Newsletter - Archive  Nov 16, 2009

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Rotarian Kent Trimble, left, sponsor of new member Mike Moscato, and
Rotarian Larry Neill, far right, sponsor of new member Peter Goldschmidt.

Lucky Friday 13^th: Two new members

It was a lucky Friday the 13^th when two new members joined the Jefferson City West Rotary Club on Nov. 13. They are Mike Moscato, owner of River City Florist & Greenhouse, and Peter Goldschmidt, of Capitol City Properties. Their membership raised the club's member total to 78. Another new member is due to be inducted later this month. Moscato was sponsored by Kent Trimble, while Goldschmidt was sponsored by Larry Neill.

Students of the Month for November

Two Students of the Month for November are Sam Kiekhaefer, left, of Jefferson City High School, and Ashlee Hoffmann, right, of Helias High School. Sam is currently ranked No. 1 among the senior class in academics with a 4.1 grade point average (4.0 is considered A-plus) and is taking eight advanced studies at JCHS. He is a member of the Jays cross-country and track teams and is an Eagle Scout. Ashlee is vice-president of the Student Council at Helias, where she is also a member of the National Honor Society, the Student Ambassadors Club International, and the Ecology Club. She is a Honor Roll student. Congratulations to both Ashlee and Sam!

Rotaract Membership Grows

Sarah Strausser, president of the Jefferson City Rotaract Club, made up of young professionals up to the age of 30, reported that her club has now more than 50 members - growing fast from its original 12 members. Among JC Rotaract's goals this year is to support two community charitable organizations on a rotating basis for two years, and this year they are supporting the Special Learning Center. She noted that Rotaract is a precursor for its members to join Rotary, but adds "we are less formal with no attendance policy." The club meets every other week, rotating between restaurants and "watering holes."

Advancing stem cell research

As a young nurse, Margaret Tollerton (above) watched a young man die from a car accident injuries because his family rejected a blood transfusion due to their religious faith. "The important lesson I learned is that this fine family did not push their choice of not utilizing medicine on others," Tollerton told the JC West Rotarians on Nov. 13. "The same holds true for using stem cells that could help people suffering from Alzheimer's, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other afflictions. Her organization, Lifesaving for Cures, is seeking to clarify facts from myths about stem cell research.

Preserving Missouri's Heritage

Doug Crews, executive director of the Missouri Press Association, noted that the newspaper industry "is not dead" - and then talked about his favorite endeavor, the State Historical Society of Missouri, founded by the MPA to storehouse state newspapers going back to 1808. The Society does more than store old newspapers and manuscripts. It also houses more than 100,000 photos and 12,000 works of art - primarily by celebrated artists George Caleb Bingham and Thomas Hart Benson. Crews also learned that JC West Rotarian Rob Murphy's mother was once hired by Crews when she began her newspaper career in Lawson, Mo.

Students of the Month for October

Students of the Month for October were Alec Burton of Jefferson City High School
and Stephen Rehagen of Helias. Both are members of the National Honor Society.
Stephen is a member of the Crusaders football team and plans to attend either
Notre Dame or Saint Louis University. Congratulations to Alec and Stephen!

Coming Programs

Nov. 20 - Carla McDaniel, director of communications for Linn State College, "The Rotary International Foundation," plus a new member bio.

Nov. 27 - No meeting (Thanksgiving holiday)

Dec. 4 - Mike Gray, investigator with the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team, "The Internet and Youth."