Rotary International District 6880

Rotary Review
Bill Trant, Governor

February 2018

In January, at the MidYear Conference, District 6880 received at

great honor for all the work all 52 clubs have done. According to
Rotary International, to receive a Presidential Citation, you must
have “Clubs that are strong and making a positive difference in our
communities achieve goals related to Rotary’s three strategic pri-
orities: to support and strengthen clubs, focus and increase human-
itarian service, and enhance Rotary’s public image and aware-
ness.” Under the leadership of PDG Barry Cavan, all of these
things were accomplished and more. Congratulations to our Dis-
trict!

It is time to register for the Multi-

District Conference for Rotary Dis-
tricts 6820,6840, 6860, and 6880. Ro-
tarians will gather at the luxurious
Beau Rivage Casino and Resort
June 7-10 to continue MAKING A
DIFFERENCE in our World.

For online registration and more informationa, go to

www.district680.org . Make sure to use the District Code when register-
ing.
2017-2018 District 6880 Officers

District Governor Immediate Past District Governor District Treasurer

Bill Trant Barry Cavan (Joan) Bob Mills (Dianne)
P.O. Box 2604 4691 Chrystan Road P.O. Box 165
Opelika, AL 36803-2604 Montgomery, AL 36652 Troy, AL 36081
334-705-0041 (H) 334-272-6662 (H) bmills@troycable.net
334-749-8700 (W) 334-590-7677 (C) 334-372-2318
334-728-9700 (C) dgbarry6880@gmail.com
billopelika@yahoo.com
Vice Governor District Secretary
District Governor Elect Jim Golson (Nancy) Michael Hill
Samuel Adams 457 Kimberly Drive 1912 Northgate Drive
(Sam & Mary Virginia) Auburn, AL 36832 Opelika, AL 36801
3225 Boxwood Drive 334 -502-5064(H) 334-745-4415 (H)
Montgomery, AL 36111 334-329-9533 (C) 334-844-1604 (O)
334-263-9430 (H) jim.rotary.6880@gmail.com 334-744-5795 (C)
334-356-6700 (W) hillmic@auburn.edu
334-301-0597 (C)
alico500@aol.com District Communications Officer
District Rotary Foundation Eric Lewis (Wendi)
District Governor Nominee Robert J. Kelley (Donna) 507 Forest Edge Place
James Edward Dotherow III 2002-2003 Selma Montgomery, AL 36117
(Skip & Terry) 4330 Highway 22W 334-409-9147 (H)
3618 Bankhead Avenue Selma, AL 36701-0810 334-279-9100 (W)
Montgomery, AL 36111 334-872-0115 (H) 334-221-0066 (C)
334-284-2513 (H) 334-872-1390 (W) eric@rotarywebservices.com
334-313-1543 (O) 334-327-0712 (C)
334-313-1543 (C) 4rjkelley@bellsouth.net
dgskip6880@yahoo.com

Important Links:
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Rotary International ●www.rotary6880.org
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Ave ●www.rotary.org
Evanston, IL 60201-3698 ●www.DaCdb.com
Tel: +1 866-976-8279 (toll-free)
Fax: +1 847-328-4101 ●www.Rizones30-31.org
contact.center@rotary.org
Hours: 8:30am - 5pm Central ●www.facebook.com/D6880/
Languages:
English, French, Spanish
 Mid Year Conference Review

The Mid year Conference in Dothan was

well attended with participants throughout
the District.Trainers provided solid infor-
mation, clubs were recognized for their
accomplishments and Mayor Saliba rec-
ognized the great role plays not only in
Dothan but around the world. Many
thanks to Dell Godwin the IPP of the
Dothan Club for organizing the effort.

