The meal consisted of beef goulash or fried chicken accompanied by mashed potatoes garlic bread and salad bar. Bread pudding was the dessert. President Matthew Owen invited Past District Governor Larry Meyers to lead us in the flag salute. Bill McAuley gave the invocation, noting that President Elect Bruce Smith is out of the hospital and doing well. Owen then gave us a brief history of the Rose Parade. He’s been attending as a volunteer for 15 years. The Parade started in 1890. It didn’t always have a football game as part of the festivities. For 15 years they did chariot races.
Jerry Reece announced Mardi Gras for a Cause would be held February 17th. Tickets are 50 in advance or 75 at the door. There will be a parade, cocktails, live music, Gumbo, red beans and rice, corn bread and cupcakes. He didn’t say what the cause was. Ted Loring Jr. boasted that he had vacationed with his in-laws in Upstate New York. He said that ”Vacation with your in-laws is an oxymoron”.
Our speaker for the day was the previously mentioned Past District Governor Larry Meyers. He’s chairman of the Polio Plus Campaign in our district. He was a victim of polio, contracting the disease at age 6. One day he woke up paralyzed on his left size. He was placed in a hospital and given treatments like blankets soaked in scalding water draped across his body. He recovered, but now is feeling the effects of Post-Polio Syndrome. He said that we are close to eradicating Polio world-wide. Last year there were 35 cases. There is a risk of its return, because fewer children are being immunized against these childhood diseases. If you donate to Rotary’s Polio Plus campaign, the Bill Gates Foundation will match each dollar you contribute with two more dollars. Last year our district raised 238,000 dollars. He would like to see us do better this year.
Cheerfully submitted by Hank Ingham
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