Byesville Rotary starts bell ringing fund drive in Byesville Nov. 25

Pictured: Dr. Mamidi, Byesville Rotary member and speaker, Phyliss Jeffries, Byesville Rotary President.

Reading for Dec. 1:

• December Rotarian--"President's message," "The remarkable Mr. Harris," pp. 31-46.

Business and annoucements:

• Bell ringers still needed--call Bob to schedule.
• The Christmas party is on hold until after Christmas.

Byesville Rotary club members and friends of Byesville Rotary will begin staffing red kettles and ringing bells in Byesville on Wed., Nov. 25. Byesville Rotary, in cooperation with the Cambridge Salvation Army, has agreed to be responsible for providing Christmas Food Baskets to families in the Rolling Hills School District. This year the club expects to donate over 250 baskets to local families. All funds collected in Byesville will be used to purchase items for the food baskets.
Bell ringers will be collecting donations at the Byesville branches of Advantage and Peoples banks on Nov. 24, 27, and 28 and in December every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through December 19.
A final registration for Food Baskets will be held the evening of December 7, 3:00-6:00pm, at the Main Avenue Methodist Activity Center.
The speaker for the meeting was Dr. Mamidi, one of the club’s newest members. He spoke about his journey from the Indian town of Brhampur to medical school in the United States. He specialized in cardiology and became a clinical cardiologist. He explained that he prefers to work in rural areas rather than the city. He practiced in Logan, West Virginia, for 30 years before he came to Cambridge and currently works at Genesis.
Dr. Mamidi pointed out the heart disease is often silent and the disease typically begins in a person’s 20’s. A person can help reduce his/her risk for heart disease by making changes in life style. Recommended changes include eating a heart healthy diet and including exercise in daily activities.The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, December 1, 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 Larry Miller, 740-439-2767.

Byesville Rotary learns everyone benefits from the farming industry

Pictured: Phyliss Jeffries, Byesville Rotary President; Blaine Neilly, Board Member, Ohio State Farm Bureau; Carl Keefer, Speaker Host.

Reading for Nov. 24:

• November Rotarian, "World Roundup," p. 14-15, "Poverty," p. 80.

Business and announcements:

• Don Valentine was inducted in to the club.
• Dec. 1 meeting will be officer and board election. Current candidates are: President elect--Rich Dair and Tonya Hutchins; Secretary--Shana Fair; Treasurer--Chuck Fair; Board--Jim Vaughn. Please call Dan Navicky to submit additional names.
• Marlene's Bar and Grill held a fund raiser for the Christmas Food Basket Program. $1340 was raised.
• Final registration for Christmas Food Basket--December 7, 3:00-6
• Phyllis shared a letter from Lucia from Venezula. She can be reached on Facebook under "Maria Lucia Lloret."

Blaine Neilly, a farmer and board member for the local Ohio State Farm Bureau, spoke to the Byesville Rotary club about the importance of the agricultural businesses in Guernsey County. He pointed out that agriculture remains important source of income for Ohio. For example, Ohio produces more Swiss cheese than another other state and ranks second in the production of chicken eggs.
The aims of the Farm Bureau are to support sustainable agriculture and insure a plentiful, safe, and affordable food supply. Mr. Neilly stated agriculture faces 4 big challenges in meeting these goals during the coming year. Hungry white tail deer like farm crops and caused an estimated $100,000 worth of damage in Guernsey County last year. Farmers must find effective methods to control the deer population in order to maintain a plentiful supply of agricultural products.
A second challenge to farming is the migration of urban people to the country. Many urbanites have a romantic view of rural areas and object to the normal byproducts of a working farm--noise, smells, and dirt. A third challenge is educating people about the realities of farm life. For example, when news agencies reported that tomatoes from specific areas were contaminated with salmonella, many farmers with untainted tomatoes lost income because people stopped buying all tomatoes.
A final challenge to farmers is efforts by outside organizations to develop and enforce restrictions on how farmers raise veal and swine and produce eggs. Impact on this type of regulation is not limited to people in agricultural based businesses. Shoppers could see less produce and meat in their markets and have to pay more for the items they purchase.
People do not have to be farmers to join the Farm Bureau. For more information on the benefits of membership visit www.ofbf.org or call the local Farm Bureau office.
Mr. Neilly stated that a scholarship for Guernsey County students is available for any college sophomore or higher in an agriculture related major. Students can apply by contacting the local Farm Bureau Office, the Soil and Water Conservation District office (432-5624), or Mr. Neilly at 432-5195.0
The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, November 24 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 Larry Miller, 740-439-2767.

Civil War re-enactor visits Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Phyllis Jeffries, Byesville Rotary President, Vicki Keefer, Rev. Carl Keefer, Rotary member and speaker.