Thanks to Dell
Goodwin and
DGE Sam Adams
for the photos
 Making A Difference... In Our World
Rotary Districts 6820 – 6840 – 6860 – and 6880
Multi-District Conference
Join us at the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort
Beach Blvd, Biloxi, Mississippi
June 7-10, 2018

For reservations call: 228-386-7111 and use Rotary Code: ROT2018

 AFGHANISTAN EXPANDS ENVIRONMENTAL
SURVEILLANCE
SUBMITTED BY: PDG JIM GOLSON

Afghanistan’s Afghanistan is increasing the drive to track and understand the movement of
the polio virus by expanding environmental surveillance – collecting and test-
surveillance ing sewage samples for poliovirus in the laboratory – to all regions. At the end
of 2017, a new environmental sampling site became operational in Kunduz
system is the province, becoming the 20th site since the collection and testing of sewage
samples for poliovirus began in Afghanistan in 2013, with WHO support.
strongest it’s In 2017, 317 sewage samples were collected from all sites, and 30 of these
showed that the poliovirus was present. This insight means that the polio erad-
ever been, ication team knows where the virus is, without relying on the identification of
says country paralyzed children. Given that for every one polio victim there can be hun-
dreds of ‘silent’ cases – children infected but with no symptoms – improved
experts environmental surveillance is like giving the programme x-ray glasses with
which to find and track the virus.

“We began the expansion of

the surveillance system in the
most high-risk provinces of
Kandahar and Helmand in the
south where we have also dou-
bled the frequency of sampling
to every two weeks to increase
the chances of picking up the
virus where it circulates,” said
Dr Hemant Shukla, Director of
the Polio Programme at WHO
Afghanistan. “Our next priority
was to establish additional sites
in the eastern region, and now
environmental surveillance has
expanded to nine provinces,
covering all regions in Afghan-
istan.”

Environmental sampling from an open drain in Kabul city in August 2017. Samples are generally
collected in the early morning when there is a higher flow of sewage. WHO/S.Ramo
A sensitive surveillance system remains the cornerstone of polio eradication efforts. Environmental surveil-
lance helps to determine possible routes of transmission and enabling a swift response to stop further spread
of the virus.
Environmental surveillance complements acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance which currently consists
of a network of over 28 000 reporting volunteers and focal points, including health workers, teachers, reli-
gious leaders and traditional healers. Volunteers detect and report children showing signs of polio, such as
floppy or weakened limbs with rapid-onset of paralysis. Finding and stopping every last strain of the po-
liovirus requires both sensitive AFP and environmental surveillance.

Technical team from WHO and the Ministry
of Public Health packs a sewage sample to
be sent for further testing to the regional la-
boratory in Pakistan. WHO/S.Ramo
In 2016, WHO and the Ministry of Public Health conduct-
ed a comprehensive assessment of existing environmental
sampling sites, identifying new sites for expansion. Since
the beginning of the year, WHO has supported the estab-
lishment of four new sampling sites to further boost Af-
ghanistan’s surveillance capacity.
“Strengthened environmental surveillance has helped us to
identify and locate wild polioviruses when they are circu-
lating. Whenever virus is found in the environmental sam-
ples, WHO supports a strong response in that area, which
includes vaccinating all target-age children to boost their
immunity levels to protect them from polio and further
strengthening routine immunization services in the area,”
explains Dr Ali Ahmad Zahed, Surveillance Officer at
WHO Afghanistan.

Before each new site is established, WHO conducts a two-day theoretical and practical training for environ-
mental surveillance personal, demonstrating how samples are properly collected, labelled, packed, stored
and transported into the laboratory for testing. After each sample is collected from a sewage site, it is frozen
and sent to the regional laboratory in Pakistan for further testing and analysis, utilizing a reverse cold-chain
process to ensure the virus does not denature in the heat.
Afghanistan is closer than ever to stopping poliovirus transmission as the virus is currently cornered into
small, security-challenged parts of the country. Thirteen cases of acute flaccid paralysis caused by polio
have been reported to date in 2017 from Kandahar, Helmand, Kunduz, Nangarhar and Zabul provinces. In
2016 Afghanistan reported 13 wild poliovirus cases from four districts, compared to 20 cases from 16 dis-
tricts in 2015.
“Since environmental sampling started in 2013, we have collected and tested over 756 sewage samples. Our
AFP surveillance network expanded by 20% last year alone. Afghanistan’s polio surveillance system is the
strongest it has ever been. If poliovirus is circulating anywhere in the country, we will be able to trace it and
stop it in its tracks,” says Dr Zahed.

