John Larsen celebrates his birthday on the 18th of this month. He spoke of being dyslectic and something about being 36.

Maureen Chapman is celebrating 35 years with her husband.

Erin Stephenson reminded the club that this Saturday First Federal is having a “Shred Day” and invited everyone to bring their “shreddables” to the bank parking lot. There will be refreshments while you wait to have your documents shredded

Edwina Castle congratulated Paul Elias of McMinnville Water and Light on being named “Business of the Year” by the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce.

Dan Corrigan announced that he has tickets and brochures for the Prayer Breakfast happening in a couple of weeks. The theme is Chronicles 2: Chapter 7, Verse 4.

Kelly Odegaard dug in his desk drawer for 18 cents to throw in the collection box as he announced the marriage of his second daughter within five months.

John Larsen congratulated Wayne Bailey on being named the new McMinnville Chamber President and Russ Rainwater for being named “Chamber Ambassador of the Year” last night at the Chamber awards banquet.

 

Sharon Larson announced that the Boy Scouts will host a reception on November 4th in the Ballroom.

 

President Jan gently reminded Paul Elias that he hadn’t opened his wallet in honor of the brag about his business. He then graciously made a donation to the club.

Ray Fields explained that to become a Paul Harris Fellow, one must donate $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Today the club recognized John Larsen for his financial commitment to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International . He received a pin to wear on his lapel signifying he is a Paul Harris Fellow. Ray went on to explain that the money received by the foundation is invested for three years and the income is used to run the foundation. After three years the money is redistributed back to the programs. $1,000 of our 4th grade dictionary project money this year came from the foundation in the form of a District Simplified Grant.. Ray then indicated he has a special pin he will present to anyone who will give him a $100. contribution for Polio plus. President Jan asked us all to Feed the Pig for the eradication of polio.

MAIN EVENT

Lee Means introduced our speaker, ARACELI ORTIZ. When ARACELI was a Linfield student, she told Lee that YCAP had helped her family when ARACELI was very small. Through their subsequent connection, Lee convinced ARACELI to become a VISTA volunteer and work for YCAP this year.

ARACELI was the RYLA student this past summer. Young People, typically between the ages of 19-28, are chosen for their leadership potential. Award winners, known as delegates, attend an all-expenses-paid seminar, camp, or workshop to learn advanced leadership skills. Delegates reinforce their leadership skills by using these new leadership tools in many activities which enhance these skills. Rotary clubs and districts select Delegates and facilitate the event's curriculum. RYLA aims to: Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders; Encourage leadership of youth by youth; Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities; Build individual self confidence; Learn how and when to lead, and how and when to follow; To exceed a person’s understanding of how strong they really are. ARACELI loved her experience with RYLA. She learned a lot about herself, made strong friendships and learned to embrace her diversity of experience and value her own special skills and abilities. She learned that success is not only measured in money, which gave her a new sense of purpose and made her decision to become a poorly-paid VISTA volunteer seem like a worthwhile endeavor.

At YCAP, ARACELI takes each day as a challenge and looks for the lessons to be learned from the day. She no longer worries about what will happen when her VISTA year is up. She’s okay with whatever the future holds for her. After her presentation, ARACELI signed a book for the Early Readers Program and got to keep the Rotary pen.

Erin Stephenson got up and spoke about the Early Readers Program and the SMART program. She found the experience very rewarding and remarked on the way she watched “her” kids grow over the year she read to them. The kids in the program don’t have access to a lot of books and the ones they receive from the program may be the only ones in their home.

Guy Everingham mentioned that the SMART program really needs men to read to the kids, as many of them do not have a positive male role model in their lives.