Canine Officer Rose visits Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Oziel Jeffries, Pres. Byesville Rotary; Dep. Oakley; Rose; Sgt. McClay; and Det. Sgt. Paden.

Reading for next meeting:August Rotarian, pp. 16-27--"Small Grants." 

Board meeting Thursday, 12N at Plus One Pizza.

 

Det. Sgt. Jeff Paden, Sgt. McClay, and Dep. Oakley introduced Canine Officer Rose to the club members. Rose is a hard working member of the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Department. Rose has been answering calls three shifts a day. She is an important part of the Sheriff’s Department’s war on drugs in Guernsey County. In the past two years, Rose has been responsible for 63 convictions—most resulting from vehicle stops.

The Sheriff’s Department has recently purchased a new dog named Yuri who is a multifunctional dog. Rose is a specialist who is trained to search for drugs. Yuri, who is trained to track, apprehend, search buildings, as well as look for drugs, is expected to be even more effective at getting convictions than Rose.

Yuri is a Belgian Malinois. The Malinois breed was chosen because this breed has fewer health problems than a German Sheppard. Yuri must be certified to work in Ohio. Sgt. McClay, his human partner, stated that the certification process is 90% complete. He expects certification to be finalized by September. Sgt. McClay reported that training for dogs and handlers is continual. Both the handler and his dog partner must attend 16 hours of training each month.

The Sheriff’s Department and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #136 are hoping that members of the public will help support the purchase of a second dog to assist Yuri when Rose retires. Once Rose retires, Yuri will be asked to work 3 shifts a day.

A new dog costs about $10,000. A special car insert for the dog is $1700 and a door popper is $550. The special insert will open the window if the vehicle engine stops running while the officer is out of the car taking a call. This piece of equipment will insure that Yuri will not be trapped in a car that is becoming too hot or cold and endangering his life. The door popper will allow the officer to open the vehicle doors if he needs the dog to come to his assistance. Contact Det. Sgt. Paden or Sgt. McClay at 740-439-4455 to make a donation.

The presentation ended with a Rose demonstrating what she does when she is on the job. She searched for drugs and found the hidden demonstration package quickly.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Evelyn Spring, 740-439-4343.

Byesville Rotary hears firsthand account of US military withdrawal from Iraq

Pictured: Oziel Jeffries, Byesville Rotary President; Col. Phillip Harding, guest speaker; and Dennis Harding, Speaker Host.

Reading for next meeting: August  Rotarian, New Traditions, p. 13.

BBQ Saturday. If you are not working, stop buy and and get a chicken. sales will start around 9:30am.

Col. Phillip Harding, currently serving in the US Air Force, spoke to the Byesville Rotary about his deployment in Iraq. He has 30 years of experience in the Air force and explained that he volunteered for deployment overseas.

He was assigned to a post in Baghdad, Iraq, and spent a year in Iraq during the final days of the US military withdrawal. He was assigned to the Office of Security Operation for Iraq. This office worked out of the US Embassy in Iraq. As a result, the colonel had two bosses-- the US Ambassador and the military.

His job assignment was to facilitate US military withdrawal from Iraq and turn responsibility for former US operations over to the Iraqi government. Col. Harding explained that training for his mission included 3 weeks of Security Assistance Management out of Wright-Patterson plus an additional 10 days at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He described the training as “multi-service” which meant that different military services participated in the training. He stated that being trained from the perspective of the Army was a new experience for him.

He was hit with cultural and climate shock on his arrival in Iraq. He stepped off his transport into 100 degree plus temperatures. His assigned quarters were a converted shipping container called a CHU (Container Housing Unit). He stated that he adjusted quickly to the changes in his life.

During this transition phase there were no military operations. He was one of only 153 US military personal that remained in Iraq. He reported that by mid September, 2011, all US bases in country were been turned over to Iraq and the Baghdad base had been packed up. By mid December 27/28, 2011, the last US personnel were gone.

His final impression is that the average Iraqi is tired of war and wants peace after being at war for over 30 years. The Iraqi government now needs to insure peace for its citizens by dealing with internal terrorism.

Randy Launder, co-chair of the chicken BBQ, reported that all is ready for the chicken BBQ to be held on Saturday, August 25, at Rotary Gazebo in Byesville. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be helping the club on Saturday. Sales will start around 9:30am.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Evelyn  Spring, 740-439-4343.

Rotary District 6690 Governor visits Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Oziel Jeffries, Byesville Rotary President, and Michael Brown, Rotary District 6690 Governor.

Michael Brown, newly inducted Rotary 6690 District Governor, spoke to Byesville Rotary about Rotary District and International Goals for 2012-13. This year’s theme is “Peace though Service.” Brown stated that he is “…confident that this theme will provide a foundation for all [club members] to face the opportunities and challenges in 2012-13….”

In the coming year Rotary will focus on 3 challenges. As District Governor, Brown would like District 6690 Rotarians to focus the energies of their clubs on three priorities: 1) support and strengthen clubs through engaged membership; 2) focus and increase humanitarian service through support of the Rotary Foundation; and 3) enhance Rotary and each local Rotary club’s public image and increase community awareness of what Rotary does.

Brown said that Rotary is asking that each club identify and define the features and advantages that make the club unique. Each club should develop a consistent message about the club. This message should be clear and concise so that it can be easily shared with potential new members.

Rotary would like to get more people involved in their service projects. Clubs are being asked to rethink membership requirements. Brown explained that one way to recruit and retain members is to think of members as customers. Rotary suggests that clubs adopt a cardinal rule of business which is to keep customers happy. Club members should be treated like customers, and clubs need to identify what their “customers” want from the club.

Using this perspective, clubs are surveying their members in order to discover what their members want from their Rotary club. Survey results are influencing clubs to change their thinking about membership requirements and responsibilities. Brown reported that many clubs are changing emphasis from attending club meetings to emphasis on becoming engaged in service projects.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Evelyn Spring, 740-439-4343.