Jan. 22, 2009

                     Selinsgrove Area Rotary Club

                                        Make Dreams Real

Vol. 82, No. 26                   President – Michael P. Hayes         Editor – John Stokinger  

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Next Meeting: January 29, 2009 – Classification/Vocational talk by new member Pat Pinkowski and “Rotary Highlights” by Bob Soper – Kinfolks Restaurant, 11:45 a.m.

Jan. 22,  2009 – Approximately 50 people, including 18 Rotarians, were present for the Rural/Urban Night Chicken and Waffles dinner at Christ Community United Methodist Church.  The Young Farmers group arranged for an agricultural program.  President Michael introduced Jerry Rhodes who coordinated the meeting.  Jerry then introduced Charlie Benner who presented the “Adopt an Acre” program, which was recently presented to the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.  The program was developed to demonstrate costs and income potential to operating a local farm.   The example had 50 local investors each buy stock in an acre of land.  Their initial cost of investment was $15/share.  Charlie’s presentation had many photos, which documented the initial soils testing; various choices in tillage methods; fertilizing with a sprayer attached to the planter; and various pieces of equipment.  The photos also documented erosion control methods.  The presentation showed many instances of the high-tech nature of today’s farming.  The farmer chose to plant corn on the investors’ acre.  The corn was considerably taller than “knee-high by the 4th of July”.  At harvest time ¼ of the corn was sold as silage, ¼ was sold as high-moisture content corn and ½ was stored in bins for future use. Charlie shared the “Budget & Actual” profit statement which documented that this one acre of corn earned the investors $75.00 in total net profit.  Each of the 50 shareholders earned $1.50, or a 10% return on their initial $15 investment.  At the beginning of the program Charlie had asked the audience how much they’d hope to earn annually.  If you’d hoped for $100,000 / year you’d need to plant corn on 1,334 acres. [1,334 acres x $75/acre = $100,050].  

Announcements: The secretary position for the ‘09-‘10 Board is open.  It is a position which requires a person who is computer literate and proficient with e-mail and able to provide data and reports to Rotary International and District 7370 via the computer.  A nomination and/or a volunteer for the Secretary position is welcomed by the board and this information should be shared and discussed with current President Elect, Jeff Edmunds. *Mike Flock requests nominations for this year’s Distinguished Service Award – form will be provided.

Future Programs:                              

February 5 – Free Enterprise Week Scholarship Recipient, host:Hal Schriver. Return to SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

February 12 – Leo Mendonca will present on his trip to Germany. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

February 19 – Principal Terry Heintzelman will speak about the Summer Seals Day Camp evaluation. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

February 26 – Cathy Teischer, Executive Director of Haven Ministries, a shelter for the homeless, will be the speaker. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

March 5 – Andrew Miller, Executive Director of Susquehanna River Vi
sitors Bureau will speak on “Trends for the Valley” SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

March 12 – James Gruber, District Governor, will be the speaker for “Pin Day”.  All Rotarians are encouraged to wear your Rotary Pins. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

Birthdays:   Feb. 3 – Toby Skinner; 7 – Shawn Felty; 11 – Michael Hayes; 21 – Donald Trapp; 25 – Mark Johnson.

Quotation: The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.  John F. Kennedy