Meeting held on January 26, 2016, Recorded by Leslie Bagby.
President Harold Ingersoll called the meeting to order right at noon. Past President Mary Bird Bowman led the pledges and Ron Simonsen gave the invocation. Russell Gallahan led us in reciting the “FOUR WAY TEST”. Past President Sherry Workman was our greeter at the top of the stairs and Rich Fikani checked-in and introduced our visitors and guests.
Jackie Sinex announced a new website for club promotion: Meetup.com. She encouraged all members to join and participate to let others know all that the RCA is doing in Austin and the world.
Past President Sherry Workman announced that we are still collecting items for our Interact Club at Fulmore Middle School. Their community service project is collecting needed items to distribute to a homeless shelter. You can bring items to Saturday’s “Stop Hunger Now” service event or bring them next Tuesday. Next Tuesday, February 2nd, is the last day to bring your donations. Items needed include: bottled water, shampoo, soap, razors, socks, scarves, gloves, packaged foods, lotion and blankets.
Past President and Past District Governor Barry Curlee gave the (just over) 60 second Member Spotlight.
President Harold made the following announcements:
- Stop Hunger Now is this Saturday at Tarrytown Methodist Church. Families and friends are encouraged to come out between 9-noon and join in the effort to make a difference in the lives of hungry children.
- The Literacy Committee needs volunteers on February 16-18 from 1-5 pm to help with SpringBook’s annual Read-a-Thon. Contact Mary Reynolds if you are interested.
- The 2nd Annual Membership Soiree on January 19, 2016, at the Headliner’s Club was a big success with 14 members submitting applications. He thanked organizers Elvin Pool, Tillery Castillo and Karen Waryas for a great job!
- The Austin Rotary Club Foundation Dinner is Thursday, March 3rd, 2016. Thanks to Jackie Sinex, RCA will roll out a newly published “Annual Impact Report” that highlights the work of our club.
- Lastly, President Harold reminded everyone that we have new parking voucher cards for our Rotary meetings. These cards only work on Tuesdays.
Michael Portman presented pins to the newest Paul Harris Fellow recipients: Todd Coleman (PHF +1), Carl Noble (PHF +3) and President Elect-Elect Sara Pantin (PHF +5). Congratulations to Todd, Carl and Sara!
Jeanne Arnold, Ronney Reynolds, Tom Howard, Tillery Castillo and Sara Pantin all came forward for the “Thank Goodness Basket.”
President Harold Ingersoll introduced today’s speaker, Nancy Lehmann-Carssow, who was his geography teacher at Lanier High School. She has received numerous awards for excellence in teaching. Nancy is also a Rotarian, since 1989, and a Past President of the Northwest Austin Rotary Club.
She has traveled extensively all over the world and her presentation to the club was “Toilets of the World.” She showed us photos of the many potties she experienced on her travels and included hilarious and interesting stories with insight to the countries and people.
Highlights were the sidewalk toilets in Paris, the “throne” in Crete, and a Fort Stockton restroom where you can shop and “do business” at the same time. We learned that it’s important to have a “buddy system” when squatting in the great outdoors amidst elephants and tigers.