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/