A trip to South Africa was the highlight of Rotary Club of Greater Corvallis April 28 meeting. Rotarian Mike Sheets shared a presentation and video of many exciting sites and activities. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcsV61Rem44&t=322s
Club News
Middle Schoolers Say it Best
When asked about the how the U.S. President could heal a divided country and bring people together following the November election, middle school students took on the challenge. As you might expect, sixth, seventh and eighth graders gave the best answers.
Kylie Beatty Tully, sitxth grader at Ashbrook School said “The divide is a colossal problem. It is not, however, an unsolvable one. People who are on separate sides of the divide often just shout at each other, never really hearing what the other person has to say. A big example of this is the recent presidential debates. If people could just listen to the other side, the reasons behind their thinking might reveal a common goal. In the debates, Clinton and Trump just shouted at each other, never letting the other speak or express their opinions.”
Max Solensky, seventh grader at Franklin School said “Despite differences, opposing sides have “common” goals, such as improving our infrastructure or healthcare, and reducing national debt. Finding common goals allows compromise to be reached.”
Seventh-grader Olivia Remcho of Linus Pauling Middle School said “It is okay to be scared in this time of change, and it is okay to not understand other individuals, but when people do not communicate with one another and are not well informed, it becomes too easy to discriminate.”
Lena Baker-Blease, eighth grader at Ashbrook School shared: “If I were president, my first priority would be to discourage stereotypes, and for me personally I would focus on gender…To heal the divide, and finally get it right, we must rip off the labels. In the words of Winston Churchhill.” She quoted Winston Churchill saying “You can always count on the Americans to get it right, after they have tried everything else.”
Eighth-grader Elise Faux of Ashbrook School asked the challenging questions: “The 2017 US presidential election has caused a divide in our nation separating race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, and culture. Protests against travel bans and in support of women’s dignity have caused chaos in our society. With political pundits spewing out “alternative facts” about political figures and movements, we Americans have developed a default mode of suspicion. With the divide, have we lost the inherent strength that comes from unification? If so, how do we mend our open wounds?”
Thank you Rotarians Tiffany Bailey, Stephanie Douglas, Andy Tucknott and Locke Williams for your efforts on this event. Thanks you parents, teacher, and principals of shaping your youth and allowing them to excel.
Willamette Angel Conference Supports Local Economy
Corvallis has its own version of the popular television show, Shark Tank. For those who have watched it you know that prospective inventors and business entrepreneurs present their ideas for new businesses and products looking for investors who might support them. In Corvallis, that same concept occurs at the Willamette Angel Conference, which will be held May 11 at the Whiteside Theater. Local individuals present their new business ideas and products looking for investors from our area to help boost our local economy.
Marc Manley, Executive Director of Oregon RAIN and organizer of the Willamette Angel Conference, shared the economic value of this conference in our community. Agility Robotics, a program proposed by an OSU professor, is an example of an endeavor that came through the Conference.
On in 10 projects succeed to make a return on investment and it is usually an 8 to 10 year process for the project to come full circle, says Manley. He explained that the range of funding required is usually around $400,000 and the average investors will contribute $100 to $300k.
Nominations Accepted for Joanne Kersey Innovator Awards
Joanne Kersey Innovator Awards
Celebrating the 30th Year of Women in Rotary
Dedicated to the first Woman President of the Rotary Club of Greater Corvallis
This award honors women connected to Rotary in Benton County, who have made a difference through innovation and leadership with a project or program dedicated to service. These awards are presented in celebration of the 30th Year of Women in Rotary and are named for the first Woman President of the Rotary Club of Greater Corvallis, Joanne Kersey.
Three $100 cash prizes will be presented to the winner who exemplifies behaviors that have inspired, encouraged, challenged and empowered others to make a difference. The awards will be presented in three age categories:
- Youth Innovator — 16 to 25 years of age
- Young Innovator — 26 to 40 years of age
- Community Innovator – 40 years of age and up
Criteria:
- Creativity: Conceptualizes, leads and executes on an innovative project, program, or activity that makes a difference for others
- Passion: Shows a deep passion for what Rotary stands for and encourages others
- Positivity: Innovation and leadership that demonstrates a positive influence on others with enthusiasm and excitement
- Integrity: Reflects the Values we embody as leaders in Rotary and the Four-Way Test (Truth, fairness, benefit)
- Communication: Is able to communicate ideas, influence others about those ideas, and show friendliness and open-mindedness to all.
- Dependability: Can be relied on to serve, to give more than take
- Sense of Humor: Shows an ability to express and lead with humor, which is sometimes the best solution.
To Apply: Type a 200 word (maximum) description of the innovative project, program or activity, summarizing how at least four of the criteria above applied and how success was measured. Include 2 names of references with contact information who are/were familiar with the innovative project, program or activity.
Submit application to: Kersey Innovators Award, Rotary Club of Greater Corvallis, PO Box 363, Corvallis, OR 97339-0363 or email to info@rotarygreatercorvallis.org.
Deadline: April 15, 2017
Dick Carozza educates on Fraud
Most of us have experienced some form of fraud, perhaps with a credit card. Few of us have had the opportunity to examine and report on some of the biggest fraud cases in history. Dick Carozza, editor-in-chief of Fraud Magazine, has interviewed and written about some of the most famous fraud cases. He shared his stories with members of the Rotary Club of Greater Corvallis on Jan. 20 at its weekly meeting.
“Most fraudsters don’t set out to commit fraud,” said Carozza. He explained that most get pressured in a fraud opportunity that they rationalize.
Carozza, a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, shared about such famous cases as Enron, Bernie Madoff and others. He has interviewed Richard Dreyfus who played Madoff in a movie and he has reported on such whistle blowers as Sherron Watkins in the Enron case, Cynthia cooper, in a World Com case, and Dr. David Graham, in a Food and Drug Administration case.
Graduation Rates Rise says new superintendent Ryan Noss
High School graduation rates have risen by 18 percent in the past four years, says new 509J Superintendent Ryan Noss, shared with the Greater Corvallis Rotary Club on Jan. 6, 2017. Noss reported the good news of an 86 percent graduation rate, and added that the increase includes improve with diverse populations and students with disabilities.
Noss reported on the increased diversity of the 6,566 enrolled students , stating that 30 percent of students are non-white and 16.4 percent speak a language other than English. More dramatically, he shared that 65 percent of today’s elementary school students will work in jobs that do not even exist today. “What will the world look like when these youngsters graduate?” he asked.
Much attention is focused on seven core value that include inclusivity and real-world applications. “Internships and mentorships are important. We need to help our students learn how to be inventive,” he concluded.
Noss thanked Rotarians for welcoming him into the community and club, and stress appreciation to the community for supporting the $4 million local option levy, which helps support the addition of 50 teachers in the district.