Chile is September's Featured Country

In the International spirit that is Rotary, each Etown Rotary board meeting this year will feature a different country by way of a wine tasting. According to the French proverb, " In water one sees one's own face; But in wine one beholds the heart of another."

Our meeting on Tuesday will highlight Chile. Chile has more Rotary Clubs (79) and more
Rotarians (2021) than any other South American country.

Paul Harris and his wife Jean, arrived in Chile on 28 February, 1936, to attend the First South American Regional Conference to be held in Valparaiso. In a solemn session conducted by the RC of Santiago on March 3, Paul Harris said in his speech: "Happiness is to devote their lives in the service of our fellow Rotary and we sought a way to find such happiness" .

Our tasting will be a 2007 Chardonnay from Marques de Casa Concha in the Maipo Valley of Chile.

From NB Wines Blogspot:

Appearance: Straw yellow with streaks of green.

Nose: Freshly churned butter, Pineapple, Pear and peaches. Some other tropical fruits - papaya maybe? Floral notes also. Some oak and pepper integrated into the various fruit aromas. Deep/ Rich nose with a pile of stuff going on. Just Great.

Taste: Butterscotch and Vanilla, and Tropical Fruits- papaya again and Pear. There was nuttiness also that I didn't smell until I tasted the wine. Honey and pepper mixed in late in the palate to make a great and long finish. Highly textured and beautiful wine.

Overall- This was always a great wine, but in the past the oak notes were first on the palate and now they are last and mixed more with honey. This wine has really advanced over the years, more refined, especially when it comes to integrating the oak into the background of the wine. The one of the best Chardonnays, for that matter, one of the best white wines I have had.

Highlights from the August 28th meeting

Highlights from the August 28th meeting...

Glen Erb Invocated. We all signed a get-well card for Jim Novinger.

4th Friday was President's choice for music. We sang "Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goalposts of Life".

Lois Herr pulled the 8 of spades for the 50/50. There was great rejoicing.

Bea came to her first club meeting. She brought Brazil magnets for everyone.

Scott Cvek was auctioneer and led bidding on humongous tomatoes, football tickets, a giant Huskie dog, and a box of golf balls.

Our program was Elizabethtown Bears new varsity football coach, Mike Cottle. Mike stresses that family and school come before football for his players. Good thing he's not coaching the maroon and gray from the neighboring school district! ;)

Purple Pinky Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at the Etown Fair and donated to our Purple Pinky Project! $781 was raised to help End Polio.

Thanks to all the Rotarians and Interactors who staffed the booth and helped with the project throughout the week !

Got Purple Pinky?

Please visit our booth at the Etown Fair this week and support our efforts to raise $2000 for Polio Eradication!


Our Commitment

Not long ago, the world was paralyzed by the fear of polio. More than 125 countries were polio endemic, and thousands of families watched in anguish as the disease killed or crippled 1,000 people a day, most of them children.

In response to this suffering, Rotary began planning in the early 1980s for one of the most ambitious humanitarian programs ever undertaken by a private entity.

In 1985, it launched PolioPlus, a multi million dollar initiative to immunize all the world’s children against polio. Rotary’s commitment was so great that the World Health Assembly resolved in 1988 to wipe out the disease that had killed and paralyzed for 5,000 years.

For the 20 years since, Rotary and its spearheading partners — the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — have worked tirelessly to rid the world of the wild poliovirus.

Thanks to the generous support of Rotarians worldwide, Rotary has been able to contribute nearly US$800 million to keep alive the dream of a polio-free world.

A promise to all children


Our Progress

Since 1985, more than two billion children have received the oral polio vaccine. Five million children destined to be polio victims are walking today and enjoying a better life because of global immunization. Reported polio cases have dropped 99.8 percent — from 350,000 a year in 1988 to fewer than 2,000 a year today — and only four countries — Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan — remain endemic.

Due to the efforts of Rotary and its global partners, the world is on the threshold of eradicating the wild poliovirus.

A lasting and extraordinary gift


Our Challenge

Although tremendous progress has been made, the world is not yet polio free. The poliovirus knows no borders; it can spread from an endemic country into polio-free areas. As long as one case of polio remains in the world, no child is safe from this deadly disease.

The greatest challenge in the battle against polio today is financial. Despite the enormous resources already committed, more money is urgently needed to reach the children in the four remaining polioendemic countries.

Recognizing Rotary’s resolve to eradicate polio and its extensive volunteer network, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded Rotary a US$350 million grant. In return, Rotary is committed to raising $200 million by 30 June 2012.

Together, Rotary International and the Gates Foundation will provide over half a billion dollars toward our priority goal of a polio-free world.

A realistic and manageable goal

Our Legacy

There is now an unprecedented opportunity to finish the job and eradicate polio. Consequently, every Rotary, Interact, and Rotaract club is being asked to organize a public fundraising event for each of the next four years to help meet this challenge.

All members of the family of Rotary, especially newer Rotarians, are also invited to join Rotary’s legacy by making a personal gift.

Eradicating polio means that no child ever again will be paralyzed by or die from the wild poliovirus. Additionally, the US$1 billion spent annually on polio could be used to address other public health concerns.

Now is the time to respond.

In 1985, Rotary made the historic decision to immunize all the world’s children against polio. A little more than 20 years later, the world is nearly polio free. With your help, polio will be defeated.

