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June 5, 2014 – Meeting Roundup – CROP Hunger Walks

When CROP began in 1947 (under the wing of Church World Service, which was founded in 1946), CROP was an acronym for the Christian Rural Overseas Program. Its primary mission was to help Midwest farm families to share their grain with hungry neighbors in post-World War II Europe and Asia. Today, rather than thinking of CROP primarily as an acronym, we retain it as the historic name of the program. CROP Hunger Walks are interfaith hunger education and fundraising events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by CWS/CROP regional offices across the U.S.

On October 17, 1969, a thousand people in Bismarck, ND, walked in what may have been the first-ever CROP Hunger Walk–and raised $25,000 to help stop hunger. Several other CROP Hunger Walks occurred soon thereafter, and before long there were hundreds of CROP Hunger Walks each year in communities nationwide. With its inception in 1969, CROP Hunger Walks are “viewed by many as the granddaddy of charity walks.”

CROP Hunger Walks help to support the overall ministry of Church World Service, especially grassroots, hunger-fighting development efforts around the world. In addition, each local CROP Hunger Walk can choose to return up to 25 percent of the funds it raises to hunger-fighting programs in its own community.

CROP Hunger Walks help to provide food and water, as well as resources that empower people to meet their own needs. From seeds and tools, to wells and water systems, to technical training and micro-enterprise loans, the key is people working together to identify their own development priorities, their strengths and their needs–something CWS has learned through some 64 years of working in partnership around the world.

This year CROP Hunger Walks will share almost $4 million with food banks, pantries, community gardens, and other local efforts across the U.S. This support is made possible when local CROP Hunger Walks choose our unique option of returning up to 25 percent of what their CROP Hunger Walk raises to hunger-fighting programs in their own community.

Because CROP Hunger Walks are ecumenical, interfaith, multi-cultural events, individual donors have the option of designating their gifts to other approved international hunger-fighting agencies. This option is unique to CROP events, and available for individual sponsors only. Gifts not so designated go to support the worldwide ministry of Church World Service.

Joan Roach and Melanie Files will tell us more about the local CROP walk.

Healthy Smiles

Rotarian Lisa Poland talked to us about her program which provides dental care and advice for school-age children. With a staff of only eight, she was able to see 4,000 students last year alone. Lisa does not just provide dental care, but also counseling on how a family can get Medicaid and CHIPS for their children so that other dentists can become the child’s primary dentist. Her ultimate goal is to put herself out of a job.
Lisa presented pictures that showed some of the problems she has to deal with including multiple caries (cavities) in children as young as five. Many of the parents figure it doesn’t matter because they are just baby teeth, but Lisa showed that it matters immensely. Many of the cavities in the baby teeth have progressed right into the permanent teeth. Children only have 20 baby teeth and some of them that she has seen have cavities in 14 of them. That is truly sad.

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Cogwheels

Answer to last week’s question:
Although all Rotarians share the responsibility for proposting new members, the membership development committee has the specific job of reviewing the roster of classifications and proposing men and women for unfilled classifications.
This week’s question:
Is it customary for Rotarians to call each other by their first names?

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Melanie Miller, a promotional manager who represent NFL athletes, was a guest of Tina Nipe. Elaine Bartoldson brought her son, Drew, who is a recent Shepherd University graduate currently managing Layne Diehl’s campaign.
Thanks goes to all those who participated in Pancakes for Polio on Memorial Day. Thanks also to the sponsors and to the businesses that donated the food. Their efforts resulted in raising $2050 to help eradicate polio.
On June 13th we will have a “Pick Your Own Charity Luau” at the Purple Iris from 6-9pm. It will feature Polynesian dancers and a fire show. Cost is $55 per adult and $25 per child. We are almost sold out, but can still use a couple of major sponsors.
You should soon be receiving your invitation to the Installation Banquet on June 19th at the Holiday Inn. There is a cocktail reception at 6pm with a cash bar and light Hors D’oeuvres followed by dinner at 6:30. For the Paul Harris Fellows, there is a special reception honoring your commitment to the Rotary International Foundation. You and a guest are invited to an exclusive reception that begins at 5pm in the Blue Ridge Ballroom that features Hors D’oeuvres and an open bar. RSVPs are requested for both events. This is President Mike Hornby’s last hurrah and incoming President Chris Johnson’s turn to incorporate her ideas for the club.
Roger Lewis should be home now after having surgery to insert a pacemaker for his heart. He’s not ready for guests, yet, but cards would be more than appreciated. His address is 518 W. Burke Street.
The deck is down to only 51 cards and the pot is over $60. We’re looking for the Eight of Diamonds and Bill Bowen is selling tickets.