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August 3, 2010 - By ANGELINA DICKSON, Staff writer
Daily Times - WeirtonDailyTImes.com

 WEIRTON - The Rotary Club of Weirton Heights welcomed Rotary District 7530 District Governor Ranjit K. Majumder during the club's regular meeting today.

Majumder graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the University of Calcutta in Calcutta, India with honors in psychology and moved to the United States for further education where he earned a doctor of philosophy in psychology from the University of Oklahoma. He has specialized in the area of neuropsychology and he is a licensed psychologist.

Majumder stated he feels moving forward, not dwelling on "what we've always done" is the key to success. He said Weirton is rooted in tradition, but it must not hinder progress.

"This is a changing world and we must be prepared to change with it," began Majumder by quoting Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary.

Majumder said the most important aspect of Rotary is its members. He said there are 1.3 million members meaning there are 2.6 million hands working through Rotary to make the world a better place.

"Those hands can move mountains, plant trees, build shelter boxes and put a drop in a child's mouth to prevent polio," he said.




Majumder introduced the new year's theme for Rotary - "Building Communities, Bridging Continents." He said it is an extension of last year's theme "The future of Rotary is in your hands." He noted that Rotarians are not just good people and they don't just talk but "we do things" and he intends to think big in the coming year.

Several of the goals Majumder has planned for Rotary include raising $200,000 for the district, which includes 30 clubs. He said another project he would like for the clubs to consider is a rubella vaccination to prevent blindness, heart problems and mental retardation in children. He said it costs approximately $1.05 to vaccinate one person.

"We are not going to do what New York is doing or what Pennsylvania is doing, but we are going to do what we can do," he said.

Another change coming to Rotary, according to Majumder, is a fifth avenue of service. Rotary stands by club service, community service, vocational service and international service and will now include new generation service, an avenue of service geared toward youth and the changing world.

Members of the Rotary Club of Weirton Heights received a full list of local and global projects, membership goals, Rotary Foundation goals, the Governor Office goals as well as encouragement for each of the clubs to receive the Rotary International Presidential Citation, the Governor's Citation and be represented at the District Conference set to take place in Morgantown. Club members were also encouraged to attend the Rotary International Conference set to take place in New Orleans.

(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)


Morgantown and Saint Mary’s, W.Va., natives Sarah Perry and Meaghan Cochrane have been awarded the 2010-2011 Rotary International District 7530 Ambassadorial Scholarships for one year of academic study in another country. Both recent graduates will be using the scholarship to pursue Masters Degrees.

Valued at a maximum level of $25,000, the award covers round-trip transportation, tuition and fees, room and board, intensive-language training, if needed, and necessary educational supplies for one year. Designed to promote and strengthen international understanding and goodwill, the scholarship gives students the opportunity to study abroad in more than 80 nations.

Perry, who is sponsored by the Morgantown Rotary club, graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Business Administration and plans to study International Marketing at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. Cochrane graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a degree in English and is sponsored by the Buckhannon Rotary club. She will be studying International Management at the Antwerp International Business School in Belgium.

As an elected member to the Student Government Association’s Board of Governors, Perry served on numerous campus committees, and promoted community service and leadership. She was also active in the WVU Marketing Club and Campus Crusade for Christ.

While at Wesleyan, Cochrane served as an AmeriCorps mentor with Energy Express and a Group Leader for the Freshmen Orientation Program. She was also named Editor-in-Chief of Vandalia, the campus’ literary magazine, and was a staff writer for the university newspaper, Pharos.

“I am delighted that we are sending them,” said Ranjit Majumder, District Governor. “Not only will they be great ambassadors promoting world peace, but after their return, they will broaden our understanding of the world.”

While abroad, Ambassadorial Scholars participate in service projects and speak to Rotary clubs, schools, civic organizations, and other forums, where they act as “ambassadors of goodwill.” Upon their return to the United States, they speak about their experiences and their host countries to local Rotary clubs.