Global Polio Eradication Initiative

World Health Organization
Avenue Appia 20,
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
 At its special February 2 meeting, the Montgomery Sunrise Ro-
tary Club featured representatives from charities to benefit from M
the club’s annual Commitment to Service Award Charity Gala
on March 2, 2018. Jimmy Hill of the Montgomery Sunrise
O
Foundation presented checks to Karlyn Edmonds and Melinda N
Stallworth of the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, Gilbert Dar-
rington and Ebony Evans of Health Services, Inc., and Justin
T
Hampton and Bryan Kelly of Common Ground Montgomery. G
O
The Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, which seeks to instill into M
girls self-confidence, patriotism, and leadership skills, will use
the $5000 grant to completely renovate a bathhouse at Camp Ki-
E
wanis on Lake Martin. R
Y
Health Services, Inc. operates clinics and wellness centers in the River Region for patients
who would otherwise not have access to healthcare. With its award of $5000, the organiza-
tion will improve its facility in an underserved area of Ramer, Alabama. S
U
Common Cause was established in the Washington Park neighborhood of Montgomery to N
mentor and develop urban youth facing the challenges of low-income communities. The R
organization will use Sunrise Rotary’s award of $10,000 to build bunkhouses to house vol-
unteers who will serve in its first affiliate, Common Ground Shoals, in Florence, Alabama. I
S
Each year Montgomery Sunrise Rotary recognizes an individual for service to the Mont- E
gomery River Region. This year’s honoree will be retired Circuit Judge Charles Price.
Judge Price has had a long career of public service, as an Army paratrooper, Alabama as-
sistant attorney general, district attorney for Montgomery Country, Montgomery municipal
judge, and circuit judge for Montgomery County. He has recently become Chairman of the
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Montgomery Sunrise Club celebrating the 113th birthday of Rotary.

Dr. Kyle Kallhoff, Demopolis
City School Superintendent, George Durbin attended the D
and Board of Education Mem- Rotary District’s Mid Year E
ber, Olen Kirby, both Rotari- Conference in Dothan Janu-
ary 12-13, 2018 for the
M
ans in the club, received great
news for the Demopolis City club. Jan McDonald from O
School system recently. The our club was a facilitator P
Demopolis system was ranked for the Rotary Leadership
Institute at the event. She
O
in the top 50 school systems
in the state at #39. There are is also serving as the Dis- L
174 school systems state trict Grants Chair. Thanks I
wide. This places Demopolis to both of these Rotarians
for attending this event for
S
schools among the best in the
state. What a great accom- the club.
plishment for all those in-
volved in earning this recogni-
tion while striving to do even
more for our youth.

Josie Cox with student services at Shelton State spoke about the
educational programs being offered by Shelton State Community
College based in Tuscaloosa at its satellite locations at the De-
mopolis Higher Education Center and the New Era building. Re-
modeling is currently taking place at the New Era building to bet-
ter serve students. Shelton State conducts a number of dual en-
rollment classes. GED classes are available. They have
certificate programs available for clinical medical assistants,
medical administration assistant, dental assistant and truck driv-
ing. There is an HVAC program. Shelton State now offers
Ready to Work certificate programs with its industry partners.
The Ready to Work skill training and certification classes are
FREE. Ms. Cox also noted that there are several computer labs at
the Higher Education Center and gave a list of courses
being taught there. There is a conference room and facilities that
can be rented out. If you are interested in learning more, you can
email her at jcox@sheltonstate.edu. Ms. Cox is pictured with
club president Jason Windham.

The Demopolis Rotary Club met at Batter Up Wednesday Febru-

ary 7, 2018 to support area youth signing national letters of in-
tent. Rotarian Rob Pearson, second from left, was on the live ra-
dio broadcast. Congratulations to all those receiving a college
scholarship!! Your hard work and dedication has paid off. Photo
courtesy of the Demopolis Times and its editor, Rotarian Robert
Blankenship.

