Are our Kids Safe Online?

That’s the question our speaker, Jennifer Greene, explored July 25. A self confessed technophile, Jennifer laid out the hazards for kids and their parents in life online. Young people tend to be trusting of people they meet online, and may not understand the hazards of posting personal information about themselves; –To illustrate this point, she used the example of a parent who confronted her daughter with personal information (including her bra size!) that the young lady had posted on her personal site. But there are other hazards lurking online. Googling innocent sounding terms (she used the examples "shrimping" and "doggy") can quickly lead to links inappropriate for young people. We also have to be alert for cyber-bullying, in which normal online interaction is met with swear words, "flaming," and other aggressive behavior. Over 50% of teens surveyed admitted to having been bullied online; almost as many admitted to having bullied someone else, and most did not tell their parents. She urged that young children’s internet and gaming use should be strictly monitored and limited. If you want to buy a game, rent it first to make sure it's appropriate, and don't be afraid to set limits. "One hour has got to mean one hour, not four when she tells you, ‘Aw, you’re mean.’" Young people should use the internet in a public room, but do not be fooled into thinking that contols them. "A lot of this bullying behavior goes on right in front of parents," who aren’t reading every word. She urged that young people should set up an account under an assumed name, and learn early on never to give out personal information. "And keep your own passwords secure." She used the example that her niece was asking for her password because she wanted to buy some outfits for a cyberbeing she had created. "Who knows what kind of charges I would have found?" She showed us her own Myspace and Bebo pages, which featured youngish pictures of her. "I love these sites, I keep track of friends two or three times a day, but every day I get hits from men trawling for underage women." Club notes: Chief Wendell Davis will be heading up the RIDDE program this year. Look for sign up sheets next week. . . If you are hosting speakers for a month and are looking for suggestions, let Dr. Anne Hurst know. Also, if your speaker needs a projector or sound equipment, let her know in advance. . . If you haven’t paid your dues yet, it’s down to the final hours! Mike Dennis adds: President Bill has mentioned at the last two meetings we are again joining Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) in helping to provide "Back 2 School Baggies" for indigent youth. Some of you have already given me items to donate and I want to thank you for this. For those who have not contributed but want to, the following items are included in every baggy given to indigent youth: one package of #2 pencils, one pack of wide ruled paper, 2 two-pocket folders, one pack of colored pencils, 2 glue sticks, one pack of tissue, one 12" ruler, one box of crayons, one pair of blunt end scissors and one marble or spiral bound composition book. These items are truly needed and provide a great help to the students and the teachers. As many of you know my wife is a teacher at Mellichamp. Annually she spends over $1000 of her money to buy supplies needed for her kids. These baggies are very much welcomed as it alleviates some of their needs.The deadline for contributing to this effort is August 3rd. If you'd like you can turn the supplies in to me and I will take to CEF. They are having a bus stationed at Wal-Mart this Saturday if you want to purchase and take to the bus. You can also give me or Frank McLeod money for this effort and we'll make sure it gets to CEF. Remember that our focus and Rotary's focus is on youth. Let me know if you have question/concerns.

Rotary is Everywhere

Perfect Attendance!

Did you know that the Chancellor of UNC-Greensboro has perfect attendance at her Rotary meeting? I have it on good authority that she does.

Let me explain. This Saturday past, July 21, Mary and I drove up to Greensboro to attend the Eastern Music Festival (held annually in Greensboro around Mary’s birthday to celebrate the time she spent there earning an M.F.A.– or so an unimpeachable source claims). After the concert–which was wonderful–we were sitting outside the concert hall waiting for our ride. A group of very young teenagers were hovering in the background singing the brass section from Dvorak’s New World Symphony, which had closed the show. A woman carrying a viola walked by.

"It was wonderful," Mary called out to her.

"It was, wasn’t it? I don’t know how we’re going to top that."