Sarah Perry

Sarah Perry- Morgantown

Megan Cochrane - Saint Mary's

Approximately 700 Ambassadorial scholarships are awarded around the world each year by the Rotary Foundation. Founded in 1947, today it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program. The program has sponsored more than 40,000 Rotary Scholars since its inception.


“We are wishing both Sarah and Meaghan great journeys and are confident in their abilities to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas,” Majumder said.



May 18, 2010 Buckhannon

The oil and gas industry is a big part of the economy in West Virginia, as members of the Buckhannon Rotary received upfront information during their meeting Tuesday.

Don Supcoe, president of Independent Oil and Gas Association (IOGA) of West Virginia, provided a brief history of the company and mentioned a few of the benefits that occur from oil and gas production.

Formed in 1959, IOGA is a statewide nonprofit trade association that represents companies engaged in the extraction and production of natural gas and oil in the state, Supcoe said. IOGA was formed to promote and protect a strong, competitive and capable independent natural gas and oil producing industry in the state.

In 1991, Supcoe said IOGA approved the mission statement that better defines the association's purpose and goals. IOGA's mission statement is as follows:

- Identifying and educating IOGA members of the challenges and opportunities confronting the industry.

- Encouraging and projecting a unity of purpose among membership.

- Educating the general public, elected and appointed representatives about the importance of the industry.

Don Supcoe

IOGA President

By Gary Mallonee, Staff Writer
The InterMountain


- And protecting and improving both the business and natural environment of the state

In 2008, more than 8,000 West Virginians were employed directly by the oil and gas industry and another 13,000 were employed indirectly by the industry, Supcoe said. The average income in the state is around $19,417 per year, while the average salary of workers in the oil and gas industry is around $60,000.

The oil and gas industry is a big part of the economy in West Virginia, as members of the Buckhannon Rotary received upfront information during their meeting Tuesday.


Harrison County Rotary

On May 6, 2010, members of the Harrison County Rotary Club partnered with several residents of the Maplewood Retirement Community to provide food for the 16 families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Morgantown.

Under the direction of Kristi-Parks Davis, Activity Director at Maplewood, several of the residents came together to prepare trays of lasagna, salad and bread while the Rotarians provided several deserts.

Members of the Harrison County Rotary met at Maplewood to load the food and transport it to the Ronald McDonald House.

Upon arriving at the Ronald McDonald House they were met by Shift Supervisor Jessica DeHaven who assisted in placing the food in one of the two family kitchens. The Rotarians were hoping they would be able to serve dinner to the families but they had not returned from the hospital.

Jessica DeHaven provided a tour of the facility which included the double kitchen area, family room, dining areas, laundry room and recreation areas.

Franzi

The Ronald McDonald House is located at 841 Country Club Drive, Morgantown and is located within walking distance of Ruby Memorial and WVH Hospitals.

They provide temporary housing for families with a child (age 18 and under) who is being treated at area hospitals and whom live at least 50 miles outside the Morgantown area.

This particular house has 16 rooms available for families, each equipped with 2 twin sized beds, private bath and shower, telephone and all necessary amenities. A $12.00 a night fee is “requested” for each room.

The Ronald McDonald House may be contacted by calling 304.598.0050 or you can visit their web site www.rmhcmgtn.org.

Top:
Pictured from left to right (seated): Lisa Cottrill, Pina Price, Jessica DeHaven (standing) Mike Lambiotte, Melanie Chancey, David Jones, Dennis Shreve, Franzi Jansche (the club’s German exchange student), Larry Cottrill and Jim Denny.

Left:
On the way out, Franzi Jansche said goodbye to the life-sized version of Ronald McDonald, as seen in the picture.



PARKERSBURG - In a farewell speech to the Parkersburg Rotary Club, retiring Superintendent Bill Niday left members with dire financial predictions for Wood County Schools.

Niday was the guest speaker at the Rotary's Monday meeting, his last address to the group before he retires at the end of July. Niday said the school system is facing a financial crisis as several state and federal funding sources are set to end in 2011.