Brandon Taylor gave his
vocational talk to the De-
mopolis club at the Febru-
ary 21 meeting. Brandon is
a licensed nursing home
administrator and works for
Woodhaven Manor in De-
mopolis. It is a 75 bed
skilled nursing facility with
85 employees. It is part of
Crowne Healthcare out of
Monroeville. Woodhaven
Manor has a five star rating
(highest possible) from the
Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS),
a federal agency that over-
sees and rates nursing
homes. Brandon’s attrib-
utes his teams rating and his
business philosophy as one
of service above self. We
are happy to have him as a
Rotarian.
Rotary Club President, Jason Windham, (bottom left)
accepted a certificate from the Demopolis City School D
Foundation at their annual banquet February 12. The
Rotary Club was recognized as a Patron Level do-
E
nor. Other Rotarians recognized as Patron donors, either M
personally or through their business, were John Cox
Webb (bottom right), Claud and Cindy Neilson (next to O
Webb), Paul Miller (top left), Diane Brooker (top right), P
O
and Olen and Karen Kerby (below Brooker). Addition-
ally, Rotarian JD Barnes and his wife Amanda were rec-
ognized for giving at the Partner Level. Rotarian Joe
Parr was recognized as an Executive Level donor. The
L
Foundation awarded $69,000 in teacher grants this I
year. Photo courtesy of the Demopolis Times and its
editor, Rotarian Robert Blankenship.
S
BUY A RAFFLE TICKET TO WIN A GOLF CART!! The
proceeds will go towards a Rotary Splash Pad to be built near
the Demopolis City Landing on the Tombigbee River. The club
has already raised over $30,000 the last few years and is mak-
ing that final push towards realizing its goal. Raffle tickets are
only $50. The drawing will be no earlier than the Rotary Club
Golf Tournament on May 4 at the Demopolis Country
Club. The golf tournament, chaired by Rotarian Jay Reynolds,
is our club’s annual fundraising event that supports thousands
of dollars in donations annually to Camp ASCAA and many
Demopolis area charities. So buy a raffle ticket and come play
some golf in beautiful Demopolis. For more information, email
Jay Reynolds at jay@marengoins.com or one of the club of-
ficer’s, Jason Windham at windhamjason@bellsouth.net, Ash-
ley Coplin at acoplin@naheola.com, or Hunter Compton
at lhc@manleytraeger.com.
JJ Wedgeworth with the new University
Charter School (UCS) in Livingston,
Sumter County spoke to the club at its
January 31, 2018 meeting. The UCS is a
public charter school, opening in August
2018 serving grades Pre-K through 8,
adding one grade per year until it be-
comes PK-12. It is located on the cam-
pus of the University of West Alabama, a
rural institution of higher education dedi-
cated to meeting the educational needs of
West Alabama. The mission of the UCS
is to be a rural, diverse K-12 school that
cultivates independent thought, promotes
the building of character and civic re-
sponsibility and is committed to prepar-
ing all students for personal and profes-
sional success through the discovery of
individual learning pathways in a rigor-
ous and integrated Science, Technology,
Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Mathe-
matics (STREAM) focused, project-
based and place-based curricu-
lum. Wedgeworth is pictured giving her
speech.
The musical duo Roman Street will join the Point Clear Rotary Club Tuesday, April 17, 2018, 6
p.m., Fairhope Civic Center, for this year’s Taste Of Rotary event to benefit the Rotary Youth
Club, scholarships and other local non-profits.
P
The Taste Of Rotary’s Taste And Tunes includes the organic tunes of the guitar duo, plus food O
tastings by some 20 Eastern Shore area restaurants, beverages, and a wine raffle.
Tickets are $75 general admission and $150 VIP. They may be obtained by emailing Point
I
Clear Rotarian Bob Ford at bobford1702@gmail.com or calling him at 601 917-5182. Tickets
may also be obtained at the door. VIP includes reserved seating and other offerings. Wine raffle
N
tickets are $20 each and includes a wide variety of wine groupings. T
C
Roman Street features two Eastern Shore brothers, Noah and Josh Thompson, playing guitars
and acoustic instruments with an international blend of classical and contemporary jazz, Latin,
Gypsy and Nuevo Flamenco sounds. Go to www.romanstreet.com to hear their You Tube video
of “Windjammer” and to learn more about their latest
L
E
Nall’s Taste Of Rotary. Point Clear Rotary A
R
Club’s Taste And Tunes 2018 Taste Of Rotary
April 17, Fairhope Civic Center. To help spon-
sor the event, contact Tony Gasbarro
at gasbarro@bellsouth.net or call him at 251
459-4075. (See Sponsor Opportunity levels,
attached). For further event information, , go
to www.tasteofrotary.com or www.pointclearro
tary.org..
Or to www.tasteofrotary.com or www.pointcle
arrotary.org.

