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 20169

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

In this time of giving, it is sometimes human nature to compare the material value of gifts being offered. It is easy to overlook the more priceless, intangible gifts of the humanitarian. Take my friend, for example:

This week I’ll have eight hours’ sleep and rise to nine-hour workdays; he’ll sleep four and work sixteen. I’ll awaken casually, enjoy warm showers, and use Gillette foam. The flashlight in his eyes will awaken him; he’ll shave in a steel bowl of lukewarm water with bar-soap. I’ll kiss my wife in her bed and see her for supper; he may be three month’s from his family’s embrace. I will stand in the cold and ring a bell for the Salvation Army, for the good of the community. My friend will answer alarm bells and stand at Battle Stations for the good of the nation. I’ll tend a wood fire at my hearth; he’ll fight an electrical fire in a generator. I and hundreds like me will find a way and a time to give to those in need. He and hundreds like him will stand constant watch and give to us all.

I am a Rotarian. He is an American submariner.

As we celebrate the Season, let us remember that while all giving and all sacrifice is relative, it is all necessary to who we are as a nation. We give what we can, because we must. Thank you for your sacrifice, fellow Rotarians. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays!

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.

Mark Cooke, Classification Talk

Today we will learn more about one of our newest members, Mark Cooke, as he gives his classification talk.

Craig Cole, Executive Director, Five Talents.

Craig spoke to us about microcredit and his organization, Five Talents, which loans money to the underprivileged around the world to help them to become independent and start their own businesses.

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. 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 24	No meeting	Merry Christmas!
December 31	No Meeting	Happy New Year!
January 7	club members	Discussion of Fund Raising Options	members
January 14	club members	Club Assembly	members
January 21		SERVE	Amelia Stansell
January 28	Cindy Seidel	Fitness For Life	Dennis Fargo

Date	Event	Time
Monday, December 22	Salvation Army - Bell Ringing (Gainesville Giant)	9am to 9pm
Sunday, January 25	Fireside Chat at Marilyn Karp's house	2-4 PM

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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