Happy Thursday, Rotarians.

Help! Would anyone like to be our program on Tuesday? Or do you know of someone who could be our speaker on Tuesday? If so, let me know. Thanks!

Congratulations to Scott Jones and family on their latest addition. Ian David Jones was born on Saturday. So Scott has a new baby and is our incoming club president – what a lucky (and busy) guy!

Need to Know:

1. Our Installation Banquet will be held on Tuesday, June 9^th from 6-9 PM at Donnie Crawford’s place (directions/map will be forthcoming). This will be a fun, family-friendly BBQ with fishing and outdoor games and I hope that all members and their families can attend. There is no admission/attendance fee, although I will be passing around a sign up sheet in the next couple of weeks for volunteers to bring side/dessert items. The meat, potatoes and beans will be provided. We need a headcount on attendance by the end of the month, so if you will not be at our next meeting to sign up, please call or email me and let me know if you and your family will be attending. Big thanks to Adam Blanch for organizing this event.

***Adam mentioned that Mr. Crawford has been generous to host events on his property for other organizations in the past and has often been put on the spot with attendees asking him for permission to come back later and fish. Please do not do this. Mr. Crawford is generously allowing us to use his property and is fixing the meat, so we do not want to make him uncomfortable.***

2. Our next board meeting is on Thursday, June 25th at noon at DD Hamilton. All are welcome.
3. I have sent out the batsignal for help in finding a speaker for this Tuesday. Our speaker on June 2^nd will be Robin Rader who will talk about the work that she does with her therapy dog. The Executive Committee (aka our Board) is responsible for scheduling speakers for June.
4. Our Niangua Interact Club needs hangers for its Clothes Pantry. So if you have any extra hangers you can part with, please bring them to one of our weekly meetings or make other arrangements with Leslie Thomas.
5. Go ahead and put this on your calendar now: our 3^rd Annual Romance Raffle will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2016.

Meeting Recap

Our speaker on Tuesday was Loriell Biggs. Ms. Biggs works for Marshfield Parents as Teachers and serves on the board for Marshfield’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Parents as Teachers serves approximately 500 kids in the district. Nearly 300 kids get books every month from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. There is no income requirement to get books – all kids in the district are eligible to receive a free book every month until kindergarten. It costs about $30/kid per year, or about $800.00 per month for the books. The Imagination Library board is looking for funds for the project but also some new board members. Know any parents of younger kids who are passionate about literacy? Ask them to get involved with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Final Thoughts

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” Garrison Keillor (b. 1942)

A blues classic from the great B.B. King, who passed away last week:

https://youtu.be/BPlsqo2bk2M
Yours in Rotary Service,

Kristin Grace Krebs