Byesville Rotary hears about the transforming power of the 4-Way Test

Pictured: Rich Dair, Speaker Host, Elden Hudson, Zanesville Noon Rotary, and Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President.

Reading for next meeting:

• October Rotarian, "Ten reasons to visit New Orleans," p. 30.

Many people know Rotary as a service organization. Fewer know that Rotary also encourages members to use high ethical standards in their business and home lives.
Rotarians use the 4-Way Test as a measuring stick for conduct and as a guide for right thinking. Elden Hudson from the Zanesville Noon Rotary Club shared the history of the 4-Way Test with Byesville Club members.

The 4-Way Test has been a part of Rotary since it was officially by Rotary International in 1943. In 1932, Herbert J. Taylor, the author of the 4-Way Test, was assigned to rescue a company from bankruptcy. He decided to emphasize the company’s character, dependability and service orientation. He searched for a code of ethics to be guide for company behavior and policies. He wanted something short that could be remembered and easily applied on a daily basis. All the codes he found were long and impracticable. Finally, Taylor wrote a 24 word ethics code he titled the 4-Way Test.

Company employees began using the code to check their decisions, plans, company policies, and advertising statements. The result—the company came back from bankruptcy and developed into a business valued at $2 million dollars.

Taylor discovered that the benefits of the 4-Way Test were not limited to business. He said, “…you cannot constantly apply the 4-Way Test … each day in business without getting into the habit of doing it in your home, social and community. You thus become a better father, a better friend, and a better citizen.”

What are these 24 words that can have such a transforming power? They are:
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build good will and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

On his death, Taylor gifted the copyright of the 4-Way Test to Rotary International. These 24 words are used successfully around the world in business, government, and schools—wherever Rotarians are—as an effective measuring stick for ethical thinking.

Hudson challenged members of Byesville Rotary to use the 4-Way Test on a daily basis. He ended his talk by relating his personal experience with the transforming power of these 24 simple words.

The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, October 26, 2010, 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 Secrest Center committed to providing services for seniors

Pictured: Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President, Karen St. Clair, WIC Program, and Rich Dair, Speaker.

Reading for next meeting:
October Rotarian, "Up Front," p. 11 and "Focus on fundraising," p. 27.

Courtney Welch, Financial Director, stated that the mission of the Secrest Center is to provide services that will “… enable our seniors to remain in their homes and live as independently as possible.” In 1980, two years after it was established, the Secrest Center became an independent entity. As an independent organization, the Center does not receive Ohio State support from Senior Levy monies.

The Center’s main source of income is their bingo program. Bingo is played 6:30 pm Sunday and Monday. The monies earned form the bingo games support services offered to seniors. The Center earns additional income by providing catering services, offering a Sunday dinner program, renting the hall for private activities, and from donations. The dining hall holds 300 people and can be rented for $200.00 which is reduced to $175 if the renters will clean up after their event.

The Center also offers oversight of the CHORE program which is the only service provided by the Center depending on state funds generated by the Senior Levy. The CHORE program provides lawn mowing and heavy household cleaning to seniors requesting the service.

The Center originally provided services to local residents in the Senecaville area. Since the closing of the Senior Center in the Caldwell area, services have been extended to residents from the Caldwell area. Center staff is currently considering ways to increase income so that they will be able to meet increased demand for services.

Corina Morris, Kitchen Director, is in charge of providing food services at the Center. These services include breakfast and lunches. Three course lunches are $3.00 for people 60 and over and $5.00 for those 50 and younger. Sunday dinners are $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children.

While the Center’s main focus in on services to seniors, all age groups are welcome to at Sunday dinners as well as breakfast and lunch on the weekdays. A member of the Byesville Rotary reported that he had eaten at the Secrest Center. He said, “The staff provides good food at a good price:”

The Secrest Center is located at 201 High Street in Senecaville. The staff can be reached at 740-685-6345.

The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, October 19, 2010, 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 supports Rolling Hills Gridiron and Boosters Clubs

Pictured: Jerry Gress, representative from the Gridiron Club accepts donation from Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President.

Joe Waske began Tuesday’s meeting by presenting a check to Jerry Gress from the Rolling Hills Gridiron Club. This club, started by parents, supports Rolling Hill 7th-12th grade football programs. Rotary club members are also sending a donation to the rolling Hills Boosters Club. A representative from the Boosters was unable to attend the meeting to accept.

Bob Long won the 50-50 drawing by getting the ace of hearts. Congratulations, Bob. We start a new 50/50 with a new deck next week.

Chuck Fair won the “Atta Boy” award for his support of the chicken BBQ.

Oziel Jeffries volunteered to chair the chicken BBQ committee for next year.

Joe asked for a volunteer to serve as the chair of the Family of Rotary Committee. The chair will be responsible to send the District Family Chair information about family related events sponsored by the club.