Niday also said those drops in funding likely will mean cuts in teachers and staff, the largest expense in the district's $129 million budget.

Niday said the budget has remained stable over the last few years due to federal stimulus and stabilization funds. Though the state has had to cut areas of funding, officials managed to "backfill" those funding gaps with federal money.

But Niday said those funds run out this coming year.

"We're going to be OK next school year," he said, "but we will be facing some major budget issues in 2011-12."

While other school systems throughout the nation have had to make difficult budget cuts due to state funding cuts, West Virginia school systems have remained relatively untouched due to the presence of federal dollars, Niday said. Specific areas of concern, he said, lie with special education, Title I funding for high-poverty schools, and state budget reductions.

 "If we hadn't had Title I stimulus money, we would have lost $400,000 (in funding) two years ago. Last year we would have lost another $500,000," he said.

State funding cuts, had they not been backfilled with federal stabilization money, would have required a $3 million cut to Wood County Schools' budget, Niday said. Next year those stabilization funds will replace $4 million in lost funding.

Those federal funding sources, however, all end within the next year, he said.

"You will have no stimulus funds for Title I or special education. You will have no stabilization money," Niday said. "For me, 2011-12 shapes up as a good year to be retired."

Niday said the massive drop in funding will force many difficult decisions on how to maintain personnel and programs, decisions which will be made by the Wood County Board of Education and incoming Superintendent Pat Law.

"Eighty-five percent of our budget is people," Niday said. "At some point you have to make cuts there."

Wood County Schools is one of the largest employers in the county, with 1,600 teachers, administrators and service personnel.

Niday also spoke briefly about upcoming debates over teacher pay, merit-based pay and dealing with non-performing employees. Several changes in education being put forth by President Barack Obama's administration require school systems to come up with ways to judge teacher performance, offer rewards for good performance and eliminate consistently low-performing teachers and administrators.

Niday said those changes will be difficult to implement, but he understood their necessity.

"We have been bad at, and by 'we' I mean administrators. We have been bad about just saying, 'It is hard to fire a teacher,'" he said. "If the kids aren't learning, we're not doing our job. That is something we need to change. We need to get past that mindset."

by MICHAEL ERB Parkersburg News and Sentinel


Toni Caridi believes West Virginia University athletics is in a golden age. Voice of the Mountaineers
Toni Caridi, Jenny Keup and John Hoffman talk
about football outside of the tent...photo by Clark
Reese

PARKERSBURG by Wayne Towner- Tony Caridi, the "Voice of the Mountaineers," believes West Virginia University athletics is in a golden age, with continued success in its football and basketball programs.

Caridi, who has spent the last 24 years with Mountaineer Sports Network, was the speaker at Monday's weekly luncheon of the Parkersburg Rotary Club.

During his time with MSN, Caridi has spent the last 13 seasons as radio play-by-play announcer for Mountaineer football and basketball on MSN. Along with his play-by-play duties, Caridi continues to serve as a co-host and feature contributor for the television shows "Mountaineer Magazine" and "Mountaineer Jammin'."

In addition to MSN, Caridi has done play-by-play for ESPN, PIA Radio, the BIG EAST, Prime, Atlantic 10, Creative Sports and Mutual broadcasts. He is the sports director of the MetroNews Radio Network and hosts a nightly statewide sports talk show as well as working with coaches Bill Stewart and Bob Huggins on their statewide talk shows.

 He has been named the West Virginia Sportscaster of the Year on three occasions.

Caridi talked about three main topics during Monday's program, the Mountaineer basketball program, the football program and recent talk about conference expansions that might affect WVU.

"As everyone knows, it's been a really productive year, it's been a very memorable year all around," he said.

Caridi said he was present for all of the basketball games in the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

"It was wonderful, it was a storybook-type of a run. It was the kind of a run that everyone always dreams about," he said.

Caridi hosts a nightly statewide talk show and said he has received positive responses from across West Virginia regarding the basketball program's successes this winter.

