Rotateller

    November 9, 2004

   Calendar of Events

 

Last Week: Apple Pie Festival

This Week: Jerry Smallwood  “WW2 Veterans”

Next Week: Stephanie Lubis  “Reporting for BH, BL, & Charlton”   

 

Coming Up:                                                     

November 23  George Bailey:  “Charlton & Ballston in 1953 When Our Club Began”

November 30  Garry Morrow:  “Superconducting Magnets”

December 7    Tree Lighting & Concert

 

Suggestions for future programs may be given to Rey Whetten or Linda LeTendre

 

Other Events Coming Up:

November 23  BOD & Chairs Meeting 5PM

December 14  Christmas Party at the Glen Sanders Mansion.

 

Invocation:  Garry Morrow, Dan Stec or Bob Youmans   

Minute for Rotary Schedule                                        

November 9                                           Rey Whetton

November 16                                         Bill Sewell

November 23                                         Bill McClary

 

                                                  WEBSITES:                                       

                        BHBL Rotary:   www.bhblrotary.org

                        District 7190:   www.capitalregionrotary.org

 

Integrating Science and Ethics:

            At the October 26 Club meeting United Methodist pastor James Fenimore discussed his work with the National Council of Churches Committee on Genetics.  The Council of Churches represents 36 Protestant and several other denominations, 140,000 congregations, and 15 million church members.  The Committee on Genetics has sought to include varied backgrounds in assembling its membership, which includes the clergy, seminarians, scientists, the legal profession, and just plain folks, young  and old, male and female.  Each member may have several backgrounds.  In addition to being a “faith communicator” (a clergyman), Rev. Fenimore’s Ph. D. major is in science and technology studies, and he is also a young adult representative.

The committee hopes to develop a statement on human genetics that member churches can adopt.  Rev. Fenimore expressed his personal view that science is one kind of truth, but not necessarily the ultimate form of truth.  He believes science must have an ethical component, and says that the committee is working to “break down” the language of science to a level where average people can understand it.  The committee is striving to bring the science of human genetics to a level where it can be discussed and understood by non-scientists.  Rev. Fenimore believes that faith communities need to be a voice for ethical considerations.  They need to consider both the positive and negative implications of  technological changes and seek answers to questions like the following:  What are broad implications of technologies on society?  What is normal and what is not normal?  Who decides?
            The committee is just getting started on its work.  It has had only one face-to-face meeting and several conference call meetings.  Extreme positions can be worrisome, but Rev. Fenimore believes that the committee must consider both the positive and negative implications of genetic science if its statements are to be accepted by its constituency and have an influence on public policy.

 

 

 

News Briefs

Road Clean-up Successful:

            Mark Gasparovic reported that the Charlton Road clean-up conducted on Saturday, October 23, was highly successful.  100% of those who volunteered were present and completed the scheduled work in less than an hour, following which the troops enjoyed hot coffee and good fellowship.

 

Contributions to Rotary Foundation:

            Those who wish to contribute to the Rotary Foundation should complete the contribution form found on the Club’s website and return the form together with their check to Club Treasurer Ken Crotty.  The Club’s goal is to raise $4,200 for the Foundation this year.

 

Entertainment ’05 Sale Terminating:
            Receipts from the sale of Entertainment books and unsold books should be returned ASAP to Dick O’Rourke.
 
Facts About Rotary from RI
What Do Rotary Clubs Do?
Rotary projects address critical issues in communities around the world. Here are some of Rotary's focus areas:
 
            * Polio Eradication - In 1985, Rotary's members vowed to make the world polio-free. This 20-year commitment to end polio represents the largest private-sector support of a global health initiative to date.
            o Rotary has already committed US$500 million and countless hours of volunteer work to help immunize nearly two billion children throughout the world.
            o Today, there are only a few hundred polio cases worldwide, a 99.8 percent reduction since 1988, when polio paralyzed more than 350,000 children a year.
            * International Education - Rotary is the world's largest privately funded source of international scholarships. Each year, nearly 1,000 university students receive Rotary scholarships to study in another country. Rotary clubs also coordinate a high school-age student exchange program that sends nearly 8,000 students abroad for 3 months to a year.
            * Peace - In an effort to educate tomorrow's peacemakers and ambassadors, Rotary recently launched the Rotary Centers for International Studies for peace and conflict studies at eight prestigious universities worldwide. The program provides master's-level degree education in conflict resolution to a group of 70 Rotary World Peace Scholars chosen annually in a world-competitive selection process.   
            * Literacy - Rotary clubs are engaged in the fight against illiteracy worldwide. One example is a Rotary literacy program in Thailand that dramatically reduced school failure and was adopted by the Thai government for all the nation's schools.
Facts About Rotary
What do Rotary clubs do? | What is the purpose of Rotary?                        If you have information items for the Rotateller contact

                           Dick O’Rourke at 372-8287 / robrwo@aol.com 

 or Ed Warren at 663-7669  /  ewarren@nycap.rr.com