The Point Clear Rotary Club's chilli at the recent East-

ern Shore Ecumenical Ministries' Chilli Cookoff was
so "toxic' it took hazard suits to prepare it and serve it."
Participating were Joe and Pam Strange, John Matus
and Craig Nelson. Also helping were Tony Gasbarro
and Tom Burkett. The Point Clear Rotary Club
presently meets every Thursday morning at the Colo-
ny's Sweetwater Café. The Point Clear
Club's Taste Of Rotary is April 17.
 M
O
Past President Hal Bloom recognized Melissa
Bowman with her first PHF Award and Rick Pate N
with a PHF+3 award. This is an outstanding
achievements!!! Congratulations to your both! T
Pictured left to right: Past President Rick Pate,
Past President Hal Bloom and Melissa Bowman. G
O
M
E
R
Y

T
R
O
Y
The February 20th Troy Rotary meeting was hosted by Dr. Kelly Suero. Dr. Suero, Assis-
tant Professor of Spanish at Troy University, shared her experience as a Rotary Youth Ex-
change Student, and how that experience shaped her life. She was selected for the pro-
gram and spent a year in Argentina immediately after high school. While in Argentina, she
learned about las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, an organization which seeks to locate the
children that were illegally adopted under the Argentine dictatorship in the 1970s. She de-
cided to write her doctoral dissertation on this group, before she had even begun her under-
graduate studies. She also met her future husband, Leo, while in Argentina. Upon return-
ing to the United States, Dr. Suero earned her Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma State Uni-
versity, and then her Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy from Purdue Universi-
ty. She was hired as a Spanish professor at Troy University in 2014, and when given the
opportunity to create a study abroad program, she chose Argentina. Dr. Suero has led two
study abroad programs to Argentina, and will lead a third this summer. Two of her stu-
dents, Savannah Renberg and Rose Reynolds, discussed their experiences with Dr. Suero’s
program in Argentina. Pictured are President James Bruce, Rose Reynolds, Savannah
Renberg, Dr. Kelly Suero, and Leo Suero.
 The February 6th Troy Rotary meeting was T
hosted by Jamie Scarbrough and Chris Schu-
bert. They invited Carrie Jaxon, curator of the R
International Arts Center of Troy University,
to speak to the club. Carrie gave a presentation
on the highlights of the Center and the Janice
O
Hawkins Cultural Arts Park, which opened in
November 2016. The center features the Nall
Y
Museum, rotating art galleries, learning spaces
for students, and the Terracotta Warriors ex-
hibit. Inside the center, there is an exhibit
about the history of the terracotta warriors, and
in the park there is an installation of 200 repli-
th ca terracotta warriors. The International Arts
The January 30 Troy Rotary meeting was hosted
Center is open daily, and guided tours are
by Debbie Rogers and Mark Salmon. They invited
available by reservation. Pictured are Presi-
Brock Kelley, Principal of Charles Henderson dent James Bruce, Carrie Jaxon, and Chris
High School, to speak to the club. Principal Kel- Schubert. (below)
ley served as an assistant principal at CHHS be-
fore becoming principal in 2016. He said his
goals are to close the gap between the graduation
rate and career-readiness/college-readiness, to
hire quality people, and to find a place for every-
one. The current graduation rate at CHHS is
91%; however, not all graduates are career or col-
lege ready. One way to increase college-readiness
is through dual enrollment programs such as the
ones with Troy University and Enterprise State
Community College. Principal Kelley wants to
expand the dual enrollment offerings, and is
working towards that goal with additional com-
munity colleges. He saw an opportunity to in-
crease career-readiness through a community col-
lege program offered by Alabama Industrial De-
velopment Training (AIDT), and he partnered
with Lurleen B. Wallace Communi-
ty College and AIDT to bring that course to
CHHS. In its first year, 14 out of 15 participants
graduated and found jobs directly related to the
work they did in the course. Based on the success
of the program at CHHS, the state is now piloting
a similar program in ten Alabama schools. Princi-
pal Kelley is raising the educational bar at CHHS,
and across the state of Alabama. Pictured are
President James Bruce, Mark Salmon, Brock Kel-
ley, and Debbie Rogers. (above)

The Troy Rotary Club presented Tracy Davis with a do-

nation of $500 for the American Heart Association. Pic-
tured are Bob Mills, Tracy Davis, and President James
Bruce. (right)
 The February 13th Troy Rotary meet-
ing was hosted by Vickie Sipper and
T
James Smith. They invited the Troy
University Concert Chorale, under
R
the direction of Dr. Diane Orlofsky.
Fifteen of the ensemble’s thirty- O
Y
seven members performed a few se-
lections for the club. The Chorale is
the premier vocal ensemble in the
School of Music, and is composed of
students from various majors and
departments. They were personally
invited by conductor and composer
Eric William Barnum to perform at
Carnegie Hall in May. The students
are working to raise funds for the
trip, and will perform in a benefit
concert at First United Methodist
Church of Troy on Sunday, February
25, at 2:30 PM, with additional bene-
fit concerts to follow. Pictured are
members of the Troy University
Chorale, Dr. Diane Orlofsky, Vickie
Sipper, and James Smith.

