The Eastside RotaryTradition
March 7, 2012
Around the Tables…. Prez-elect Heather Shearin presided over the Wednesday tumult, while Susie was away on undisclosed business. Jeannie gave a report on the Open Door Food Kitchen service. Over 150 were served spaghetti, meatballs and secret sauce and left-overs were donated to Open Door. The GSE project to install play equipment at Family Alliance will be held in May, at a date of their chosing. Jess has attended a preliminary meeting on the District’s shoes program. By-laws notice #2: Lee Ann Smiley has been approved for membership. When it came time for Sgt. Ryan Horsman to select the best-dressed man, he said he “couldn’t argue with a man with a gun” and selected Chris Connolly.
Melissa Koch was the clear winner for the ladies, in a leopard spotted halter. See pictures. Chris related a story with a happy ending. Awakened with a 6 a.m. phone call, he learned that a mother had found her back door was swinging open and that her two-year old daughter was missing, Chris was prepared, having previously organized a Child Abduction and Recovery Team---a task-force with members from schools, medicine, social services and law enforcement. Happily, the C.A.R.T. team did not have to be assembled, because the little girl was shortly found wandering not far away in the neighborhood. Mom was given a fast lesson in home security. Treasurer Dave Richmond has emailed current bills, so bring your check book to the next meeting. He still has not received all spaghetti dinner income and so the questions of final totals, winners and losing teams all remain pending. Stay tuned.
Howery Doin’? John Howery almost did not make it to deliver his scheduled vocational talk. But he did arrive about 12:30 and gave an interesting presentation of what he does at Progressive Telecom. (See photo.) The firm specializes in all sorts of business communication, involving phones, internet, wi-fi and the like. They draw from various suppliers and services to fit the customers’ needs. One of their bigger customers is the City of St.Joseph, hooking up all its various departments all over town. John is one guy who followed the path of joining the military to learn a trade. He ended up serving in Spain, Italy, the Caribbean, North Africa, Madagascar and Europe After six years in all forms of communication, including “top secret” intelligence, he emerged with experience and talent to carry him through with Progressive. He enjoys working with customers, answering their questions and filling their needs. Answering a question about the future, John sees fiber-optic cable replacing copper and wi-fi becoming the common form of connection. (Jerry Yurth asked if a person his own age should jump right in and buy a new I- phone, or wait for the improved models to come along.) John was raised in St.Joseph, where many of his family still reside. He has a 5-year old daughter in Philadelphia and a 13-year old in Lawrence, Ks.
.Coming Programs Mar. 21 Sarah Summers-Stein, “Clean Air St.Joseph; Mar.28. John Gill, Past District Gov. “Rotary Foundation”.
The Tradition is the weekly news bulletin of The Rotary Club of Saint Joseph, East. Eastside meets every Wednesday at noon, at the Albrecht Gallery, St.Joseph, Missouri. Officers for the 2011-2012 Rotary year are: Susan Campbell, President; Heather Shearin, President-elect; Shawn Drew, Past President; Tom Roetto, Vice-President; Dave Richmond, Treasurer; Jeanne Chavez, Secretary; Director, Club Service: Amy Ryan; Director, Community Service, Mark Trullson; Director, Vocational Service, Lynette Saxton; Director, International Service, Sjoert Zuidhof;