"You can tell the great excitement, the great pride that folks have after what was just a wonderful year," he said.

Looking ahead at the next football season at WVU, Caridi said the team is in good shape and of the main question marks will be how quickly starting quarterback Geno Smith can become comfortable and "play instead of think."

Regarding possible changes in the college football conferences, Caridi said it may be the end of 2010 before much is known about what will happen and how wide the effects will be. The Big Ten Conference is studying plans to expand and if it decides to add one team, there will not be much change seen, Caridi said. If it decides to add three to five teams, that could spread to affect several conferences and lead to extensive shakeups, he said.

Wayne Towner -- Parkersburg News and Sentinel



District 7530 Hosts Successful RLI

The WVU Mountaineers are off to a good start this season with a 2-1 record currently and District 7530 has scored a winning touchdown by hosting a successful RLI event in Morgantown on September 19, 2009. The event was held at the WVU Mountainlair Student Union with 30 Rotarians participating; 17 in Part I, 8 in Part II, and 5 in Part III.
 
Those graduating were Michael Ellington of the Rotary Club of Morgantown, Richard Guttman of Rotary Club of Morgantown, K. Brad Merrifield of the Rotary Club of Fairmont, Daniel Miller of the Rotary Club of South Fairmont, and Patricia Schoonover of the Rotary Club of Elkins.

Facilitators for the event included PDG Dave Cavender (RLI WV State Chair & Event Program Coordinator), PDG Sandy Duckworth, PP Steve Cook, PDG Jerry Evans, PDG Dr. S. “Jay” Jayakumar, Rtn. Earline Orndorff, PP William “Bill” Orndorff, PDG John “Jack” Porter, and PP J. R. Wolfe. Special thanks to Bill, Earlene, Jerry, Sandy, and Steve for traveling from Virginia to facilitate at the Morgantown event.

Thanks to WVU Mountainlair Director and RLI Graduate, Michael Ellington and his superb staff for their excellent event assistance.		 RLI Graduates & Facilitators

David Cavender, Michael Ellington, Jerry Evans, Daniel Miller, J. R. Wolfe, K. Brad Merrifield, John “Jack” Porter, Richard Guttman, Earline Orndorff, Patricia Schoonover, William “Bill” Orndorff, and Sandy Duckworth. 

Not pictured:  Steve Cook, Dr. S. “Jay” Jayakumar, and Grace Roy.



PARKERSBURG - West Virginia University President Jim Clements spoke to the Parkersburg Rotary Club saying his first year as West Virginia University's president has been "magical," but said he has many more years ahead of him as the leader of the state's largest university.

Clements was hired to replace interim president J. Peter Magrath who replaced Michael Garrison after the university president was forced to resign amid a degree scandal involving Gov. Joe Manchin's daughter.

Clements said his goal for the past year has been to rebuild the faculty and stability of West Virginia University.

When he was hired, "I was the fourth person to sit in that chair in the president's office in 22 months," he said. He later spoke of the university's need for stability in its leadership, and said prior to be hired by WVU, "I was at one place for 20 years. I'm not going anywhere."

Several resignations and retirements followed Garrison's departure, leaving Clements with a handful of interim directors and a large number of vacancies to fill.

 "The first thing I had to do was build a team," he said. While many positions were filled over the last year, several Rotary members asked about the university's most recent vacancy, that of the athletic director.

Clements said he couldn't comment on the process, as he was still establishing a search committee, but said the college already has received a large number of applications, bolstered by the WVU men's basketball team's race to the Final 4 tournament.

That event also has helped the university in recruiting new students.

"Admissions are up. Applications are up. Hits to the Web site are up," he said.


Future WVU students with President Jim Clements.

Clements said overall he feels the university sits in a better position that it had occupied before he took over as president.

"We are strong. We are stable. We are feeling good," he said.

Clements took time during the luncheon to heap praise on West Virginia University at Parkersburg, which last year reached an agreement with WVU to continue using its name while acting as a separate yet affiliated campus. Clements also praised the work of WVU-P President Marie Foster Gnage in bolstering enrollment

Clements, however, did not comment on whether WVU-P's expanding baccalaureate degree programs affected enrollment of local students at the Morgantown university.

