Byesville Rotary wishes “Happy 100th Birthday” to Girls Scouts of America

Pictured: Shana Fair, Speaker Host; Kendra O’Reilly, Regional Director of the Girls Scouts of the Ohio Heartland; and Oziel Jeffries, Byesville Rotary President-Elect.

Kendra O’Reilly, Regional Director of the Girls Scouts of the Ohio Heartland District, told club members that the Girl Scouts were founded in 1912 and are proud to be celebrating their 100th birthday. She explained that the Scouts are the largest organization for girls in the world. Girls Scouts in America are part of an organization that totals more than 10 million girls in 145 different countries.

Girl Scouts were established by Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low. Her first troop consisted of 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia. Daisy believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. With the goal of bringing girls out of isolated home environments and into community service and the open air, Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars, and studied first aid.


Twenty-first century Scouts do much more than learn how to camp. As times have changed, Girl Scouts have changed. Today, the organization offers many different types of programs designed to help girls become successful adults in today’s world. Programs and activities include field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships.


Today, Girl Scouts is open to girls 5-17. The mission of the Scouts is to build confidence and character in girls by providing an environment in which girls feel safe to explore new prepared to be the next generation of women leaders.


Bill McCoach, Assistant Governor for District 6690, presented the club with the Governor’s Citation with Distinction in recognition of club efforts in meeting certain criteria in the Five Avenues of Service and contribution to the Rotary Foundation during the 2011-2012 year. Only eight clubs in out of the 59 in the 6690 District won this award.


Randy Lauder reported that the club BBQ fundraiser on Saturday sold out of chickens in record time. He said that at one time, the club had a line of 13 people waiting for chickens to be removed from the spit and bagged for sale.


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 Randy Launder, 740-801-0017.

Byesville Rotary learns importance of healing the family to save the child

Pictured: Mike Humphrey, Counselor for House of Samuel, and Shana Fair, Speaker Host.

Chicken BBQ this week-end. If you can't work, come by for a chicken or two.

Mike Humphrey described the House of Samuel as a small, non-profit, Christian centered family agency serving Cambridge, Byesville, Guernsey County, and southeastern Ohio. The staff consists of Jim and Candy Barr, who established the agency in 1999, two office staff, two councilors, and Sebastian, a large Labrador who works as a therapy dog. Their mission is to provide family centered adoption, foster care and counseling services to kids and families.

Humphrey is one of the counselors at the agency. He said the House of Samuel networks with other local family and child agencies and refers clients to other agencies as necessary. He pointed out that the House of Samuel will “…help a family with whatever services the family needs,” but that their main focus is to help kids who are at risk and their adopted families or foster parents.

Staff at the House of Samuel will try to reunite a child with his or her family. If that is not possible, they will work to find adoptive or foster parents. Their aim is to place a child in a stable, loving home. Humphrey stated that “Kids who are hard to place end up at the House of Samuel in part because we deal with the children on a 1 to 1 basis.”

Education and training are an important part of services offered. Biological parents, adoptive parents as well as foster parents are trained in how to be better parents and how to deal with troubled children. Children also trained. Many at risk kids have attachment issues and are not able to express feelings of love. Others do not like to be touched. These issues make it difficult for them to be integrated into a family. The goal of training and counseling is to help parents and children build a stable functional family in which children and parents love and respect each other and know how to work through problems together.

The House of Samuel is partially funded by the Department of Jobs and Family Services. Additional funds come from clients who pay for the service themselves, from insurance, and from PASSS (Post Adoptive Special Services Subsidy). Individuals may donate to the agency by visiting their web http://www.housofsamuel.net

Byesville Rotary meets every Tuesday, 7:30 am, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary is welcome to attend a meeting or call 740-685-3828, or 740-685-8294.

Byesville Rotary learns Southeastern Med active in cancer screening and patient support

Pictured: Shana Fair, Speaker Host; Jen Fannin, Manager of Cancer Registry Services at Southeastern Med; and Oziel Jeffries, Byesville Rotary President Elect.

Jen Fannin, Manager of the Cancer Registry Services at Southeastern Med, explained that part of her job is to collect cancer data and track cancer patients in Guernsey County. She reassured club members that all patient information gathered is confidential.

Fannin reported that about 200 new cancer cases are diagnosed every year in Guernsey County. The most common diagnoses are breast, colon and lung. Southeastern Med is working to make a difference in cancer patient outcomes by being proactive in providing in screening for breast and colon cancer.

