Today's Program: Tom Petrizzo, Chief Executive Officer, Ozark Guidance, Springdale, will bring us a presentation on the activities of Ozark Guidance and mental health needs in our area.

Last Week's Program:

President, Jonathan Moore, led the Club with singing “America” and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Invocation by Eric Boye. Rusty Turner led the singing “Wait Til the Sun Shines Nelly”.

President Moore introduced today's guest speaker: Debbie Rambo, Director of the Samaritan Community Center. Debbie told the Club that she is seeing more and more people forced into crisis situations due to the economy and rising fuel and food prices. There has been a 33% increase in the last four months of the people that they are serving. They have also seen an influx of people needing assistance to leave the area for jobs in other areas.

The Good Samaritan Community Center is facing similar challenges as other non-profits: higher demand for their services - but a decrease of in-kind product. They are down about 8% this year. Debbie talked to the Club about four specific programs that they offer:

Food Pantry: Serves 225 families each week, which has increased due to the summertime and when kids are out of school. They usually serve about 150-175 families a week.

Children’s Summer Meal Delivery Program: provides children with a hot meal and 2 healthy snacks each day delivered by a caring volunteer. They service about 120 kids during the summer.

Our Weekend Kids Care Program: each child receives a snack pack bag containing 8-10 healthy food items each Friday throughout the school year. These kids have been identified as being at-risk for hunger on the week-ends by school personnel. Serving about 2,759 children in 4 counties.

Operation Backpack: provides each child with a new backpack filled with age appropriate school supplies to better prepare them for the new school year. Supply 1,500 backpacks this year alone.

Debbie mentions that they are always in need of volunteers and in-kind gifts. They will be stuffing backpacks the last Friday in July (25th) and could use help packing them. Food is their greatest need. They spend approximately $10,000 - $12,000 on backpack meals and about $8,000-$10,000 for the food pantry each week! They have partnered with Olive Garden and receive leftover’s to help supplement the soup kitchen meals.

They currently have 300-325 consistent volunteers and 10 staff people most of which are part-time. There are volunteer opportunities to fit any schedule, from a one time commitment to a consistent commitment. If you would like to volunteer or make a contribution/donation please contact Debbie at drambo@samcc.org or call her at 479-636-4198

Announcements:

• Rick McLeod announced that the Club made $11,483 (net) for the Tetrazzini Dinner. He said that it appeared that we didn’t sell as many dinners this year and the school purchased some of the left over meals.

• Remember to vote today in the runoff elections.

• Hal reminded everyone that the newsletter front cover has been redesigned but he is still working on getting the back updated. Please check the back of the newsletter and make sure that your information is correct. Any changes need to be submitted to Hal as soon as possible.

Atta Boys and Atta Girls:
Kathryn Gough
David Swearingen
Brad Bridgers
Jill Wagar 2X

Visiting Rotarians and Guests: Macadda Peoples introduced today’s Visitor’s and Guests -

Judene Kuszack introduced her guest, Lance Dufour

Visiting Rotarian, Mike Malone, Fayetteville Downtown

Bob’s Student Guests

Bob announced this year’s scholarship recipients. This year $8300 in scholarships was awarded, besides the speech contest. Edwin Velasko was the recipient for the first multi-year scholarship that the Club has awarded.

This year’s scholarship recipients are:

• Jessica Archer - UA

• Necole Kerstiens - NWACC

• Cameron Smith - Boston College

• Kendall Madson - OK State

• Ashleigh Severson - UA

• Heather Rasnick - UA

• Caleb Ford - UA

• Ashley Ritter - MO Southern State

• Chelsea Andrews - NWACC

• Melanie Kyles - UA

• Kara Nardoni - UNC - Chapel Hill

Other smaller scholarships were awarded to the Club’s Members children:

• Stephen Turner - Son of Rusty Turner

• Nathan Boye - Son of Eric Boye

• Kyle Reithemeyer - Son of Betsy Reithemeyer

• Katie Schuett - daughter of Dennis Schuett

• Harrison Stanfill - Son of Greg Stanfill

Bob gave a special thanks to Club Members: Judene Kuszack, Jeff Rylee and Matt Kendall for their participation in helping select this year’s scholarship winners. And special thanks to Bob for his hard work throughout the whole year and serving as chairperson for the Student Awards committee.


Chad’s Members in the News:

• Joe Spivey - Scouting for Eagles

• Rev. Biff Averitt and his wife Ann, guests of honor at his retirement party, at the Central United Methodist Church of Rogers

• Kay Riazzi, member of Altrusa International of Springdale at the Dist. Eight conference

• Wendy Kumpe, member of the Altrusa International of Rogers, helping present a $2779 check to the NWA Children’s Shelter.

Upcoming Programs

June 24th: Mr. Johnnie Bolin, Executive Director, Arkansas Good Roads Transportation Council, will be our speaker on the council and its efforts to improve our transportation system in Arkansas.


The Club closed the meeting with reciting the Four-Way test.