Clements said Wood County has historically been a good source of in-state enrollment, with more than 3,000 alumni living in the county and more than 700 freshmen from the county enrolled at WVU. 


Parkersburg-University of Charleston President Speaks/span>

University of Charleston President Edwin Welch spoke at Monday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Parkersburg at the Blennerhassett Hotel. Here President Welch talking with Whitney Parkins, an entering undergraduate, and Whitney Sandy, a new student in the Pharmacy Phd program.(Photo by Clark Reese)

By Parkersburg News and Sentinel, MICHAEL ERB merb@newsandsentinel.com March 30, 2010

PARKERSBURG - The University of Charleston continues to grow in both enrollment and facilities. College President Edwin Welch spoke at Monday's meeting of the Rotary Club of Parkersburg at the Blennerhassett Hotel, talking about the private college's growth, plans for future development and some of the hurdles faced by the institution.

Welch has been president of the college since 1989.

Over the last four years the college has had a 60 percent growth in student enrollment. Welch credited the college's school of pharmacy, which was added in 2006, as accounting for a significant portion of enrollment growth. The University of Charleston serves more than 1,400 graduate and undergraduate students.



Welch said about two-thirds of the school's undergraduate students and a third of its graduate students hail from West Virginia, a population he said has been increasingly difficult to maintain. Welch said the state's Promise Scholarship program, which awards partial or full scholarships to high-performing West Virginia students who attend public colleges, has driven more students away from private colleges in recent years.

The school has added seven buildings to its campus during the last 12 years, investing more than $100 million in the school's facilities. The college has added one new building or program each year since 2001.

The college plans to add a physicians assistant program next year, the first part of a planned graduate health care program, as well as upgrade and expand its sports and fitness center, he said. "We are one check away from starting work on it," he said. "It is a rather big check."

Welch said tuition at the University of Charleston is about $24,000 a year, about $2,000 less than the national average for private colleges. Room and board can add another $8,000-$10,000 a year, he said, and 65 percent of the college's student body lives on campus. Welch said 97 percent of the college's students receive employment or apply for a graduate program within six months of graduation. A third of the students attending the college graduate in less than four years.

"We are one check away from starting work on it," he said. "It is a rather big check."

Welch said tuition at the University of Charleston is about $24,000 a year, about $2,000 less than the national average for private colleges. Room and board can add another $8,000-$10,000 a year, he said, and 65 percent of the college's student body lives on campus.

Welch said 97 percent of the college's students receive employment or apply for a graduate program within six months of graduation. A third of the students attending the college graduate in less than four years.


Fairmont - Overstock Outlet Auction
An auction may be a good fund raiser for your club. A professional crew brought in two large truckloads of all kinds of items (see brochure). About half a dozen Rotarians helped and another half bid. But you can see many people in the community joined in on the bidding and fun. The auction grossed about $7,000 with the club getting 10-15%. The auctioneer noted that as the community learns about what you can get, the auction grows considerably. You can contact Brad Merrifield for more information.











MORGANTOWN -- Many people took advantage of health screenings Saturday in Morgantown.br>
The Rotary Club of Morgantown teamed up HealthSouth and WVU Hospitals for its annual fundraiser.

People were able to have blood drawn as part of a multiphasic screening.

The rotary club is able to offer the screenings at a cheaper price to the public. "We're partnering with two medical partners here in town trying to do our part for the betterment of the Morgantown Community," said Harry Grandon.

It's not too late to participate in the health screenings.

The Rotary club will hold another day of screenings next Saturday August 15 from 6:30 until 11 in the morning.

Appointments are encouraged but not necessary.

Robert Brandfass--Rotary Club of Morgantown
Click above for story and video. Thanks WBOY!
Parkersburg Club inducts 14 Paul Harris Fellows (PHF) and 3 Paul Harris Plus. Michael Palma, District Foundation Chair 2009-10, notes that this was the most PHF since the formation of the club in 1919.

