Happy Tuesday, Rotarians.

Need to Know:

1. Our Don’t Meth With Us committee has several upcoming presentations: Monday, September 19^th at 1:00 PM at Seymour H.S.; Tuesday the 20^th at 1:00 PM at Marshfield H.S.; Wednesday the 21^st at 10:45 AM at Logan-Rogersville H.S. If you are interested in attending, the committee will meet at the event sites 45 minutes prior to the start time.
2. The board has determined that our second Color Run will be next fall.
3. The board has also decided not to continue with pecan sales. There are still a few unsold bags if you need any, but we will not be ordering more.
4. Marshfield Rotary Club will turn 50 in 2018. It is not too early to think about how to celebrate our anniversary. If you have any suggestions, please see a board member.
5. Our Rotary District 6080 conference will be at the Hilton Convention Center in Branson on October 21-23.

Meeting Recap

Our guests today: District Governor David Bixler and his wife Julie, as well as our Assistant District Governor, Rowland Geddie.

We inducted a new member today – Lance Bateman. Welcome!

Our District Governor David Bixler spoke to the club today. Mr. Bixler is the CEO of the Bixler Corporation in Springfield. He joined the Springfield Southeast Club in 2002, and became Charter President of the Springfield Metro Club in 2011. In 2011-2012, Mr. Bixler was the District Rotarian of the Year. He is a Paul Harris Fellow. His wife Julie is also a Rotarian with the Springfield Metro Club. Mr. Bixler spoke of three “miracles” for Rotarians. 1) Rotary’s mission to eradicate polio. Rotary took on polio eradication in 1985. There are now only two endemic countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan. Our work is not complete – polio will not be eradicated until all countries remain free of new polio cases for at least three years. 2) We belong to an organization with a powerful tool – the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Foundation has been highly rated as a humanitarian foundation by numerous sources for its global good works, responsible use of funds, and low overhead expenses. The Foundation has over $1 billion in assets and is the glue that holds Rotary International together. 3) “Members” become “Rotarians”. Rotary provides opportunity for service and personal growth, wherein club members become part of something with a higher purpose. Mr. Bixler challenges all Rotarians to participate in Polio Plus and raise awareness for Rotary’s role in polio eradication, to support the Rotary Foundation and give the gift of Rotary to a friend by inviting someone to Rotary.

Julie Bixler reminded us of the upcoming district conference in Branson on October 21-23. The focus at the conference will be leadership and personal development. This year’s international conference will be June 10-14 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Rotary theme this year is Rotary Serving Humanity.

Final Thoughts

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Being a Rotarian means you get to be around a lot of groovy people:

https://youtu.be/WlHBzXt4Khs

Marshfield Rotary Club: Raising the bar through leadership, giving and education.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Kristin Grace Krebs