Southeastern Med offers free colonoscopy screenings based on income. Some patients qualify for a free colonoscopy while others will pay only a small per cent of the cost. At present, Southeastern Med is holding contest to give away a free colonoscopy. This contest is open to everyone no matter what their income. The drawing will be Monday, May 14. Registration forms are available in the hospital lobby.

The Power Me Pink Project, allows Southeastern Med to offer free clinical breast exams and mammograms to low income women. This program, which is funded by the Komen organization, provides about 30 free screenings a month. Additionally, Southeastern Med would like to begin providing screening for skin cancer.

Fannin said that people diagnosed with cancer often, “…feel alone and angry and are affected by feelings of grief.” She pointed out the Cancer Committee at Southeastern Med is dedicated to providing spiritual and emotional support to cancer patients, their caregivers, and friends. They have established several groups aimed at helping anyone affected by cancer.

Fannin and Nancy Neff are co-facilitators for the Cancer Copers group which meets every 2ed Thursday of the month at 6:00pm at the Community Health Link. Each month different speakers discuss a topic related to cancer. This group welcomes walk-ins and everyone affected by cancer. The Breast Cancer Support Group, facilitated by Deb Leonard, meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm at the community Health Link.

Fannin pointed out that if people are not comfortable joining a group, they can ask to talk to someone on a one to one basis. Cancer patients are matched with a cancer survivor who is willing to share his or her experience. Southeastern Med also hosts a Cancer Resource Center which is open daily and provides all kinds of free information about cancer.

Byesville Rotary meets every Tuesday, 7:30 am, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary is welcome to attend a meeting or call 740-685-3828, or 740-685-8294

Byesville Rotary supports youth baseball

Pictured: Byesville Rotary Treasurer, Chuck Fair, presents check for dugout benches to Rolling Hills Youth Baseball League for their new field. Chuck Fair, Byesville Rotary; Haydon Loy representing the Rolling Hills Youth Baseball League; and Tanya Hitchens, Byesville Rotary President.

Byesville Rotary learns colonoscopies save lives

Pictured: Tanya Hitchens, Byesville Rotary President; Dr. Sarap, SEOMC; Shana Fair, Speaker Host.

Dr. Sarap, surgeon at Southeastern Med, spoke to the club about colorectal cancer. This type of cancer is the 2ed leading cause of cancer death. In Guernsey County, over 53% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are not diagnosed until the disease is in its late stages of development. This means that a person’s survival rate drops to about 8%. The survival rate in Guernsey County is one of the worst in the state of Ohio.

If caught early, up to 90% of colorectal cancer patients survive. Early screening, which should begin at age 50 for most people, can prevent colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy screening allows a doctor to identify and remove pre-cancerous polyps or catch cancer at an early stage.

If early screening can prevent colorectal cancer and increase a person’s chances of surviving the disease from 8% to between 85% and 90%, why are only half of people over 50 years of age getting screened?

Dr. Sarap explained there are three obstacles to getting screened: 1) lack of patient and doctor awareness of the need for screening; 2) lack of access to health care and insurance; and 3) fear of embarrassment.

In response to the problem of colorectal cancer in Guernsey County, Dr. Sarap and a group of dedicated individuals formed a task force—now named the Tina Kiser Colorectal Cancer Coalition. Their mission was to inform Guernsey County residents about the dangers of colorectal cancer and about the effectiveness of colonoscopy screening.

The Coalition worked in four different areas to implement their mission. They began to educate local physicians about colonoscopy screening and to raise public awareness about the disease. The purchase of a giant pink colon is one of the most visible of the Coalition’s public education efforts. The Coalition also actively advocates for cancer support services at the state level.

Additionally, the Coalition works to provide colonoscopy screening for free or at a reduced cost for indigent patients. This program is unique in Ohio. Fifteen counties in Ohio have referred patients to Guernsey County for this free service.

The Coalition’s efforts have yielded positive results. In Guernsey County, the number of colonoscopy screenings has increased by 22% in the last three years. People are more aware of the dangers of colorectal cancer and have begun to ask their family doctors about the need for screening. All of this means that cancer deaths from colorectal cancer are being reduced in Guernsey County.

Dr. Sarap stated that the aggressive actions taken in Guernsey County prove that …”organizational, financial, and social commitment” can remove the barriers between people and better colorectal health.

Byesville Rotary meets every Tuesday, 7:30 am, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary is welcome to attend a meeting or call 740-685-3828, or 740-685-8294.