Pictured front row: Jefferey Campbell, Alice Harris (PHF+2), Michael Flanagan, Michael Seeley (PHF+1), Michael A King, Jon Leavitt (Club Foundation Chair); Second row: Greg Smith (PHF+1), Don Dooley, Joanne Argabrite, Lisa Martin, Halcourt P Foss; top row: Jennifer Keup, Michael Palma (District Foundation Chair), Paul Ferrell and Richard Schaffer. Not pictured were: Marie Foster Gnage, Robert S Boone and Frank Deem.











The 2009 RYLA students at Jackson's Mill.
Each supported by a local club in District 7530












Elkins Rotary Inducts New Members
By Wayne Sheets Contributing Business Writer

Rick Reese, Governor of Rotary District 7530, joined Rotary Club of Elkins President Pat Schumann and members on Monday, (Feb. 23, 2009) for the induction of the largest group of new members in recent memory.

In his remarks, Reese informed the newly installed members of Rotary’s mission and goals and challenged them to join the efforts of the International organization in supporting them. “You are now a member of one of the most dynamic organization in the world,” Reese said. “First, you are reminded of the worldwide association is to provide service to others, promote high ethical standards, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders. Secondly, you are to consider the four-way test in all things you think, say and do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships, and Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Reese went on to inform the new members of the organization’s successful campaign against polio. “In 1985,” he said, “when Rotary joined the fight against the		  deadly disease, over 350,000 children was inflicted each year with polio. By 2008, there were fewer than 2000 cases reported worldwide. Today, polio has been totally eradicated from all but four countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nigeria.” He also mentioned the many local projects that Rotary is involve in including the support of schools, libraries, clean water projects and the continuing battle against child mortality.

After their induction, each new member was introduced to the group and gave a brief biography of them self.

Those inducted as new members were Dr. David Currence, Bob Dunkerly, Mike Ellis, Willis McCollum, Dr. Mathew “Matt” Cupp, and Samantha Storch. Charlie Friddle reinstated his membership. Sponsors of the new members were Rotarians Pat Schumann, Grace Roy, Pat Schoonover, Gary Chase, Carol Cain, Dan Bucher and John Henning.

The induction was a result of the club’s membership drive spearheaded by President Schumann and others of the membership committee.

Rotary International is a global organization involving more than 33,000 clubs with 1.2 million members in 200 countries.


On March 16 six professionals from Northern West Virginia have started a four-week Vocational and Cultural Education program in Central Japan. The Program is known as a "Group Study Exchange"; operated by area Rotary Clubs and The Rotary Foundation, an educational and international peace and understanding effort.

The Team departed the Morgantown Airport on Monday morning. They will stay with Japanese Rotarians, receive on-the-job training in their professions and learn about the Japanese culture. They are scheduled to return on April 18. The Rotary Foundation and area Rotarians pay all of the expenses.

West Virginians leaving Monday for this once in a lifetime experience are: Lea Broderick, a musician from Preston County, Dr. Carmen Burrell, a physician from Harrison County, Jeff Johnson, an forest health expert from Upshur County, Thomas Minney, a nature conservation expert from Randolph County and Adelhide Schaupp, an affordable homebuilder from Morgantown. The team is lead by Rotarian Robert Brandfass, General Counsel for West Virginia United Health Systems in Morgantown.

Before
GSE Team to Japan
Thomas, Lea, Robert, Carmen, Adelheid and Jeff
After
 


 
Thanks to the following for working at the
Community Thanksgiving: Sharon Welsch,
Lori Grisell, Karen Neubauer, Nila Chaddock and
Bob Hunt.  

Bob Hunt and Lori Grisell making green beans -->

from Mound Breezes		 Making green beans
 
Golden Gavel Presentation
Golden Gavel Continues....

Rotarian Jo Ann Peterson, left, of the Kingwood Rotary Club presents the Golden Gavel and the Kingwood Club's banner to Pat Schumann, president of the Rotary Club of Elkins.

