The Gainesville-Haymarket Rotary meets every Wednesday at 7:30 am at the Piedmont Country Club. Here's the address:

14675 Piedmont Vista Drive, Haymarket, Va 2016

Please sign on to the District Club Database and review/update your membership information.

This is Family Month, and I have a beautiful family in mind. In 1986 I received orders to Sasebo, Japan. There, 650 miles from Tokyo, all signs were in one of the three written languages adopted by that country: hirigana, katakana, or kangi. We were functionally illiterate outside the fence of the Navy facility. We lived in a community of 2500 Americans and in relative isolation – until we were “adopted” by Junichi and Yohko Koga. You see, the Japanese are the world’s champion hosts.

Junichi-san was a Rotarian. He and his family hosted us at their annual New Year’s party, Japan’s big seasonal event, where we wore silly hats, toasted our flags with saki, and became serious friends. It was my first Rotary experience.

The morning that we departed Japan, as our airport shuttle exited the Navy facility, we saw Junichi and Yohko waiting unexpected in their car outside the gate. They followed us to the airport and with secret smiles told us to be sure to look back at the terminal after we boarded the plane. Our eyes found the Kogas on the upper observation deck, standing about 50 feet apart. Junichi held the Stars and Stripes aloft, and Yohko, the flag of Japan. As our plane taxied out, the Kogas moved the two flags back and forth in unison, like a metronome. In that moment they captured our hearts forever.

There we were, two nations, united as one by the simple gesture of a Rotarian. Rotary matters.

Here's a nomination form from the Prince William Chamber of Commerce to nominate a non-profit for an award relating to Arts & Education or Health & Human Services. Our Publication Relations Director Amelia Stansell would like to see everyone fill one out nominating our club and the Manassas and Bull Run Clubs for their leadership with the Children's Wellness Festival.

Click here to access and print out the form. .

Here is some of the details you need in order to fill out the form

Name of Non-Profit & Program: Gainesville-Haymarket, Manassas and Bull Run Rotary Clubs - Children's Wellness Festival

Contact Person: Charlie Mills Co-Chair

Address: 15505 Alderbrook Haymarket VA 20169

Phone: 703-789-8322

Please write a brief blurb about why you are nominating the Children's Wellness Festival. Amelia will include with hers the press releases and district newsletter releases we have sent for it along with the wonderful pictures Tony/Marilyn provided

You can see the pictures from the Children's Wellness Festival at www.wellnessfestival.org

PS: If you need help faxing the form, fill it in and bring it to the club meeting and Marilyn will scan it in for you so you can send it as an email attachment.

Craig Cole, Executive Director, Five Talents

Before coming to start Five Talents in 1999, Craig spent four years with Food For the Poor, one of the largest relief and development organizations based in the US. He held several program and fundraising positions while working extensively with churches in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially in Haiti. He has a master’s degree in economic development from Eastern College, St. David’s, Pa., While there, he worked as a consultant with two non-profit organizations in inner-city Philadelphia. He has given workshops and speeches on economic development in a variety of settings and countries. He has a B.A. in journalism from the University of Iowa and worked for the Daily Herald newspaper (Chicago) for five years. His father and brother are both Episcopal priests. He is married to Deborah. They have one daughter, Paige, and one son, Carter.

Fr. Jack Fullen & Kelly Rose, House of Mercy.

Father Jack Fullen and Ms. Kelly Ross gave a presentation on the House of Mercy. Started in 2006 in DC and now located in Manassas, this organization serves the needy, regardless of denomination.

This service includes spiritual, emotional and financial support as well as providing referrals and clothing. Overall, its mission is "to raise the dignity of a human being." House of Mercy has a particular dedication to children and is currently assisting about 250, 150 of whom are sponsored.

In addition to monetary contributions, the House of Mercy is always in need of clothing for adults and children.

The board of directors has agreed that the club should undertake a Holiday Done In A Day Project that would benefit the Turning Points Shelter. This is the shelter where members of the club painted the bedrooms, and with the help of Linda Marlow got several beds donated. Linda has talked with the director of the shelter and below is the list of items that the shelter needs. This shelter takes in battered women and their children and they usually arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Women's pjs or nightgowns - all size

Women's slippers - all size

Children's pj's or slippers - both boys and girls - any siz

If shopping is not something on your list of fun things to do, you can donate money and we can purchase gift cards to Wal-Mart, Kohl's, K-Mart.

Please bring your purchases to a meeting by December 17th or bring them to the Holiday Party at Dennis' house on Sunday, December 14th. If you just want to donate funds give the money to Marilyn Karp.

Looking for a way to increase your Public Relations skills? Volunteer to be on the Club's PR committee. Duties will include: preparing and sending press releases, updating the Chamber of Commerce WireSite, attending tradeshows, assisting with Club sponsored project PR including designing and distributing brochures, posters and flyers. If you are interested in helping with this committee, please contact Amelia Stansell at amelia.stansell@bbandt.com or call 208-989-4887.

Each member is encouraged to take advantage on MATCHING FUNDS from the District. This is made possible because of a gift.

Consider: 1. Becoming a Paul Harris Fellow for $500 after receiving 500 recognition points from the district. Paul Harris Fellows can achieve the next level for $500 after receiving 500 recognition points from the district.

Also - Many members have given to the Rotary Foundation as a sustaining member. This money counts toward becoming a PHF or above. Example: If you have given $200 as a sustaining member, you can become a Paul Harris Fellow for $400 after receiving 400 recognition points.

2. Becoming a sustaining member for $100 and receive 100 recognition points . This will make you $200 on your way to becoming a Paul Harris Fellow ($1000).

3. Making a contribution of any size to the Rotary Foundation and help us meet our club goal of EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY YEAR giving to the foundation. All gifts count toward Paul Harris Status. Matching points apply only to gifts of $100 or more.

4. Making a $1000 gift to the Rotary Foundation and becoming a Paul Harris Fellow or achieving the next PHF level. This will be matched by 1000 recognition points. Then you can bestow a great honor on another person by making them a Paul Harris Fellow. Consider this as an honor for your spouse, friend, mentor or parent.

THIS WAY YOU GET DOUBLE RECOGNITION FOR ONE GIFT.

All gifts to the Rotary Foundation are tax deductible.

Gifts should be made by check to the Rotary Foundation and given to Russell Tuck.

Date	Speaker	Description	Guest Of
December 17	Jim Miller	DOD/Navy Worldwide Humanitarian Efforts	member
December 24	No meeting	Merry Christmas!
December 31	No Meeting	Happy New Year!

Date	Event	Time
Sunday, December 14	Christmas Brunch at Fargos	11:30 AM
Monday, December 22	Salvation Army - Bell Ringing (Gainesville Giant)	9am to 9pm

2008-2009 Board of Directors

Officers	Name	Directors	Name
President	Dennis Fargo	The Rotary Foundation	Russ Tuck
President Elect	Charlie Mills	Club Administration	Lori Power
Vice President	Alan Myers	Membership	Linda Marlow
Secretary	Don Rusch	Service Projects	Marilyn Karp
Treasurer	John Grezjka	Club Public Relations	Amelia Stansell
Sergeant-at-Arms	Ali Sayed	Rotary Community Corp	George Layne
Interact Club	George Layne	Past President	John Grezjka

Places to make up a meeting

If you would like to make up a meeting online, you can click here.

Excellence is the result of:

• caring more than others think wise
• risking more than others think is safe
• dreaming more than others think is practical
• and expecting more than others think is possible

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