Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw

"The Outrage"
Allison Basinger, Education and Prevention Coordinator SAFEHOME

"THE OUTRAGE is an educational theatre performance piece that addresses the topics of teen dating violence and sexual assault. Written and directed by SAFEHOME's Educational & Prevention Coordinator Allison Basinger, THE OUTRAGE is performed by high school student volunteers from Blue Valley Northwest, Olathe North and Olathe Northwest. Today, eight high school students from Blue Valley Northwest, candidly yet sensitively, will present current statistical information and depict realistic dating violence situation. After the 25 minute performance the high school actors will answer questions from the audience.

THE OUTRAGE has been well received by a wide variety of audiences ranging from middle school assemblies to adult community groups.   The information presented is valuable to any person who knows or is a teenager, as we know "one in five high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner" and "54% of parents admit they have not talked to their child about dating violence".  Experiencing The Outrage for yourself will give you the courage and information to bridge this communication gap."

For over 30 years, SAFEHOME has been saving lives. Since its incorporation as a not-for-profit agency in 1980, SAFEHOME has grown from a network of “safe homes” in the community to a 45-bed shelter and comprehensive service provider for victims of domestic violence. Services include: safe shelter, 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling, child care, school and community education programs, Johnson County District Court and hospital advocacy, and civil legal assistance.  All services are free and confidential.  Each year, SAFEHOME provides services for over 6,400 victims of domestic violence and their children. 

GREETERS: Our Decembers birthday celebrants will serve as our greeters this Thursday.

CPR/AED DUTY SCHEDULE

UPCOMING SPEAKERS & EVENTS:

Plan to bring your coats and warm clothing to our Rotary luncheon meetings this Thursday, Dec. 9. This is our last Thursday to collect your donated items.
Chairman Kent Fulton  and tyros will be in the entry lobby of the Muehlebach Hotel (Wyandotte Street side) to collect your coats and warm clothing.
This drive is important to the many people in Kansas City who need clothes. If you haven't worn it in two years, you probably no longer need it.
We still need a couple of volunteers to assist with the weekly collections from 11:00 a.m. to noon on Dec. 9.
Tyros, you can earn six points for helping with the collection. If you can help out or have questions, contact Kent Fulton at 913/236-7223.   

 Our 100th Annual Rotary Holiday Party

Ukraine Trip Set for Early Spring

Calling all professors, teachers, former teachers, politicians and anyone who would like to stand up in front of a group of university students to tell them about life and government in the US of A. We have been invited back to Ukraine, in late April or early May, to spend a week in the university classrooms to do an intense review of what happens here for students who are studying English and to be interpreters. We'll also need at least one IT person to help with computerized presentations there. We will have help here to get the computerized stuff ready. We will also have help from the USUkraine organization in Washington with preparation. This will be the 10th "mission" trip by members and friends of Club 13, and will be the most intense. Contact Bob Lager at mandblager@kcnet.com quickly to get planning underway.

Ethical Business in Regards with Your Automobile
                       "KNOW YOUR CAR"  by Dick Harmes

