Centennial Rotary Meeting Notes for: Tue, May 9, 2006

Custodian—Mark G.
Greeter—Randy
Invocation—Nikki
Pledge—Tom B.
Notetaker—Dan H.

President Roxy rang the bell at 7:33 a.m.

Announcements

• Mark Gale welcomed back old friend and Rotarian, Tom Cycyota.
• Scholarship applicant Karl Wurpel was a guest.
• Barb and Jennifer gave brief reports on their visits to airports and jail with the GSE team that visited last week.  The dinner that was planned for Monday was instead hosted by Highlands Ranch member Mary Janowicz.
• Barb, Roxy and James attended District Conference recently and felt it was tremendous and very emotional.  Please mark your calendar for “Laurie’s” District Conference next spring.
• Roxy showed the Club the shirt that was designed and paid for by us for the recent visiting Youth Exchange students.  They were a very cool tied-dyed “concert tour type) shirts.  Each visiting student and one of each of the host families will receive one.  Very Classy!
• Laurie announced information re: District Assembly that will be held on Sat. June 3 at 7:30 a.m.  Please attend to support Laurie and our Club.
• Highlands Ranch wants us to team up with them with the Project Cure sorting from now on.  We lost the Colorado Christian College volunteers.  Randy announced that we may be asked to join the Tempe-South AZ. Club with a joint Project Cure project destined for Cuba.
• Anniversaries this month are: the Bucks, the Cycyotas and Roxy and James.
• Kent reminded those that have volunteered to participate in this Saturday’s mini-golf tourney to benefit the Inter-Faith Task Force to be there by 8:30 a.m.

Happy Bucks

• Dan H. welcomed Tom C. with a buck.
• Pete echoed that sentiment with a dollar.
• Nikki spend money to celebrate her final test for CFP.
• Randy spent two bucks to thank Tom C. for his referral to his Scout troop for a fundraiser.
• Hugh gave moola to salute his upcoming trip to Fargo.  Hope he makes up and brings a travel gift!
• James gave a buck for his upcoming anniversary with Roxy and admitted that they often forget the actual date.  Hope the anniversary doesn’t last a month like Roxy’s birthday does.  Poor James.
• Roxy gave a couple bucks, one to welcome Karli and another in thanks to James for rescuing her after locking her keys in her Durango.
• Ben was only a dollar happy for his younger sister’s (reportedly a much better golfer than Ben) upcoming wedding this weekend.  Hope he brings back a travel gift.
• Bryan was happy that tax season is over and that he and his family got to relax in Florida for a while.
• Tom B. spent a dollar welcoming back Tom C.
• Paul, guess why, spent a buck.
• Jennifer gave money in thanks for her husband’s backhanded compliment.
• Tex celebrated the Japanese’ goof for picking Centennial as a target city to study re: the recent immigration situation.  They sent a p.r. guy to the Centennial City offices.
• Greg celebrated his wife’s 25th year as the accompanist for the Colorado Choir. Greg sings and the concert was Tuesday eve.
• Ben and James received their BLUE BADGES. Well done!!

Program

Doyle Robinson, Founder and CEO of Sox Place (SP) was our speaker and was found by Frank Loner, who saw a TV spot on the facility.
SP is a safe haven for street teens, although folks much older are welcome.  He showed us a DVD that for five minutes shared much about the facility and street kids.  The main focus there is to have a safe haven, a hot meal and a place to “hang” 6 days a week.  The kids are embraced physically, spiritually and emotionally.

SP needs volunteers, advisors, mentors, money and food for their pantry.  Doyle said “love your kids and don’t ignore people.”

IN RESPONSE TO THE PROGRAM, OUR CLUB HAS DECIDED TO HAVE A “FOOD BARREL” AT EACH AND EVERY MEETING.  PLEASE BRING SOUP, MACARONI/CHEESE, CHILI, TUNA, PEANUT BUTTER OR ANYTHING THEY CAN USE TO GIVE THE KIDS A GOOD MEAL!!  Ben has volunteered to get the food to SP each month.

One very touching comment was that “the family on the street is better than the family at “home”.”

He said that SP is a place to love those that haven’t been loved.

He also said that an average of 14 street kids die everyday in the U.S. by various ways.

When the kids panhandle or act up, they do it for recognition as much as anything else.  The homeless are “invisible” in our society.  Doyle said that the opposite of love is not hate, but apathy.  In addition to panhandling, 600,00 teenage prostitutes walk the streets of our country every night.

The biggest cause of homelessness for kids is the absence of a father in the home. Many have dads that are work, alcohol, drug and other “aholics.”  They don’t give their kids love. 

Marbles

Jack’s ticket was drawn.  As he scooted, Greg reached into the bag for Jack and pulled a CLEAR marble.  The pot grows from $1346 and there is only 9 clear marbles left.

Missing Rotarians—You know who you are and we need and want you back soon.

King Soopers Coupons!

Don’t forget to see Kent Ostedgaard for your King Soopers coupons! The club makes 4% on every dollar we spend. Coupons are available in $25 units & are sold at face value.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BUY SOME TODAY!

Nearby Club Locations for Makeup's:

Tuesday’s:
11:45 AM – Tech Center @ Glenmoor CC
Noon – Littleton @ Columbine CC

Wednesday’s:
12:00 pM – Englewood –
(Location Change ) *
Embassy Suites on Hampden, near Tamarac Square

Wednesday 's:
Littleton-Sunrise
7:15AM -- Chammps Restaurant in the Aspen Grove Shooping Center on South Santa Fe

Thursday’s:
7:15AM – Denver SE/ Wyndham Hotel
Noon – Highlands Ranch @ Lone Tree CC

24 Hours: www.rotary5450.org/eclub