The January 23rd Troy Rotary meeting was hosted

by John Ramage and Jason Reeves. Walter Givhan
introduced our speaker, Ambassador Jack Mat-
lock, who was the last U.S. Ambassador to the So-
viet Union. Ambassador Matlock entered the For-
eign Service in 1956, and served through the end
of the Cold War. He was the Ambassador to
Czechoslovakia from 1981 to 1983, and the Am-
bassador to the Soviet Union from 1987 to 1991,
when he retired. Ambassador Matlock saw first-
hand the Cold War and the negotiations that led to
its end; after he retired, he wrote two books detail-
ing his experiences. He emphasized that the U.S.
did not win the Cold War, but rather, we negotiat-
ed with the Soviet Union to end the Cold War. He Pictured are Walter Givhan, Rebecca Matlock, and
stated that the idea that the U.S. won the Cold War Ambassador Jack Matlock.
is detrimental to U.S.-Russia relations, and that the
two countries must cooperate in order to tackle
real problems in the world. It is important to re-
member the basic principal that a nuclear war can-
not be won, must never be fought, and therefore
the U.S. and Russia cannot fight.
 On a frigid day in January, the Rotary
Club of Fairhope recognized seven new F
members who had completed its orienta-
tion program for new members. Gradu- A
I
ates received permanent badges and
Four-Way Test and Object of Rotary

R
plaques. L-R: Angela Jones, Bob Harri-
son, Al Beck, Michelle Anderson, Tay-
lor Strunk, David Johnson, Rachel
Rome, and Membership chairman Paul
Stanley. H
O
P
E

D
O
T
Dothan Rotary was well represented at the Rotary
District 6880 Mid Year Conference. Thanks to these H
Dothan Rotarians!
A
N
Congratulations to the Dothan Rotary
Club on 2016-2017 Awards presented at
the Rotary District 6880 Mid Year Con-
ference! Awards included the 100%
Foundation Giving Club-US $100 Aver-
age Giving, Every Rotarian Every Year
CLUB-US $100 per Capita, Certificate
for financial support End Polio Now
($5,155.50), 100 Year Membership -
Rotary Club, Presidential Citation for
the Dothan Rotary Club and also Presi-
dential Citations for the two sponsored
clubs Wallace College Rotaract Club
and Dothan High School Interact Club!
Pictured Andy Gosselin-President Elect,
Bill Trant-District Governor, and Dr.
Dell Goodwin, Immediate Past Presi-
dent.
Randy Roberts, chaplain of the Auburn University
men’s basketball team, talked to the Opelika Rota- O
ry lunch group recently. Roberts discussed his
ministry with the players and staff, and comment- P
ed on the exciting season the team is having. Rob-
erts also serves as associate director of the AU E
chapter of the fellowship of Christian athletes. Pic-
tured is Robert Williams,, Club Member and L
Randy Roberts.
I
K
Brandon Hughes, Lee County District Attorney, re-
A
cently introduced his newest staff member – “Chunk”,
a yellow Labrador retriever – to the Opelika Rotary
lunch group. Chunk, who’s two years old, was sup-
plied and trained by Global K-9 Solutions, a local
firm, to serve as an emotional support animal. The
Opelika Rotary club was proud to have paid for Chunk
and his training; the DA’s office will be responsible
for Chunk’s ongoing expenses and maintenance. His
primary job duty is to be a victim advocate dog, sup-
porting victims, witnesses and others (often children)
who are involved with the unavoidably-stressful jus-
tice system.
Pictured is Opelika Club Member,Brandon Hughes
and Chunk.