In 1908 Henry Ford started mass producing the historical Ford Model T.
Henry said of the vehicle "I will build a car for the great multitude; It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be low in price ($825.00) that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one-and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces." Wow what a great marketing statement!
The purpose of this short prose is to hopefully assist us as car owners to have a grounded foundation on how we choose to maintain or replace our vehicle in the most ethical manner between owner and service provider and or dealer.
The point of that exact quote is now; more than ever in the history of the automobile is to say "Know Your Car." Read the owner's manual! There are so many features in a modern vehicle, from heated seats, automatic windshield wipers, seat position memory, even television screens showing the driver what is behind them. All these features are individual machines within the machine. All of these devices, as they assist us to operate the vehicle safer and with more comfort, are subject to malfunction or even cease functioning, particularly as the vehicle becomes older and inevitably when the warranty has expired. Unfortunately little preventative maintenance can be performed on most of these bells and whistles, and the cost of repair or replacement usually is prohibitive as you equate that cost to value of the vehicle.
So here are some suggestions that I have itemized. From the most obvious to the least obvious that will guide us to the most important responsibilities of the car owner to not enter into unethical vehicle repair.
      1. Vehicle maintenance. Perform all manufacturers recommended oil and filter changes, transmission fluid and filter changes, coolant flushing, and wheel rotation, among other items as it pertains to the mileage of the vehicle. Avoid purchasing air filters, windshield wipers, and servicing transmission and differential fluids at quick lubes. Have the last two items performed at the dealer or with an auto mechanic. Purchase the first two items at an auto parts store and install them yourself. Our have a family member or friends install them, if you are auto challenged.
     2. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". If your vehicle starts to function poorly, you hear an unfamiliar noise, the vehicle performs differently, all of the above are red flags. Take the vehicle in for an inspection. Continuing to operate the vehicle with the mindset that it will go away is poor judgment. Have the vehicle repaired before it becomes a more costly repair.
     3. Establish an amicable trust and relationship with your vehicle service provider. Continue to use the same business to perform all the items mentioned above with one service provider. Working with the same service provider allows the technicians to become familiar with you and your vehicle. You become familiar with how they do business and they understand your primary objectives. We usually are not using different CPA'S, Lawyers, or Doctors, because we have a relationship with one and other. The same should apply to your automobile service provider.
     4. Require the service business has all the proper licenses and insurance. Different states, counties and cities require different licenses. They also should also be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service--this goes a long way in establishing a ethical business in automotive service, as most people look for a mechanic they can trust. The ASE certification tells people that you are licensed and have the knowledge required to repair vehicles.
     5. Finally, the automobile is a depreciating asset. Use good common sense when it is prudent to repair the dent in the fender, our replace the transmission. The value of your vehicle might tell you to avoid that expense, as it will not be retainable at resale.
In closing, my late father always told me "it cost just as much to fill the top half of your gas tank as it does the bottom half."
 

25% Discount for Foundation Fellows - Regular and Sustaining Members!

In an effort to "close the gap" for our Comfort Care shortage, one generous Rotarian has offered to donate $250 to the next 40 Rotarians who become K.C. Rotary Club Foundation Fellows.
This program is good from now until Dec. 31, 2010.
You can receive this by making one check payable to the Foundation for $750 or becoming a sustaining member ($100 this year and $100 each year for the next six years and $50 on the seventh year.) This is tax deductible.
Once your pledge is paid, you will receive a handsome plaque for your home or office, as well as recognition at the Rotary Youth Camp. Plus, you will have the satisfaction of paying off our advance for the Comfort Care Station.
Please contact Jim Porter, Janet or Marilyn at the Rotary office. It doesn't get any better than this!
Jim Porter, President
K.C. Rotary Club Foundation

Four new members and their sponsors welcomed members today. President Ford Nelson called the club to order, searched for a song leader and focused on Bob Lager to step up and lead the club in singing "God Bless America" while 171-pint blood donor Carl Bolte accompanied. Ford led the pledge and Hal Lowenstein gave the invocation. Marty McInerney welcomed our eight guests and Houston's visiting Rotarian David King.

Recovery, recovery, recovery ~ A very special welcome back to Pat Dunn while Tony DiPardo minds the long road to his own recovery and return.

Several announcers: Jennifer Nelsen (our youngest Rotarian) described the Dec 16th Holiday Party at Hyatt Regency Crown Center…Jerry Cooke has the blood drive set for January 6th at the Marriott, Yardbird A & B… and Evie Craig presented awards to the stake holder companies that partnered with us in the Case Park restoration project. Receiving recognition were HNTB, DST, Downtown Neighborhood Association, State Street, Kansas City Design Center, and The River Club. Big thanks to you for the stepping in to help.

Myron Sildon announced four new members who were introduced by their sponsors: Dick Retrum introduced Kent Verden; Jason Roske introduced Keri Christensen; Martha Leonard Voight re-introduced former member Tom Martin; and Raymond Doswell introduced Ray Van Eman... Welcome to Club 13.

Steve Burger stepped up to welcome Andrew Schmitt, the president and CEO of Layne Christensen Company. Now in its third century of operations, Layne started in 1882 as a water-well drilling company in the Badlands of South Dakota. In 1995 Layne merged with Christensen Boyles Corp. and became the joint-venture partner with the Boytec group of companies in Latin America. Layne Christensen Company headquarters in Mission Woods and is now world famous for saving the 33 miners trapped deep underground in Chile.