Reading for Nov. 17:

• November Rotarian, "Paved with Good Intentions," p. 43.

Reminders:
Bring candy canes to Nov. 17 meeting.

• "Breakfast with Santa" committee meeting, Monday, Nov. 16, 6:30 at Peoples Bank in Byesville.
• Board meeting, Nov. 19, at Pizza Plus.
• Bell ringing volunteers needed--contact Bob Long for schedule.

Carl Keefer, also known as Captain Keefer, Chaplain for 15th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company E, spoke to Byesville Rotary about Civil War re-enactment. Mr. Keefer is also Vice President of the Southeast Ohio Civil War Roundtable and a veteran. He was accompanied by his wife, Vicki Keefer. Both were dressed in period clothing.

To be considered authentic, clothing worn by re-enactors must duplicate the originals. One requirement is that the clothing must be made by hand using the same equipment and the same fabrics available during the Civil War. The Keefer’s outfits were made using a manual treadle sewing machine like the ones available in the 1860’s.

In addition to sharing information about Civil War reenactments, Rev. Keefer shared a short story he authored about Grant’s last visit Lincoln in Washington D.C. For more information about becoming involved in Civil War reenactments, contact Rev. Keefer at 432-7734.

Byesville Rotary club members will begin staffing Salvation Army red kettles. Watch for them at Byesville Peoples and Advantage banks this month. Monies raised will be used for the Christmas Food Basket program. More volunteer bell ringers are needed.

Members are reminded to bring candy canes to the next meeting. The candy canes will be used as favors for all the children visiting with Santa at the clubs “Breakfast with Santa” scheduled for December 12.

The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, November 17 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 Larry Miller, 740-439-2767.

Byesville Rotary donates dictionaries to Rolling Hills 3rd graders

Pictured: Marty Patchen, Byesville Rotary Membership co-Chair, Tom Perkins, Rotary member, Dalton Summers, new Byesville member, Larry Miller, Byesville Rotary Membership co-Chair.

Pictured: Byesville Elementary 3rd graders and their dictionaries

• Reading for Nov. 10: November Rotarian--
  "President's message," p. 1,
• "How to save the world," pp. 30-35.

Reminders:

• Bring syrup for "Breakfast with Santa."

Business:

• Scott Lojas was appointed to the board to fill out Marilyn Milhoun's term.
• Next meeting of "Breakfast with Santa" committee, Nov. 16, People's in Byesville, 6;30pm.
• Board voted to accept Don Valentine as a new member. Any concerns should be voiced to Phyllis within 7 days.
• December business meeting is the date for officer elections. Nominating committee members are: Joe Waske, Nellie Bichard, Dan Navicky. Any member interested in serving as an officer should contact a member of the nominating committee or ask someone to nominate him/her from the floor.
• Bob needs at least two trucks to move food from the Village Market freezer to the distribution point.
• The schools have begun collecting canned goods.
• Nov. 16, Evelyn is having a Ladies Night Out at Byesville Furniture and Carpet. She will be collecting food items for the food baskets.
• Sat. Nov. 21 is the date for food raising at Reisbeck's.

Byesville Rotary members believe that literacy is important for a child’s future success as an employee, as a parent, and as a citizen. Annually, the club donates a dictionary to each third grader in the Rolling Hills School District. This year each of over 300 students at Brook, Byesville and Secrest Elementary Schools received a dictionary from the club.

The causes of illiteracy and the literacy challenges people and communities face are complex. Byesville Rotary members feel that they can make a difference by encouraging local students to make the most of their educational opportunities. The dictionary program is only one of several programs that the club supports aimed at supporting students in Guernsey County.

The club inducted Dalton Summers, Principal at the Rolling Hills High School, into the club. He will also be serving as the Rotary Interact Club advisor. His sponsor is Tom Perkins.

Thursday and Friday, November 6 and 7, are the final days for the Rotary Christmas Food Basket sign up. Residents of the Rolling Hills School District can come to the Main Street Methodist Church Activity Hall between 7:00am-12N to register. People registering are asked to bring a photo id, proof of current address, id for any other adults living in the home, and proof of custody for any children under 12 in order to qualify for Angel Tree gifts.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Christmas Food Basket project can give their donation to any of the Byesville Rotary Club members or contact Bob Long at 685-3620 or PO Box 2, Byesville, 43723, care of Bob Long.

Byesville Rotary will hold “Breakfast with Santa” on December 12 to raise funds for the Christmas Food Basket program. The breakfast is $5.00 for adults and will be held at the Stop Nine Senior Center in Byesville. Santa will be visiting. A photographer will be available to take pictures. The pictures will be free.
The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, November 10 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 Larry Miller, 740-439-2767.