Peterson owns Mountaineer Country Tours in Kingwood, W.Va. and is a strong supporter of Elkins as a tourist destination. During her remarks to Elkins Rotary Club members at their weekly luncheon on Monday she said that Elkins is the most popular destination of people booking tours through her agency. She said that while the excursion trains and the American Mountain Theater provide excellent entertainment opportunities, the town needs more entertainment venues. She mentioned that she had attended shows in Branson, Mo., and those at the American Mountain Theater are as good if not better than those she saw in Branson. "A shortage of hotel/motel accommodations during the peak tourist season is becoming a problem," Peterson said. "We are trying to find accommodations in Elkins for the coming season and are running into problems finding the necessary lodging for some of our tour groups," she said. Peterson has been a Rotarian for three and a half years.
The Golden Gavel begins its journey each year at the home club of the District Governor, is presented by one club to another through the district ending up back at the District Governor's club by the end of his or her tenure in office. This year's journey began at the Grafton Club home of District Governor Rick Reese. The mission of the program is to give one club within the district an opportunity to present a program at the receiving club's regular meeting thus promoting a unique way for clubs to form relationships and encourage camaraderie among the members. The delivering club has the responsibility for presenting the program at the receiving club's regular meeting.
President Pat Schumann delivered the gavel to the Fairmont Club.



 
Morgantown RLI a Great Success
September 30, 2008 (Morgantown, WV). The WVU Mountaineers may be off to a slow start this season with a 2-2 record currently but District 7530 has scored a winning touchdown by hosting a successful RLI event in Morgantown on September 20, 2008.

The event was held at the WVU Mountainlair Student Union with 23 Rotarians participating; 15 in Part I, 5 in Part II, and 3 in Part III.

Those graduating were Marli Jenkins of the Rotary Club of Grafton, Louis Spatafore of the Rotary Club of Fairmont, and Donna Seibert of the Rotary Club of Elkins.


Facilitators and some students for the event included: Larry Cottrill (Harrison Co), PP Steve Cook, PDG Dave Cavender (RLI WV State Chair & Event Program Coordinator), PP J. R. Wolfe, PDG Mary Dean (RLI Zone 33 Treasurer & Board Member), PDG Jerry Evans, PDG Jack Porter, PP Grace Roy (RLI District 7530 Chair & Event Facility Coordinator) and Mike Lambiotte (Harrison Co).

Special thanks to Steve and Jerry for traveling from Virginia to facilitate at the Morgantown event and thanks to Jack and J.R. for facilitator “pinch-hitting” on short notice. Thanks also to Michael Ellington of the Rotary Club of Morgantown who is Director of the WVU Mountainlair and also an RLI participant, for his tremendous event assistance.

Article by Grace Roy, RLI 7530 District Chair
Elkins Annual Picnic
For the first time in the history of the Rotary Club of Elkins, President Pat Schumann extended an invitation to former club members to attend the club’s annual picnic. An invitation was also extended to members of its sister organization in Tucker County to attend as well. The invitations resulted in more than 90 Rotarians, past and present, and members of their families, joining the picnic held at Alpine Shores Picnic Grounds on Monday evening.

Schumann said, “I am extremely pleased to see so many of our former members and members of the Tucker County Club joining us. I think we have a good thing going here and look forward to next year’s event.” Several of the guest from Tucker County expressed delight in being asked to join the celebration. Many former members of the Elkins club also expressed excitement about being asked to attend.

Expert chef Tom Williams, with the help of Rotarians Dan Bucher, Mike Taylor and others, prepared his famous Bar-B-Qued chicken. Hot dogs were also a part of the fare accompanied by baked beans, cold slaw, rolls and soft drinks.

Several engaged in games for the young and young-at-heart. It appeared that the young usually won out of the young-at-heart, however.

Attendees were entertained with hits from the past and present by the “Rotary Rambles” a local country and pop band.

By Wayne Sheets