February 2014 – Meeting Roundups – Rotary Club of Martinsburg

February 2014 – Meeting Roundups

February 5, 2014

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve had enough winter to last me for a while. Right after the meeting I’m packing my bags and heading for Longboat Key, Florida. That is why I’m giving you all the February programs in this Grapevine.
This week: Alice Hilty will tell us about the Read Aloud program. Read Aloud 15 MINUTES is a non-profit organization that is working to make reading aloud every day for at least 15 minutes the new standard in child care. When every child is read aloud to for 15 minutes every day from birth, more children will be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten, more children will have the literacy skills needed to succeed in school, and more children will be prepared for a productive and meaningful life after school.
Founded in 2008, ReadAloud.org is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Focused on spreading its message about the power of reading aloud, Read Aloud has participated in the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., and the Los Angeles Times Book Festival, and has recruited Family Read Aloud authors such as David Baldacci, Mem Fox, Brad Meltzer, Loren Long and Mac Barnett to speak about the power and importance of daily reading aloud.
February 13th: The February 13th meeting was cancelled due to winter weather.
February 20th: Leigh Fleming is the owner of The Scrapbook Cottage, a weekend retreat center for craft enthusiasts. She holds a bachelors degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College. Her love of reading and her vivid imagination led her to finally realize her dream of writing.
Leigh lives with her husband, Patrick, in Martinsburg. She is mom to two adult children, Tom and Liza, and two beloved dogs, Lula Belle and Napoleon. She is also author of Precious Words, a romance suspense novel. She will be talking about her novel.
February 27th: The program will include a visit from the Spring Mills High School Interact Club as well as the Musselman Girls State Champion Volleyball Team

Champions

Last week we had two state champions—Erin Sponaugle, the West Virginia Teacher of the Year and the Martinsburg High School West Virginia AAA football champion football team seniors.
Erin began the program with a slide show of her classroom, her students, and her projects. Her enthusiasm was infectious as she talked about her students and some of their projects. Her classroom organization was outstanding (as the husband and father of teachers, I could really appreciate that). She also spoke about a trip she took to Germany and France last summer that was education related. It was easy to see why she was chosen as WV Teacher of the Year.
Coach Dave Walker and his seniors made what is becoming an annual visit to the club. MHS football teams have won the last four AAA championships, an unprecedented accomplishment. He wouldn’t come out and say it, but apparently there’s no reason not to try for a fifth one this upcoming season. He said none of the seniors want to be the ones to fail to get the championship.

Cogwheels

Answer to last week’s question:
Any member who has been president of our club or any other club and has been a Rotarian for seven or more years (as of the day they take office) is eligible to be a district governor.
This week’s question:
What is a PET Seminar?

Our two student guests from Martinsburg High School were Brian Hairston and April Miller.
Elaine Bobo from the Sunrise Club was our lone visiting Rotarian. She is director of communications for Berkeley County Schools.
Elaine Bartoldson, Director of Marketing for Pantran, was back as a guest of Mike Hite. Roy Young brought his bride, Joann. He also brought his daughter, Melynda Eaton who is program director at West Virginia Counseling and Advocacy. Greg Smith, an Allstate agent, was back as a guest of Manuel Washington. PP Gail Moxley brought Brandy Reed, commercial relationship manager at CNB Bank.
It’s not too soon to begin thinking about the District 7360 district conference. It will be held at the Lehigh Valley Holiday Inn which is just 5 miles from downtown Allentown, PA (isn’t that where Kevin Knowles is from?). It will be from April 25-27 and is a great opportunity to visit with other Rotarians from the district and get new ideas for our club. If you wanted to continue the weekend in NYC, it’s not that far from Allentown.
Mora Garay, our exchange student from Argentina, is on the move. She will be staying with Bob and Kathleen Trump for the second half of her year. A special thanks goes to Rich and Judy McCune for having her the first half of Mora’s American experience.
Our club nominated Herman Dixon for District Governor. Unfortunately, he did not get it. Thanks, though, for the effort. Being district governor can be one of the most demanding and thankless jobs one can have in Rotary. It involves a lot of traveling and planning. It makes being program chair or president of our club look like a walk the park in comparison.
Joann Young won 50/50, so, since she was a guest, the pot and the deck of cards remains the same.

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