January 9, 2014Snow DayEdition

MAKE UP SITESMONDAY

NOON•Wood River—St. John

UCC, WR•Jerseyville—Peace

United Church6 PM

•Alton-Godfrey—AltonSports Tap

•Bethalto—Spirit Hall

TUESDAYNOON

•Collinsville—HolidayInn

•Granite City—NiedringhausMethodist

•Highland—Michael’sRestaurant

WEDNESDAYNOON

•Goshen—LCCC Center,Edwardsville

THURSDAYNOON

•Riverbend—Mac’s TimeOut Lounge, 315Belle St.

•Edwardsville—FirstChristian

FRIDAYNOON

•Troy, Silver Creek—Pizza Man

To locate a club whereyou are visiting check:http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/SiteTools/ClubLocator/Pages/rid

Club AssemblyFor our last meeting, president Rhonda convined a

club assembly. The topic: "Let's target East Altonbusinesses and see if we can increase ourmembership." Rhonda and Paul prepared a list ofpotential members and distributed it to the club, askingfor volunteers to speak to the people on the list aboutbecoming a member of the club. Several took up thecause. Currently, we are at 31 members, but would liketo be at 35 by summer.All of us should be aware that it is our responsibility to

invite others to join the club. Look for opportunities orcreate opportunities to talk to others about joiningRotary. We will be happy to pay for a couple of visits forpeople wanting to check us out. Membership only costsabout $30 per month and produces real results incommunity involvement and relations.

News, Notes, and NonsenseWe had a total of nineteen Rotarians and guests at our clubassembly last week. Julia served chicken and gravy. Ourguests were Leonard Berg from Wood River who invited all toparticipate in the WR trivia tournament on Feb. 8 at the WRVFW Hall, and Pvt. Anthony Silkwood, who was home visitinghis dad for the holidays. The cold weather was apparentlyslowing everyone down, but the Brads were notable with theirarrivals post 12:15. New member Bill was AWOL-- somethingabout trying to get his daughter to the airport. Also missing wasRick our finemaster, but Joe made a suitable impression. Loriwas the sub. shutterbug.Rhonda passed around a thank you note from the Bartels forthe poinsettia and Joe passed around a sign-up sheet for thebasketball tournament and fined those who were not signed upto help. He also dingged the late table (at the front this week)for being flagrantly late.Leonard and Corey took their shots at the 50/50, and left onlywith shiny new cards. Chris was just one scratch away from$3000. You probably know how that turned out. Better lucktoday!

PROGRAMTODAY

Pat BoyleNEXT WEEKDon Brandt

Treehouse WildlifeRefuge-- Donations

accepted.

BIRTHDAYSNone this Week

Upcoming Events1-23: BoardMeeting2-1: BasketballTournament

CLUB OFFICERSPRESIDENT

Rhonda PluesterPRESIDENT -ELECT

Brad LaviteSECRETARYLori PalmerTREASURERCory GallivanDIRECTORSCLUB SERVICEPaul Hoover

VOCATIONAL SERVICEBrad Lavite

COMMUNITY SERVICEMark Allison

INTERNATIONAL SERVICERod Croxford

NEW GENERATIONSJeny Lewis

NEW MEMBERSHIPPaul Hoover

SERGEANT AT ARMSRick Hooks

BANNER EDITORLarry Lacher

CLUB ARCHIVESRick Hooks

FOUNDATION OFFICERSPRESIDENTErin PhillipsTREASURERMark VaughnSECRETARYJeny Lewis

The Rotary BannerEast Alton Rotary Club

Chartered Oct. 28, 1971 District 6460www.eastaltonrotary.org

East Alton RotaryClubP.O. Box 56East Alton, Il 62024

Service Above Self

The Four Way Test

*Is it the Truth?

*Is it Fair to all concerned?

*Will it Build Goodwill andbetter Friendships?

*Will it be Beneficial to allconcerned?

We're on the Web!See us at:www.eastaltonrotary.org

Like us on Facebook

See our blog at:eastaltonrotary.blogspot.com

MandelaRemebered

In 1996, routine polioimmunizations in Nigeriaand other Africancountries were anythingbut routine. Competinghealth priorities and lackof funding hamperedmany governments fromputting polio eradicationhigh on their agenda. Thedrive for a polio-freeAfrica needed aplaymaker.

Enter Nelson Mandela.Herb Brown, Rotary'spresident in 1995-96,recalls seeking the SouthAfrican leader's support.

"President Mandela wasso gracious and listenedas we described theproblem," Brown says. "Itold him only he had theinfluence to persuade thecountries to resumeimmunization."

Mandela agreed to help."I'm well aware of Rotaryand all the work you'vedone, and all the workyou did while I was injail," he told Brown. At apress conference, withBrown at his side,Mandela asked all theheads of state in Africa toopen their doors to polioNational ImmunizationDays.

Mandela helped launchthe Kick Polio Out ofAfrica campaign later thatyear with 1996-97 RotaryPresident Luis Giay andRotary Foundation ChairRajendra Saboo. Almostimmediately, Africa'spolio eradication effortwas back on track. Usingsoccer matches andcelebrity endorsements,the campaign raised

public awareness of polioand helped spur morethan 30 African countriesto hold their firstNational ImmunizationDays.

In recognition of his vitalwork, Rotary presentedthe Rotary Award forWorld Understanding toMandela in 1997, thenRotary's highest honor."We chose PresidentMandela because of hissignificant contributionsto world peace, humanrights, and freedom," saidGiay, adding that Rotarymembers especiallyappreciated "his strongsupport of the eradicationof polio throughoutAfrica."

Mandela called the award"a tribute to the people ofSouth Africa's rainbownation." Rotary's worktoward eradicating polio"has shown the power of aglobal network of peoplewho are ready to roll uptheir sleeves and put theirheart and soul into savingchildren from disability."

Mandela donated theaward's $100,000 prize tothe Nelson MandelaChildren's Fund.

"Mandela was a man whoovercame unimaginablehardships to emerge asone of the greatest leadersof our time — and one ofour greatesthumanitarians . . . . [His]legacy of courage,determination, andcommitment will foreverinspire us to moveforward in our effort toachieve a better, morepeaceful world," saidRotary President RonBurton.

Just For Fun

FROM THE ARCHIVESJan. 13, 2000

-Rick was the Prez, MarkV. the VP and Rodserved as Treasurer. Wewere meeting at WoodRiver Township Hospital.

-The president declaredthat anyone wearing St.Louis Rams colors wouldbe exempt from fines.(What was he thinking?)

-Mark V. wasestablishing a committeeto choose a Business ofthe year.

--Paul had submitted ourname for four Cardinalconcession dates.

-Anyone with perfectattendance wouldreceive a free meal atthe Installation Dinner.

-The basketballtournament wasscheduled for February5th. Trivia night wouldbe on March 5th. Steakfry on May 11th.

-Charlie and Rickreceived birthdayrecognition.