This Week: August 15
Jerry Simon, Gang Specialist with the Gang Task force
Department of Juvenile Justice Services

Next Week: August 22
Ross Lagattuta, Vice Chairman Las Vegas SCORE Chapter ("Counselors to America's Small Business")

Jo Ann Malone, Executive Director Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas, gave a wonderful presentation about Ronald McDonald House. They're not just hamburgers. They do some terrific community service right here in LV.

They also have some innovative fundraisers including the "Limousine Poker Run" and "Off Road Adventure." If you are interested in learning more about their programs or volunteering opportunities, visit their website at http://www.rmhlv.com /

There's no fellowship in an empty chair.
Your guests and visiting Rotarians help kindle the flame of fellowship

Margo Williams as a Guest of Joe’s. Margo also attended our last Fireside--Fish Fry. We hope this becomes a habit with Margo.

Other Guests were the students attending Team Leadership Camp this year and their families:
Cole Nikodemus and his mother and father Anton & Donna
Ameique Rhodes and her mother and father John & Shelly

Tony Galante

It's not surprising to learn that a boy from a strong Italian family raised in an Irish neighborhood (the borough of Queens) would lead a diversified path leading him eventually to Rotary. Actually, Tony learned about Rotary from two elegant high school dates who told him about the service above self their fathers were performing. But back to Tony.

Tony developed his warm/gentle demeanor both within his Italian family and being surrounded by Irish classmates at St. Barth's Grammar School (notice the brogue?). His command of Irish song and dance was learned during those early years, but it was in sports that Tony shined. .As a pitcher he lost only one game throughout a sparkling Grammar School/High School career. He pitched his Police Athletic League (PAL) 110th precinct team to the borough championship, giving him lifetime immunity in New York. While playing semi-pro ball he was recruited to play for the Yankee AAA Club in Fort Lauderdale--- but accepted a call from Wall Street instead.

After 20 years as a stock broker and seven at the Mirage Casino, Tony heads up a major security firm employing 200 employees. A lifetime learner with a B.A. degree in Business Management, he is pursuing additional degrees through Regis University, with a goal of teaching Finance part time after departing from the daily grind. His joining a group of leaders and doers completes the circle. If those girls could see him now!!!

“To devote a portion of one’s leisure to doing something for someone else is one of the highest forms of recreation.” –Gerald B. Fitzgerald , (c. 1533 – 11 November 1583).

Fitzgerald, an Irish nobleman of the 16th century, is telling us that service is the higher call, and it is fun. It is better than golf, flying, fishing, swordplay- (insert your favorite hobby here). We could use words like enriching, fulfilling, and everlasting.

We as individuals can postulate on the nobility of what we do, and the higher call of service, and how it makes us feel worthy; but we should not. What is the worth of service if so few are serving? It’s worth is lessened by the selfish pleasure we take from making our few selves feel noble, and that we are simply fulfilling the noblesse oblige.

Please take a moment and think about multiplying our worthy feeling. Would it not be the highest of higher calls to duplicate our work, to use our skills to get more and more to serve, and to feel vicarious fulfillment as more able-hands join Rotary? As several excellent people in business say, “why work hard when you can work smart.”

Let’s have fun. Let’s have fulfillment. Let’s invite a friend to the next Rotary meeting and fulfill our, and others, call to service.

Group Study Exchange
Accepting Applications Until 8/25
by Wenlee

GSE is program where we send team from our district to another district in the world. They send us one in exchange. Since I have been involved, we have had South Koreans, Israelis, Mexicans, South Africans, and now Central Europeans. The team is 5-person. The team leader is a Rotarian - this time, Gene Hernandez of the high desert. The other four members are non-Rotarians. They must be between 25- 40 years old. They must have been in their profession for at least two years and plan on continuing in that profession when they return. The visit is about four weeks. The districts involved pay for transportation, lodging, and meals. Team members would be responsible for incidentals - spending monies, passports, inoculations, that sort of thing. They will be hosted by district families, and have vocational, cultural meetings. It is a chance to learn about other countries and make new friendships. I love this program. I have met friends I never otherwise would have known.

So, if anyone in the club knows of a likely candidate, we need applications by 8/25/06 for the April 2007 program. Interviews are Sept 16, 2006. District has some California candidates, but would like Nevada participation. Applications can be obtained from the above website, and I will be happy to help if any questions.

For more information about GSE visit:
ht tp://www.district5300.org/gse/index.html

Click here to download a team member application

Teen Leadership Camp
by Wenlee

The Team Leadership Camp is for 8th graders. They meet for a long weekend at Idyllwild, CA, in November. It is geared for students who have leadership potential, but may not have learned how to lead yet. This is a program our district started. Our club has sponsored kids for the last two years. This year, we send Amerique Rhodes and Cole Nikodemus from Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School. They will meet students from throughout the district. We will arrange for them to come back to the club and tell us of their experiences.

For more information about TLC go to:
htt p://www.district5300.org/tlc/index.html
where you can see pictures and videos.

Sign-up for Frys Golf Tournament
by Jim Veltman

The Frys.com Open will take place October 9-15. This has been one of our regular fundraisers. The sign-up sheet is online at:
http:/ /lvnwrotary.org/nl/060813frys.pdf
jveltman@stu diovbm.com

Greeter: Dennis Filangeri
Inspirationalist: Michael Flint
Salutatorian: Jerry Sligar
Musicologist: Dennis Ortwein

If you would like to be a guest for one of our programs, please contact Eric Tarbox at membership @lvnwrotary.org