SOMETHING NEW
 

3-H project shines the light of literacy in Brazil

A Rotary Foundation 3-H Grant that introduced the concentrated language encounter (CLE) method to Brazil in 2001 continues to boost literacy rates among low-income families throughout the country. With support from the Foundation, Brazilian host partners in districts 4520, 4560, and 4760 and international partners in districts 6900 (Georgia, USA) and 7080 (Ontario, Canada) developed a US$344,862 project that set up a CLE training center in Contagem, Minas Gerais. Today, more than 1,900 teachers and other educational experts have learned the method that has taught more than 72,600 beneficiaries how to read and write. Through CLE, students learn from group texts and activities rather than rote memorization and repetition. With low costs and a highly interactive aspect that is popular with students, CLE programs have proven effective in numerous developing countries.

OPENING
 

Greeters:  John Larsen, and Elise Hui.

Dudley Frost provided the Inspirational Moment with readings of passages from some of his favorite books.

 Waldo Farnham followed by leading the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance

VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS
 

Brent Adams introduced LYNDA WIEGAN, a member of the staff at Henderson House

Richard Weed introduced JESS GUINOT, our current Inbound Student from France, GEROME HENRION, an exchange student from Belgium, and CAITY BERNARDS and GIA BATTAGLIA, both 2008-2009 Outbound Student candidates.

Kris Olsen also introduced Co-Student of the Month BEA BELLVILLE, along with her mother CINDY BELLVILLE.

MEMBER RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND BRAGS
 

Before announcing birthdays and anniversaries, Van Keck cordially invited all members NOT wearing their Rotary pins to contribute at least a dollar as penance (or would it be PIN-ance?).

Ron Benek was recognized for a birthday.

Brent Adams announced that the Mac High rugby team was off to a solid start with victories over Canby and Newberg.  Our current Inbound Student, Jesse Guinot, saw action with the team.

Dan Gardner announced that there is still a need for more host families and more volunteers to help with the Group Study Exchange April 16 thru April 19^th.  A team of Rotarians from South Korea will be visiting.  Also, volunteers to judge the Four Way Test Speech Contest are needed.

 

Finally, Dan called attention to the many “thank you” letters located on the tables from students who have benefitted from the Dictionary program.

McMinnville High School Students of the Month
 

 

Kris Olsen presented the McMinnville High School “Students of the Month”, Maya McFadden and Bea Bellville.  The details of their accomplishments are as follows:

Maya McFaddin is the daughter of Dwight McFaddin and Sally Goddard.  She has an older sister, Carey (25), a 1999 graduate of McMinnville High School, and an older brother, Reed (23) a 2002 graduate of McMinnville High School.

Maya attended Memorial Elementary and Patton Middle School before enrolling at McMinnville High School in her freshman year.

Maya currently holds a 4.0 (4.089 weighted) grade point average and is ranked 1^st in her class of 503 graduates, she has been on honor roll each semester throughout her high school career, and has completed the requirements of her Certificate of Initial Mastery.  She is on track to be recognized as a valedictorian at graduation this coming June.  This semester, she is enrolled in Advanced Placement Statistics, United States Government, Spanish IV, Advanced Placement Psychology, and Advanced Placement English.

While in high school, Maya has been very involved in our school’s many activities.  She is a three year varsity basketball player and this year’s team captain (played Clackamas Wednesday night), three year varsity tennis player, member of the National Honor Society, the Interact Service Chair, and President of the Crazy Devoted Fans Club.

Outside of school, Maya gives piano lessons, referees youth sports (volleyball and basketball), coaches youth basketball, volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity Restore, busses tables at Tina’s in Dundee, and enjoys travel and outdoor activities.

Her future plans include making application to the University of Portland, Whitman, Willamette, and the University of Oregon.  She plans to major initially in Liberal Studies and has interest in either Education or Architecture as a major.  She would also like to continue with he basketball career if possible

Maya’s best memories of high school are homecoming, her junior year in leadership, and her many opportunities while in high school.

Bea is the daughter of John and Cindy Bellville.  She has four siblings, John (’06), Jack (’11), Wyatt (’12), and Lucy (’14), former, current, and future Grizzlies.

Bea attended elementary school in Fairbanks Alaska before moving with her family to McMinnville.  She then attended Memorial Elementary (4^th & 5^th grade) and Duniway Middle School before enrolling at McMinnville High School in her freshman year.

Bea currently holds a 3.87 (3.913 weighted) grade point average and is ranked near the top of her class of 503 graduates, she has been on honor roll each semester throughout her high school career, and has completed the requirements of her Certificate of Initial Mastery.  This semester, she is enrolled in Yearbook Production, Advanced Placement Psychology, Advanced Placement Calculus, Advanced Placement Environmental Science, Fitness/Activities, and Advanced Placement English.

While in high school, Bea has been very involved in our school’s many activities.  She is a two year member of the yearbook staff, three year member of the swim team, member of the National Honor Society, Link Crew, Crazy Devoted Fans, Rotary Interact, Key Club, choir, track, soccer, and cross country.  This has been a very busy young lady!

Outside of school, Bea lifeguards and is a swim instructor at the McMinnville Aquatics Center.

Her future plans include making application to the University of Portland, Tulane, the University of Oregon, New York University, Boston University, Syracuse, and American University.  She has many interests, most likely will begin with General Studies, but has a passion for Fashion Design.

Bea’s best memories of high school are homecoming, the East Coast Trip her sophomore year, and of course sports and activities.

MAIN EVENT
 

Al Hansen gave a review of the Rotary Club of McMinnville Foundation.  The Foundation’s main role, he said, was to fund a variety of scholarships for high school seniors who wished to attend college or a trade/vocational school.  As part of that role, the club advises the Foundation on how it wishes the available funds to be expended.

The Foundation is divided primarily into two committees, the Investment Committee and the Scholarship Committee. 

Scott Chambers gave a brief summary of the work of the Investment Committee, and provided members with a balance sheet that showed assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2007.  Also, information was provided that showed how the assets are being allocated in various investments, and also summarizing the performance of those investments.  One point of particular interest was the performance of investments that were designed to do well during inflationary periods.  The positive performance of these investments would seem to validate economic reports that inflation is on the rise at an accelerated rate.

Guy Everingham reported on the work of the Scholarship Committee.  According to Guy, scholarships are determined according to financial need, personal character, service-mindedness, academic record, and the sincere interest of the student to pursue further education.  Scholarships are offered to successful applicants from Amity, Dayton, McMinnville, and Yamhill-Carlton high schools.

Guy related one success story that was particularly moving.  An Amity student from Amity with a 2.5 GPA applied for a scholarship several years ago.  He was literally living in a car and had a mother who was hooked on meth.  This young man eventually graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Current board members of the Rotary Club of McMinnville Foundation are:

Al Hansen – Chair
Gary Reuter – Vice Chair
John Larsen – Secretary
Steve Fitzpatrick - Treasurer
Art Bradley
Chuck Pattishall
Dan Gardner
Guy Everingham
Lee Vasquez
Richard Weed
Scott Chambers
Steve Larson

CLOSING
 

President Dan closed the meeting reminding us that next week we will hear a vocational talk from Lee Means.

Photographs by John Larsen
Captions by Walt Haight
Edited for the web by Ray Fields

"When meeting day comes around, I do not have to decide whether to attend or not, for that has already been decided for me . . . it was one of the obligations I accepted when I joined Rotary." -- A Rotarian
 

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