Club members are asked to arrange their programs in advance so we can publish them in the newsletter and via e-mail to the club membership.

Club members are reminded they can do make-ups on the web at  http://www.rotaryeclubone.org.

The club approved the donation of $300 to be sent to The Temple Solar Project for the purchase of a sun oven to be used to help in the feeding of tsunami victims in Southeast Asia.

Club Dues

The club membership voted to increase quarterly dues to $90 per quarter effective January 1, 2005.  Current dues are $80 per quarter.  This is the first increase in five years and unless there are significant increases from the District or Rotary International, the dues will not be increased for several years.

Club Officers for 2005-2006

The following officers were elected for the 2005-2006 Rotary Year: President - Jim Nelson; President Elect - Lana Pleak; Past President - Dan Veskrna; Treasurer - Mary Jean Rahlfs; Secretary - Karen Zelensky; Sergeant at Arms - Ellen Ryder; Board Members - Chris Boswell and Shawn Petersen.  Congratulations to all those elected and thank you for agreeing to serve.

Notes from the January 18th Meeting - Program Chair - Ellen Ryder

Ellen's guests for the day were Bill Willard and Linda Howland with the Crowell Memorial Home.  Bill showed a video on the history of the Crowell Home.  The home is named after Christopher and Polly Crowell who donated their home (mansion) to the Methodist Church in 1905.  The mansion was built in 1879/1880 at a cost of approximately $80,000 which would equate to about $5 to $6 million today.  In the 1920's/30's an annex was added to the original structure.  In the early 1970's the mansion and annex were razed with that location still undeveloped.

Originally, the Methodist Church used the home primarily to provide housing for retired pastors and their spouses.  That, of course, has changed and people of all faiths are welcome.  Today the home has 98 skilled nursing beds, 24 assisted living units and 8 apartments.  The facility is Medicare and Medicaid qualified.

Crowell Memorial Home is celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 2005 with the theme "100 Years of Caring Service."  As part of the celebration the home is raising funds to construct a chapel which will be located on the upper floor of the existing facility.  The renovation of the facility will include raising a roof and installing a series of stained glass windows.  The projected cost will be approximately $375,000 with the entire amount funded through gifts and grants.

Rotary Question of the Week

Where will the 2005 Rotary International Convention be held?  

Rotary Fact of the Week (from  the RI or District Website)

The greatest celebration in Rotary's history — the 2005 Rotary International Convention — commemorates the organization's first one hundred years of service and will take place on 18-22 June 2005, in downtown Chicago, where Rotary was born.  As of December 20th 12,129 Rotarians from 128 countries have registered to attend the convention. 

This Centennial Convention will be anything but conventional. It features an extra day of festivities and a Rotary parade through downtown Chicago! Rotarians are encouraged to register early for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

Thought of the Week

"If you're too busy to help those around you succeed, you're too busy."