from carrying that weight.
Conclusion
Sam Powell held the winning ticket but drew the Queen of Diamonds instead of the Ace of Spades. 43 cards remain in the deck. Mary Thomas led us in a recitation of Rotary’s four-way test before we adjourned. See you next week!