The Opelika Rotary club recently presented a

contribution to Reverend Clifford Jones in
support of the Greater Peace Community De-
velopment Corporation of Opelika. Greater
Peace CDC serves Opelika residents through
programs including its After-School project,
the Youth Leadership Academy, the Summer
Education project, and others. Opelika Rota-
ry raises funds to support local causes
through its annual Radio Day activi-
ty. Pictured (from left): Harry Cullinan, club
president; and Rev. Jones.

Opelika Rotary recently presented a donation to Brian

O’Neal of Third Lens Ministries (Our House) for use in
their charitable work. Rotary generates funds for local or-
ganizations through our annual “Radio Day” event.

Pictured, from left, are O’Neal, and Harry Cullinan, club

president.
 Pictured left is Robertsdale Rotary Club Presi- R
O
dent, Joshua Mims, Camp ASCCA Program
Director, Amber Cotney, and Robertsdale Ro-
tary Foundation Chairman, Doug Byrd. Am-
ber was our guest speaker for 1/23/2018.
B
Camp ASCCA helps us understand that we are E
R
all different and that’s okay. Each year, Rob-
ertsdale Rotary sponsors students to attend
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) as
well as summer camp at Camp ASCCA. T
While at our club meeting, Amber presented S
D
Robertsdale Rotary Club with the Alabama
Easter Seal Club of the Year Award for 2017.
Pictured right is Jessica Ware, our guest speak-
er 2/6/2018. Jessica is the Development Direc-
A
tor with the Baldwin County Child Advocacy L
E
Center which is also know as CARE House.
Located in Summerdale, the Center provides
services and resources for child victims of sex-
ual and physical abuse as well as for their sup-
portive non-abusive family members.

At its Jan. 30 meeting, the Auburn

Rotary Club hosted Opelika’s Bill A
Trant, who currently serves as dis-
trict governor of Rotary’s District
6880, which encompasses most of
U
the southern portion of Alabama.
As district governor, Trant admin-
B
isters Rotary programs in partner-
ship with the district’s 51 clubs U
that include more than 2,450 Ro-
tarians. A member of the Opelika R
N
Rotary Club, Trant owns and op-
erates Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral
Home and Crematory along with
his son, Coley. The Auburn Rota-
ry Club meets each Wednesday
from noon to 1 p.m. at Sauga-
hatchee Country Club.
 C
Congratulations to our newest E
member Bailey Hatheway! Pic- N
tured with Bailey is president Jer-
emy King, left and Alden Hathe- T
way. R
A
L

B
A
L
D
W
We presented a check for $2000
I
to the Jesse Andrews Jr detach- N
ment of the Marine Corps
League. These funds were raised SUNSET
during our Boston butt fundraiser
on Veterans Day. Pictured is
president Jeremy King, left and
Bob King.

We presented a check for $5000 to the Miracle

League of Coastal Alabama recently. These funds
came from our annual Alligators and Ale event,
which was held at Alligator Alley this past fall. We
also presented a plaque of appreciation to Wesley
Moore, left, the owner of Alligator Alley for allow-
ing us to have our event there.
 Rotary International Conference in San Diego
Through the Lens of DGE Sam Adams
The I.A in San Diego brought over 500District
Governor Elects from 215 countries to prepare
for their year as Governor starting July 1. Even
with long lines on Sunday everyone expressed
excitement about the week ahead.

International President Elect

makes Polio Eradication The Polio Iron Lung

Each Zone celebrated International Night

displaying unique cultural activities. Zone 30
& 31 which is the Heart of America enjoyed
an awesome tailgate. Here we see our Zone
Coordinator Floyd Lancia competing against
RIPP Ron Burton from Oklahoma with Floyd
taking the Sooner to school.

Auburn and Alabama football often lead to

going to the pros like Greg Yank, newly
elected Rotary International Director. His
Green Bay Packers have the following play-
ers currently on their roster: Montravius Ad-
ams (AU), Quinton Di- India
al (AL) Ha Ha Clinton Dix

Brazil Taiwan
More from the International Assembly in San Diego

International President Barry Raisan from

the Bahamas revealed he was a big “Gator”
fan. As an Alabama fan I took great of-
fense and defense.

International President Barry Rassin and wife

Esther with the Trinidad Delegation.

Translators were provided in many of the

sessions
 Membership & Attendance for January 2018
Clubs in District 6880

At publication time, the January attendance was not available through

DACdb. Sorry for the inconvenience.