Busy Month for Carterville Rotary

Carterville Rotary was busy in the month of September. First, we're excited to welcome two new members to the group: Bob Fuller and Jonathan Mitchell. We're always pleased to accept new members to the Rotary family.

We were also treated by a visit from the Illinois Baptist Disaster Team. They brought by their "Disaster Van" which was neat to see.

Lastly, we were involved in the annual Carterville Free Fair parade. Many members came out to pass out balloons, suckers, and Rotary stickers to the Carterville public. The weather couldn't have been any more perfect.

Carterville Rotary Club Shelter Box Arrives!

It looks as if Carterville Rotary's Shelter Box has arrived to its destination in the Phillipines. Starting as the brainchild of one Rotarian with the support of his Rotary club in year 2000 – ShelterBox has grown to become the largest Rotary Club project in the 100 year history of the organization.

Rotarian support currently contributes an estimated 50% of ShelterBox donations. Around 5,000 rotary clubs worldwide have supported ShelterBox since it was launched.

Recognizing this worldwide support from the Rotary community, ShelterBox was designated as a Global Rotary Club Project in 2009. Logos with this designation will now appear on all ShelterBoxes, tents, blankets and ancillary materials.

You can learn more about the ShelterBox project at their website here.

Fund Rasing Yard Sale

The Fund Raising Yard Sale we had for Baylen Earls raised an impressive $1116! Baylen will be traveling to Mexico to study abroad coming this August. Thanks to the efforts of the Carterville Rotary members and Woman's Life, Baylen will be able to enjoy this unique and exciting experience. Good Luck Baylen!

Gumdrop's, NFP comes to Carterville Rotary

What is Gumdrop's NFP? We are a non-profit organization that provides a backpack with child-friendly foods to at-risk children for the weekends in southern Illinois. This program began January 2008 in the Carterville School System. The first drop provided backpack for 12 kids. By the end of the school year, we were delivering 64 backpacks. In January 2009, we were able to extend the backpack program to the Herrin School District. In both school systems, we are now feeding 200 backpacks a week to these at-risk children. As additional funding comes available, we will be expanding those backpack program to other school districts throughout southern Illinois.

How can you help?

There are a number of ways to help. Volunteer - Your time to assemble the backpacks and other miscellaneous jobs at our facility located at

118 Elles Avenue,
Carterville, Illinois

Behind the new bridal shop.

Monetary donations - Payable to Gumdrop's NFP.

Food donations -
Drop at point at 118 Elles Avenue, Carterville, Illinois, or give Ron or Amy a call, and we can come by and pick up the food. Ron Simpson - cell, 618-319-3829. Amy Simpson - cell, 618-319-3828, or at home, 618-985-4159.

Or visit our web site at www.gumdropkids.org

A list of their needed items:

• - Granola Bars
• - Pop Tarts
• - Apple Sauce
• - Pudding Packs
• - Jello Packs
• - Cereal Bars
• - Fruit Cups
• - Trail Mix
• - Oatmeal
• - Cheese and Crackers
• - Peanut Butter and Crackers
• - Small Cereal Bowls or Mini-Boxes
• - Raisins
• - Vienna Sausages
• - Goldfish Packages
• - Beans and Franks
• - Packaged Meats
• - Can Fruits

Carterville Student To Study Abroad

We had a special visitor last week at Carterville Rotary. Baylen Earles, who is our Outbound Exchange student who is heading to Mexico. Baylen stopped by to tell us a little about himself and express his gratitude to Carterville Rotary for making this experience a reality. We wish Baylen good luck!
Fundraising Yard Sale
To help with the expenditures of his travel, Carterville Rotary will be partnering with Woman's Life and hosting a Yard Sale.

When: Saturday, June 6, 2009, 8:00 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Where: First Baptist Church Parking Lot (on Division St).

Why: This is a fundraiser to support Baylen Earles (pictured above), our Outbound Exchange student to Mexico

How can you help?

Bring things that can be sold at the sale:

• Clothing-adult, child, baby
• Appliances, in good working condition
• DVD's, CD's
• Books
• Tools
• Decorating accessories
• Jewelry
• Etc.

Bring in a box labeled "Rotary/Woman's Life Yard Sale" to the House of Busifingers, 1101 S. Division, at any time after May 13th. If no one is there, just leave it on the front porch.

Also needed:
tables or plywood sheets on sawhorses
canopy ( 10 x 10 or larger)

Most important- we need helpers to set up and help man the sale.

Questions? Call Carl Cottingham, 618-521-0742 or 618-985-3354.

Visit from the Governor

Governor Mel Wiese made a special visit to Carterville last Wednesday morning to honor some of our members. Below you see John Kiesling and Carl Cottingham being awarded for their Rotarian efforts. Good job fellas!

John Streuter and guest smiling for the camera.

Phil striking a pose for the camera as well. Say cheese!

Don't forget our treasurer Jim Koonce.

Those are two very happy Rotarians! If you are not a Rotary member, come stop by Wednesday morning to see why everyone is smiling.