Larry Miller and Tanya Hitchens are building a slate of nominees to run for club positions for 2011-12. They need nominees for President Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, and a board member. Contact one of them if you are interested in serving.

Chuck handed out copies of the Treasurer’s report. All is well.

Grizz Smith presented his ideas about updating the landscaping at the Rotary Gazebo in Byesville. He asked for volunteers to sit on a landscape design committee. Shana and Joe volunteered to participate. Grizz will send a sign up sheet around. He is also planning a clean-up day at the Rotary Gazebo to be held Saturday, October 30, at 9:00. Members volunteering should be garden tools such as pruners, rakes, etc.

The Byesville Rotary Red Eye Tour to New York City is sold out. The group will be leaving Friday, October 22, at 7:00pm.

Randy White, Interact club advisor, reported that the Meadowbrook Interact Club is considering adopting Soldiers Angels as a service project. Rotary Interact clubs focus on young people 15-18. The program provides young people opportunities to develop service ethics and leadership skills. The Meadow Brook Interact club is one of 28 in District 6690.

Byesville and Cambridge Rotary Clubs will be hosting 43 students participating in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program (RYLA). Thirteen of the youth visitors are inbound from foreign countries. Thirty are students from the United States and are preparing to spend up to a year abroad. This Rotary sponsored program is the largest youth exchange for high school students in the world.

The Rotary clubs from Byesville and Cambridge are responsible for providing meals and a location for the students to stay for the week end they are here. In addition, the students will learn about the Rotary philosophy of service by participating in a service project.

Byesville Rotary has begun planning for their annual Christmas Food Basket program. Members of the club will be raising money by bell ringing again this year. Bob Long, chair of the Food Basket program, is developing a bell ringing schedule.Food basket stuffing will be Friday, Dec. 17, at 8:00am. Food basket distribution will be Saturday, Dec. 18, 7:00am. Both will be located at the Main Street United Methodist Activity Center.

Plans are being made for Breakfast with Santa, a club fundraiser that helps support the Food Basket program. Jim Vaughan, chair of the Breakfast with Santa committee, has already contacted Santa Clause. He reported that Santa has put the Breakfast on his schedule. Santa loved talking to the children at the breakfast last year and can’t wait to talk to them again this year.

Byesville Rotary’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, October 12, 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.

Pictured: Rich Dair, Speaker Host, Anna Hodges, President Eastern Ohio Art Guild, and Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President.

Reading: October Rotarian--p. 23, "One for the road."

Additional business:

• The Byesville Rotary District Simplified Grant has been approved.
• Members wishing to attend the District Foundation and Membership Conference on October 16--please submit your names to Shana Fair. She will register members from our club as a group.
• Zanesville RotaryNoon club will be holding a Gun Fest on Oct. 2.
• Club members agreed to share support of the Youth Exchange Program on "December 4-5 with the Cambridge club.

“Arts enrich local communities,” said Anna Hodges, President of the Eastern Ohio Art Guild (EOAG). Creativity contributes to the development of a vibrant and growing community. Areas positively affected include a local area’s economic as well as cultural well-being.

Anna encouraged Rotary members to develop their creativity by “…taking time to really look at what’s around you.”

Rotary members learned that EOAG focuses on supporting the arts in two different areas. The Guild provides workshops, seminars, and art classes that offer individuals an opportunity to learn more about the arts. The Guild also provides a venue for artists to show and exhibit their art works.

No one is too young or too old to expand his or her art skills and knowledge. EOAG offers programming for all ages. Current activities and programming include summer camp for kids. Different activities are offered for different age levels--kindergarten to 2ed grade, 3rd to 5th, and middle school to high school. Older children are given the opportunity to learn what it is to be a studio artist

On October 30, EOAG will host Night Gallery. Guest artist Ray Basham will turn the gallery into a creepy, haunted house. Horror films will be shown in basement, and gory, gooey refreshments will be offered. Guests are invited to attend in costume. Prizes will be awarded to the Best Overall, Most Creative, and the Most Creepy. Tickets, available at EOGH, are $10 in advance and $15 at door. Night Gallery is being sponsored by South East Area Transit.

Contact 740-432-8100 for more information about programs being scheduled for December and January.

The Guild also supports an exhibit gallery. The gallery operates as a co-op. Artists wanting to exhibit pay an exhibition fee. Exhibitors do not need to be a member of the Guild to exhibit. All items exhibited must be original art. No copies are accepted.

Currently, EOAG has 95 active members and 30 sponsors. Four members are professional artists who earn a living from the sale of their art.

EOAG works to provide opportunities for local community members of all ages to become involved with art on many different levels—from that of artist or creator to art appreciator and supporter.

Byesville Rotary’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, October 5, 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.