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President's Message
WOW! I hope everyone saw the Sunday newspaper again! Gail Peek is doing a wonderful job of Publicity Chair. Not only was this week's program announced she was able to include a photo of the 2009-2010 board, listing the officer's names and titles. Way to go, Gail!!
This week's program is a club assembly featuring District Governor Tim Buckly.
Don't forget the challenge to bring ONE NEW MEMBER into the club this year, and to make sure they become active in club activities. If you want to nominate a new member into the club, there will be nomination forms on the piano for your use. When a visitor is interested in becoming a member, just fill out the form and give it to Shawn Hunt, our illustrious secretary.
Thank you all for the great member photos! Kat Johanns is taking photos of all the members before and after the regular Thursday meetings. If you have not been photographed please make sure you get with Kat on Thursday. Almost everyone is on the website now that has had photos taken. I must admit we are a handsome bunch, including the women.
The website is a very powerful tool we should all utilize. www.templerotary.org CHECK IT OUT!
Last Weeks Message
  
Dashing knights in full armor on noble steeds snorting as the joust begins! What a fun experience for our Rotary Club thanks to Rotarian of the Day, Barbara Bozon. Randall Parr and Chris Byrd introduced us to a program they developed called Early Act/First Knight.
Randall Parr, a former Naval Officer and Chaplain, was deeply troubled by his encounters with recruits in the military who enlisted because their parent or parents just wanted them out of the house. Unwilling to accept a situation that bred new generations with little self-esteem and questionable values and ethical standards, Mr. Parr started exploring programs to give young people a firm grounding in the values that made this country great. He knew of fine service programs for youngsters but he understood that getting young people to participate in service projects was only part of the equation. They must also have a better understanding of WHY they should want to serve others. With a commitment to service and knowing why it is important to serve would instill an enduring set of values that would get the youngster to stand up for what is right, when it is easy to do what is wrong!
Mr. Parr explained that our individual value system is set by the time we are 12. Thus, high school programs do not touch children early enough to point them in the right ethical direction. A successful program for youth must incorporate the key needs of every human, regardless of age, (1) the need to feel important and (2) the need to be appreciated. As Mr. Parr put it, children must learn at an early age that “you become valuable by becoming valuable to someone else.” The Rotary Club Four Way Test developed by Herbert Taylor captures all of the aspects of service to others above self. Thus, Mr. Parr focused on developing a program that would (a) be a feeder for Rotary programs such as Interact, (b) be something in which children would WANT to be involved, (c) be age appropriate for grades k through 8, (d) be easy to integrate into school curricula and (e) would involve parents and relatives. When all of these elements merge you would have a powerful, effective system to instill in generation after generation a commitment to service above self and doing the right thing.
If you are going to touch youngsters, you need to compete with flash, pyrotechnics and hi-tech wizardry. Mr. Parr came up with just the thing—the age-old mystique, pageantry and chivalry of King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable. A school, with a Rotary Club sponsor, kicks off Early Act/First Knight with a Tournament of Champions and introduction into the elements of the Rotary Four Way Test. The Tournament has real jousting knights, war horses, inspiring music and LOTS OF FUN.
Next there are 10-minute pre-packaged, age appropriate sets of projects, scenarios, and lesson plans that easily integrate elements of the Four Way Test into school curricula. There are “Knighting” ceremonies by which participants receive medals and titles like page, squire and knight. These children are recognized in assemblies with family as witnesses to their accomplishments. By announcing why these young people are being publicly honored, others may want to experience the same affirmation. This is especially true when the accolades are not based on getting the highest grade or scoring the winning points, but rather by deciding to help others, or to stand up for what is right. The program also mirrors life in that it takes time to attain the titles, but they can be lost by quickly making the wrong decision.
The program ended with a brief video of the Tournament of Champions. It was awe-inspiring to see the energy and dedication of Mr. Parr and others in presenting a great concept to youngsters. Simply put, if time is taken now to give children the right guidance, we can all benefit. If we do nothing, then any and all elements to which a child is exposed will determine who that child will be, for good or bad. See www.eafk.org for more information about Mr. Parr’s program.
Mr. Byrd invited us to a Convention at Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne on October 24th. It is part of the Fifth Annual Wild West Day in Boerne. For more information on this event you can do a Google search of Annual Dominion Rotary Wild West Day at Enchanted Springs Ranch.
100% Dinner
The 100% Dinner is scheduled for August 21st, 2009, at Sammons.
Scheduled Programs for July, August, September
Please let me know if you have a program you would like to share and we will book them.
August 6 - District Governor - Tim Buckley
August 13 - Gary Gosney
- Learning Unconditional Love from One's Pet
August 20 - Terri Matthew - CAC
August 27 - Deborah Stiehl - Life Enrichment Coordinator
for Temple Living Center - Western Hills
September 3 - Bryce Monson - Temple Football Coach
September 10 - Captain Jan Rose - Army Nurse who Served in Iraq
September 17 - Sue Hamby - Humor
September 24 -Coach Fredenburg - UMHB Football Coach
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Click here to view the March/April 2009 District Newsletter.
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