We got to chatting. She asked if we needed a ride. At first we refused out of politeness. Her name was Stefanie Cordick, and she turned out to be the director of the music festival, so this was a very busy time for her. "You know what’s humbling?" she asked. "The Chancellor of UNC-Greensboro is in my Rotary club, and she has perfect attendance every year. She’s in charge of 13.000 students; if she can get there, you'd think I should be able to as well."

I held up my copy of The Rotarian which had come in the mail that morning as we were leaving.

"You sure I can’t give you a ride?" By now the mosquitoes were chomping at Mary’s feet; we called the hotel and told them we didn’t need the ride they were sending.

Rotary is everywhere

Update on the District

At our July 18 meeting, the District 7770 Assistant Governor–our own Mary Scarborough–gave a presentation on the District 7770 strategic plan. As she said at the outset, “The most important thing about a strategic plan is that you have one, and that everyone knows what it is.” Among the key goals for the district plan Mary set out:

–Increase membership by about 11% to 5000 by 2011;

–Increase giving to the Rotary Foundation by 10%;

–At least one Paul Harris Fellow at each club;

–Participation by all clubs at District Conferences, and greater participation from each club at all district events;

–Increased participation in the Rotary leadership training program, so more people will be skilled and knowledgeable in Rotary leadership;

–Increase the grant writing activity throughout the district; and

-Submit names for Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships;

Although our club is smaller and younger than some, we’re doing our part to meet all of these goals. Mary encouraged us all to be on the lookout for ambassadorial scholarship candidates. If we put a name forward, we really need to work with this young person to make sure they pass all of the interviews.

Do you know of a young person you’d want to nominate? Let Bill or Mary know.

CLUB NOTES

President Bill announced the results of the last board meeting. Rotary International has asked each club to vote to rescind a feature of the new by-laws which they realized was unworkable. The motion carried without dissent.

John Till has requested a withdrawal from the club. He sent a nice letter explaining his reasons–family and work obligations–and thanking the club for the fellowship and friendship he found here.

Also, Treasurer Frank repeated his call for all members to please, please pay their dues, and don’t be shy about contributing to the Rotary Foundation. Remember, this is OUR charity.

Lee Kuck catered for the second week, and breakfast was even better than the first week!
Happy Birthday to Mary C. (Satuday, 7/21).

Learn more about our district.

Habitat Update at our July 11h Meeting

With our meeting place temporarily moved to the Carolina Room of the Cinema, Jamie Bozardt of Edisto Habitat for Humanity stopped by our meeting on Wednesday, July 11 to update us on her work and the work of the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. At present, Habitat is building a home in Cope, but when that project is completed, there are three more lined up for Orangeburg, near some other homes Habitat has built. “We don’t just build homes,” she stressed, “we build neighborhoods.”

Ms. Bozardt attributed the remarkable success of the local Habitat efforts in part to the rigorous screening process their clients go through. They will work with clients who have imperfect credit histories, but they help to clean those records up before breaking ground. Once they accept a partner, they work hard to structure payments that are affordable; payments can be as low as $250 a month. As a result, of the 40 homes that Habitat has built, only 2 have resulted in foreclosures.

Not only do clients have to show an income and a credit history, but a willingness to work on building their own home. “We require a certain amount of sweat equity from our partner families.” Sweat equity hours include attending budgeting and home-owner classes, and helping to build not only their own home but the homes of other families. “We’re hoping to build a pride of ownership and community.”

Bozardt stressed that they are always looking for volunteers who can commit their saturdays to building a home, but even those who can’t can help out by donating to the Habitat Home Store. “If you have any gently used furniture or major appliances from when you renovate your kitchen, please give us a call.”

President Bill Carter noted that our club gave $2000 last year to Edisto Habitat for Humanity, money well spent.

Ms. Bozardt ended with a locally produced DVD of Partner Families in the Orangeburg area showing off their new homes, gleaming with the glow of new home ownership, and thanking Habitat for the hand up.

CLUB NOTES

Thanks to Lee Kuck for agreeing to cater. Breakfast was delicious!