A chance to make a difference

Service Above Self

I was reflecting on our motto "Service Above Self" and the Four Way Test as I was wondering if we, as a club, truly strive to make these ideals part of who we are, or if we just pay them lip-service.

I found this article published last Saturday in the Redlands Daily Facts by Jennifer Dobbs: http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/ci_13128894. I enjoyed the read and I enjoyed her comment that "Being a Rotarian is not for sissies".

We certainly have many members who do outstanding community service and contribute a lot of talent and treasure towards "doing good in the world." And many of them do it quietly and joyfully.

When I hear of someone who is upset because they didn't get the public recognition they thought they deserved, it concerns me. Is it Self Above Service or Service Above Self that is important to them? Being a Rotarian is not for sissies.

Service Above Self is an ideal. Something we need to continually strive for. Our human nature is to look out for #1. But something magical happens when Rotarians join together to Serve...It's the Service that becomes important, not the individual Self. I saw it first-hand on the Medical Mission in Nairobi last fall. Any Rotarian that truly engages in a project for service will feel this magic, and can't help but to reach the Service Above Self plateau.

As Jennifer Dobbs wrote, "Being a Rotarian is not for sissies. It costs money. There is hard work involved at times. And there is character required. Along with trying to live up to the motto of Service Above Self, there is also the Four-Way Test to live by. "

I had someone tell me that when you exercise, the pain you feel is the weakness leaving your body. What if we apply that concept to Rotary? Don't be a sissy... pump up your character, be a Rotarian and strive for Service Above Self. The pain you feel is the weakness leaving your soul!

Highlights from August 14th and August 20th Meetings

Highlights from the August 14th and August 20 Meetings...

I continue falling behind as it was a busy week preparing for last night's picnic and next week's fair booth.

The August 14th meeting featured Roger's speech on "Sheep, Wolves, SheepDogs, and Border Collies". Roger contends that we, and everyone in history, fall into one of these categories. I'm perplexed because I've always considered myself an orangutan...so I'm not sure where I fit in.

Our meeting this week was our Family of Rotary "Welcome Bea" picnic last night. We had over 100 Rotarians, Interactors, friends and family turn out to welcome our exchange student. We also inducted Tom Reed, our newest member.

Bea received words of welcome and small gifts from Chuck representing Etown Borough, Amy representing Etown Schools, Ken for the college, Dave for the Village, Beth for the chamber, and DG Connie for the District.

Amazingly, even though is poured rain in the borough, we did not get any rain out at the Cassell Farm pavilion!

Highlights from the August 7th meeting

It seems I'm falling behind getting these meeting summaries posted. Lots going on... which is great!... Interact Club organizational meeting was Sun nite, Membership Campaign meeting was Mon nite.. prepping for the arrival of our exchange student from Brazil and the welcome picnic next week.. The Etown Rotary Club is HOT HOT HOT. Anyway - here it goes...

Highlights from the August 7th meeting...

Marty Thomas-Brumme Invocated.

Charlie and Tess led some singing. Chuck Mummert was asked to provide The Joke of the Month ( a first Friday feature this year) and failed miserably.

Chris McCarthy stood in to do the 50/50 - Bill Mummert, for the second week, had the winning ticket and pulled the 4 of diamonds. There was great rejoicing.

Dennis talked Foundation, Bart talked Fair, Debbie Dupler spoke about new directories and Chris began taking photos for the new directories (and will continue during the coming weeks).

Our program was Bonnie Jess Lopane from Hospice of Lancaster County. It was great to hear that our own Kevin Dolan and Dane Whitmoyer are serving on their Capital Campaign board.

Spain is August's Featured Country

In the International spirit that is Rotary, each Etown Rotary board meeting this year will feature a different country by way of a wine tasting. According to the French proverb, " In water one sees one's own face; But in wine one beholds the heart of another."

Our meeting on Tuesday will highlight Spain. Spain has 200 Rotary Clubs and approximately 5,000 Rotarians. Our tasting will be a 2007 Burgans Albarino Riax Baixas from the Salnes Valley in NW Spain.

From Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Light yellow-gold. Exotically perfumed nose displays smoky peach, mango and papaya, plus a strong floral accent. Deep and chewy, with more power than I usually find in this wine. Tropical fruit flavors coat the palate and pick up a subtle herbal note on the back end."

Highlights from July 31st meeting...

Here's the recap of the July 31st meeting....

Walt Heisey Invocated.

The Membership Committee declared the 5th Friday meetings this year as "Rotate at Rotary" Fridays. Everyone pulled their table assignment from a hat upon entering. I heard nothing but positive feedback about this.

Charlie Cobaugh sang numerous banana jingles. I'm not sure why.
Bill Mummert found a black facecard for the 50/50. There was great rejoicing.
Sheriff Kevin Engle raised a few dollars. He also did his impression of Barry Acker's golf swing - it took about 12 minutes (authentic). We "sang" happy birthday to Brenda.

We wrapped up the Golf MAJOR with Dave, Hob, and Ken W and heard Grandpa Simione's wonderful quotes.

Harrisburg Keystone Rotary President David Ritter spoke about and asked for support for the Ecuador Medical Mission. Etown Rotarians Ralph Detrick, Ken Wolfe, and Joe Rebman will be participating.

Bart began fair signups and the handing out of "Got Purple Pinky?" t-shirts.

Our program was our very own Chuck Mummert with the Assistant District Governor pep-talk.