Andy told about world wide operations of his company and explained the three competing rescue plans for the Chilean miners. His "Plan B" won a three-way race to reach the miners. The success was amazing and required extra special knowledge, machinery and skills only Layne Christensen could provide. Had Layne and Geotec not been there, the rescue effort probably would have taken until Christmas for either 'Plan A' or 'Plan C' to break through. The Layne team cut more than two months from the original estimate. The first rescue and the first experience in "drilling for people".

Some two weeks after the mine collapse, Layne's Latin American affiliate Geotec Boyles Bros. brought in their tophead drill. Layne sent in their best drillers who had been in Afghanistan drilling water wells to support U.S. troops. Spanish-speaking drilling helpers "translated" the machine dials and unusual dial locations on the equipment. Layne and Geotec drilled a 5-inch hole nearly 2,300 feet, reamed it to 12 inches and finally to a 28 inch in diameter large enough to accommodate the "Phoenix" rescue capsule.

Annual Blood Drive Set for Jan. 6, 2011

Our community uses 580 pints of blood every day - 365 days a year. The Community Blood Bank need Club 13's help! They need this help now as this is a very slow time for blood donations and the need is always greater around holidays. Please volunteer to donate on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, before, during or after our lunch at the Marriott Hotel.

Call Janet at our Rotary office 816/842-2322 and volunteer.

YOU ARE NEEDED - Questions, give Jerry Cooke a call at 816/942-0207.

Letter Received at the Rotary Youth Camp

August 25, 2010

Mr. Jim Porter
Rotary Youth Camp Association
2600 Grand Blvd., Suite 600
Kansas City, MO 64108

Dear Jim,

I started the Joshua Center, a non-profit organization, after my son was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and ADHD. The Joshua Center has grown dramatically and eight years ago we expanded our outreach to children with Asperger Syndrome. As you know, we have been providing an annual camp program at the Rotary Club Youth Camp in Lee's Summit for seventeen years.

Of all of our programs, the camp program is truly the most life changing of all. Most of our campers live in the Kansas City Metro area in the counties of Johnson, Wyandotte and Allen in Kansas and Jackson, Cass and Lafayette in Missouri. When we first started offering camp we cut the age off at 8th grade, but it became so clear the kids desperately wanted to continue coming, so we now have campers through high school. The past year we actually held a 2nd Grade Day Camp Pilot Program. We had 96 campers this year – our largest.

I will always be eternally grateful to the incredible people who make this camp possible. These campers have actually said camp is their "second home". These children are so misunderstood and rarely have a friend outside of camp. Providing a safe, beautiful place where these kids can truly be themselves is the most rewarding experience of all. Hearing a child speak in a normal voice after years of whispering, seeing a child receive encouragement to try something new or watching two kids with arms wrapped around each other while walking to an activity – they all bring tears to my eyes.

I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for helping me change the world for these children. All of you have given this community a gift that continues on. Every child with a disability deserves a little "normalcy" in their lives and your organization provides that over and over again.

It has been a lot of fun over the years to watch the beautiful changes you have made to the camp to make an even better place for these kids. It takes a lot of dedication to maintain this beautiful camp and I am one of many who appreciate all of your hard work.

One of my parents said it best, "This camp gives my child something I can't give him." Thanks again for the opportunity to have one of the greatest experiences in my life and the lives of these kids.

Sincerely,
Becky Ottinger, Joshua Center

Rotary International Convention in New Orleans

Early bird discount ends soon – Register now for RI Convention!
For weeks, the Buzz Saw has highlighted the RI Convention in New Orleans next May 21-25. It's special because the convention is nearby – the next five years it's not even in North America! And for the first time in 76 years, a Missourian from our district, Ray Klinginsmith, will preside as RI President. Now is the time to register before the "earlybird" $40 discount ends Dec.15. Registration is easy online at www.rotary.org/convention . Registration is refundable until five weeks before the Convention. Hotel reservations are separate, online through a central agency at http://registration.experient-inc.com/ShowROT111/ Hotel reservations are refundable until three days before arrival. (Hardcopies of the "Registration and Ticket Form" and the "Hotel Reservation Form" are available at www.rotary.org, or by calling the Rotary office at 816/842-2322.)