Newsletter - Archive  Feb 1, 2010

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Warren Prost, left, presents a $1,000 check to Paul Reinert in support of the Yachana Project in Ecuador. Below, Linda Nichols announces she plans to go to Ecuador to teach a photography class.

J.C. West Rotary joins Springfield club in Ecuador project

A $1,000 check and a Rotarian with a heart to help launched the Jefferson City West Rotary Club's newest venture into the international scene - joining up with the Springfield (Mo.) Rotary Club to support an innovative Technical High School in Yachana, Ecuador.

    Warren Prost, a past president of the J.C. West club, presented Paul Reinert, past president of Springfield Rotary, a check for $1,000 on Jan. 22 in support of that club's on-going project to purchase computer equipment to sustain the Yachana Technical High School deep in the jungle of Ecuador.

     One week later, West Club President-Elect Linda Nichols, a professional photographer, announced that she would be making a trip to Ecuador in April with a bag of digital cameras she would donate to the Yachana school, and lead a class teaching students at the school on how to take photos and edit them on computers for eventual publication.

"Truly, I was touched by what is going on in Ecuador and I felt this was the big chance to do what I have always wanted to do," Linda said.  Then she added: "I'm going to bring a telephoto lens myself to take pictures of snakes and spiders."

    West Club President Steven Houser said this was the first time the club was going to have a physical presence involving one of its international projects. The project in Yachana was originally began by the Chilles Milenio Rotary Club in Quito, Ecuador, and later supported by the Rotary Club in Springfield, thanks to Reinert, who has made annual mission trips to Ecuador over the past 10 years. "That was when I first learned about Rotary International, and that was where I actually made my first Rotary meeting," Reinert said.

   With two Rotary clubs in two different countries involved in the project, Reinert said it would qualify for RI Foundation matching grants as well. He gave a presentation about Ecuador and the Yachana Technical High School project to the Jefferson City West Club in January to drum up additional Rotary support.

Four new members inducted; total membership reaches 80

The ranks of the Jefferson City West Rotary Club continue to grow. Four new members were added to the rolls in January. In the upper left photo, West Club President Steve Houser welcomes Terry Jarrett, who transferred from the Jefferson City Downtown Club, and Erik Janeczko, owner of Excellerating Execution, a business development group, is welcomed by his sponsor, Rev. Don Carter.

    In the photo at right, Rotarian Carla McDaniel sponsored new member Ashley Pederson, a Realtor with RE/MAX Realtors, and new member Paul Graham, is welcomed by his sponsor, Linda Nichols, the club's president-elect. This brings the club's total membership to 80. One more potential member is expected to be inducted in February.

Spotlight: Special Learning Center

Debbie Hamler, left photo, director of the Special Learning Center in Jefferson City for the past 25 years, and Brenda Myers (right photo), executive director of the SLC Foundation, gave J.C. West Rotarians an updated report on its non-profit agency. The West Rotary club is looking for a non-profit to sponsor with its annual Trivia Night fund-raiser, set for April 23. The Special Learning Center, now celebrating its 25^th year, is among the candidates. More than 600 children are involved in SLC programs during the year, Hamler noted.

Rotary Conferences coming up!

Here are three key Rotary conferences and special events coming up in the next few months. Put them on your calendar.

March 26-27: PETS/SETS Training for club presidents-elect and secretaries-elect, at Capital Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.

April 15-17: All-Missouri Rotary Conference, involving all four state Rotary districts, at Springfield, Mo. More details to come, but this is a great event for all family members!

April 23: Rotary Trivia Night, sponsored by the JC West Rotary Club, 6 p.m. at Capital Ritz, a fun fund-raiser for a local non-profit, to be determined later. Open to the community.

June 20-23: Rotary International Conference in Montreal, Quebec. Canada.

Upcoming Programs

Feb. 5 - Mini bio's of two new members.

Feb. 12 - Mike Gray, investigator, Missouri State Technical Assistance Team, "The Internet and Youth."

Feb. 19 - Kathy Cavender, Runge Nature Center.

Feb. 26 - Chip Gentry, Angel Flight Central.