10th Annual Carterville Community Golf Outing

It's getting close to that time of year again! The 10th Annual Carterville Community Golf Outing will be held Friday, May 8th at the beautiful Crab Orchard Golf Course. Teams are still available, so be sure to sign up! If you can't get a team together, no worries. We'll find a team for you.

Be also sure to take advantage of the fantastic raffle that is going on to support the event. By entering you have a chance to win one of the following:

1. Two front row 45 yd line football tickets including overnight accommodations at the Holiday Inn Select. The game is St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers.
2. Two SIU basketball tickets with parking pass and $25 food gift card. Plus coach and player autographed basketball.
3. Four Southern Illinois Miner's box seats with parking pass and $25 gift card.

Items donated by Your Jeweler, Edward Jones, and Holiday Inn.

Raffle tickets are $5 each and 5 tickets for $20. Contact your local Carterville Rotary or Chamber of Commerce member to purchase your tickets.

New Member of Carterville Rotary Family

Rotary Member Bill Searcy and his wife Patty would like to welcome a new addition to their family. Connor William Coen Searcy, was born 3/3/09 to their son and his wife, Scott and Alison at Mt. Sinai hospital, New York City.

I think that looks like pretty happy grandparents, don't you think? I think the the family lucked out because it doesn't seem that Connor has much of a resemblance of Bill. :) Congratulations to your family!

A Major Visit

We were fortunate enough to have an old friend of mine visit us at Carterville Rotary a few weeks ago. Major Jeremiah Aschelman from the SIUC ROTC program came by and shared some good stories about somebody named "Pebble"? Not sure what that was about :) Major Aschelman was my company commander when we deployed to Iraq in 2005 and had a "Mission Complete" by bringing all his soldiers home safe- including myself.

He also shared some interesting information about the ROTC program that seemed to peek the interest of all the rotary members. Thanks Jeremiah for coming by!

Also, don't forget that we will be meeting at our old stomping grounds; what used to be Pioneer's cabin. Looking forward to seeing what changes have been done!

Short Video from Rotary International

10 Questions With John Kiesling

We have another edition of 10 Questions with a Rotary Member. Today's guest is no other than John Kiesling.

1.What did you do in your working years?

I was in heavy and highway construction, mostly asphalt paving. (John always said he built the smoothest roads this side of heaven.) I added that, Doris


2. How long have you been a member of the Carterville Rotary?

I was a Charter member.


3. Whats your fondest moment of Rotary?

When I was awarded the Rotarian of the Year award.



4. Where were you born and raised?

I was born in St. Louis County, as a kid we lived behind Grants Farm and I use to play over there all of the time.



5. Top 3 Reasons to live in Carterville?

the school district, JAL college and the people


6. What one word best describes you?

I guess Honest--Hard worker, ( Ask my wife)


7. What do you do for fun?

B.B. games, Plays, work in the yard and 6 grand kids.



8. Whats your top 3 favorite books?

I can't really put my finger on any favorites, but I enjoy reading history of So. Illinois.


9. What does Rotary mean to you?

I think Rotary is a very good service organization with all the members interested in projects to help the club


10. Favorite place to eat?

Doris's cooking is tops, after that I would say 17 Street, Applebees, and Red lobster and special occasions, Mary's in Herrin.


11. Something that many people may not know about you?

I was drafter in Feb. 1952, I volunteered for the Marine Corps and after boot camp I volunteered for Korea, where I served for 14 months.

Free Again Wildlife Rehabilitaion Coming to Carterville Rotary January 21st

To give advance notice, we wanted to let Carterville Rotary members and guests aware of a special meeting January 21st. Beverly Shofstall from the Free Again Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will be joining us with 3 of her animals that they have rescued. It should be an interesting treat. Here area few pics from their website of animals they have rescued.



About Free Again Wildlife Rehab Center

Free Again, Inc. began in 1988 by Beverly Shofstall, while working as a veterinary technician at Central Hospital for Animals in Herrin. The facility has since grown and now takes in over 400 hundred animals annually.

The purposes of Free Again are:

• to rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife for return to their natural environment
• to study the behavior and diseases of wildlife
• to educate the public on the importance of all wildlife in our environment.

Some animals, primarily non-releasable birds of prey, are kept for educational programs in order for Free Again to continue educating children and adults around the region.

You can visit their website at www.freeagaininc.org/

New Member To The Group

Carterville Rotary welcomes Pat Adams to the group! Pat was originally from the Chicago area and has found his way back to Illinois. Pat works for Century 21 Real Estate out of Carondale, IL and is excited to join our group. Here you can see Rich (left) with Pat getting ready to be inducted.









Rich! Don't stick him too hard!





We had a really good turnout for our first meeting at the Crab Orchard Country Club. Look forward to seeing everyone next week!

New Meeting Location at Crab Orchard Country Club

The closing of Pioneers Cabin left us scrambling for a new meeting location. After much research and discussion, the board has decided to try out two locations over the next couple of months.

During the month of January, beginning with our next meeting on the 7th, we will meet at Crab Orchard Golf Course. During the month of February, we will meet at John A Logan College. Later that month we will need to decide which location is the most favorable for us.