May 10, 2004
Pres. Jake Jolley rang the bell @ 12:15 PM
INVOCATION: Rick McKernan      PLEDGE:  Chuck Pease
ATTENDANCE:  58

GUESTS: Red Leighton brought Sherry Waddill, Tim Rappleano brought Bob Walball, Jason Curat0, and Brain Towner.

MYSTERY PERSON: Tim Rappleano said since yesterday was Mother’s Day he wanted to choose the first woman who shook his hand, and that was Meredith Donaldson.  Meredith gets a free lunch next week!  He also mentioned that Meredith was the only woman who shook his hand, and encouraged female members to consider shaking hands before each meeting.

TAIL TWISTER: Mr. Steve could not attend today, which brought a resounding “AWWW” from the audience (?).  Steve, I think you were missed.

FELLOWSHIP- BIRTHDAYS:  Marilyn Bohanon announced that we have five members who have birthdays o May 12^th: Tom Lutrell, Lester Rescly, Sam Schultz, Wayne Taylor, and Christine White.  John Sapp and Carroll Wilkerson both have birthdays on May 16^th.  Happy Birthday!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1)        PEP-Valerie’s update included that there are 11 Russians who will be here from May 20^th through June 13^th.  They will be the ‘DOC Program’ on Monday, May 24^th.  They are Medical Clinic Managers here for 15 days of intensive management training.  A special thanks to Luke Chase for being the Media Coordinator!  We will be hearing and seeing news about the Russian visit, on radio and TV, thanks to Luke (and as Valerie stated, yes, he’s not just another pretty face!)

 2)        AIR SHOW SIGN UPS—May 29^th and May 30^th - Pat Brown said there was enough members signed up for Saturday morning, but he needs people for Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon, so be sure to sign up at the next meeting or contact Pat!

 3)        BIKE SAFETY SIGNS UP – Jay Creasy reminded us it was Saturday, May 15th^th, and he will not be able to attend, so he is asking for more help that day.

 4)        GOLF for Food: Wednesday, May 13^TH.  Susan Long mentioned that lunch and a BBQ dinner would be provided.  Below are the team captains, so contact your captain of choice J or Susan a.s.a.p.

CAPTAINS- 1) JIM MURPHY, 2) JAKE JOLLEY, 3) TIM ELLIOT, 4) CHUCK FARQUHAR, 5) ROY ROBINSON, 6) ELLIS HAVARD, 7) PAT BROWN, 8) KAREN AULISA

 5)        FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE =Dottie Stoerker-Peters updated us on the Building Project and the fund raising dinner at Columbia Country Club on May 23^rd.  The cost is $20.00 of which $10 is for the dinner and $10 for the Bldg Project.   If interested, please contact Dottie or Meredith.

6)        SHOW ME STATE ACTIVITIES- Larry Fick mentioned that DOC members present metals to the Soccer Team winners, and needs help on July 18^th and July 25^th.  AND, you get a free t-shirt!  Contact Larry if you’d like to participate.

GREETER: There was not a greeter today, but the Chocolate Meringue pie on the dessert table was delicious today!   The staff at Delaney Hall do such a fine job!

PROGRAM: Brian Ash – City Council of Columbia.  Brian, who is also owner of (delicious!) Bambino’s restaurant (of which I have a large collection of the free plastic cups they give away when you dine there) talked about the goings on of the Columbia City council.   Brian said he is 6^th Ward City council member, and has held this position for about one year.  There are 6 on the City Council and the Mayor.   He talked to us about the Street Standards: wider sidewalks, narrower streets, space between sidewalk and street to plant trees. He said the city has not had any changes in street standards for 40 years, and these new standards (when passed) would apply to new streets and old streets being rebuilt.  This issue will be brought up again at the next City Council meeting in June.

We closed with the O.I. Creed at 1:00 pm

Monday, May 24, 2004

Pres. Jake Jolley rang the bell @ 12:10 pm   INVOCATION: Roy Robinson        PLEDGE:  Rick McKernan       

ATTENDANCE:  78 (there were over 9 full tables at Dulany Hall today!)

GUESTS: Tim Rappleano brought Bill Dieber of Joseph a. Bank Clothiers; Connie Howe brought Dr. Denny Donnell MD, Dr. Einer Palm, PhD Retired MU Prof, Dr. Vlad Likholetove, PhD (MBA at MU) who is Connie’s neighbor from Siberia; Dr. Natalie Likholetove, MD-Vlad’s wife; Rick McKernan introduced Bob DeGraaff and Judy Baker and Misha, who is also from Russia; Valerie introduced Eric Pahl the Lt. Governor for East MO Optimist, Sid Sullivan introduced a Home Host Chris Willis and his father Carl (Chris speaks Russian), and Natasha Wekenborg from Natasha’s Deli who has been a great help to the Committee, as they prepared for this visit; Spence Turner introduced his wife, Joan;  Steve Henderson brought Olga who works with him at the Holiday Inn, who brought her guest Natasha, and Jess Weaver introduced Bill Lloyd.

Our Russian Guests are private Medical Clinic Managers for various parts of Russia.  Their names are: Mr. Igor Kuznetsov, Ms. Larisa Chernyavskaya, Mr. Vladimir Skakun, Ms. Valentina Kuzmina, Ms. Natalya Alvianskaya, & Matvei Finkel [Facilitator], Mr. Viktor Otamas, Mr. Alexsandr Shmerkevich, Mr. Vitaliy Volkov, Ms. Nadezhda Alekseyeva, Mr. Andrey Tereshkov & Mr. Aleksandr Stepanov.

The Facilitator, Matt Finkel who stood by Jake and other speakers and translated into Russian as they spoke, aided our Russian guests.

MYSTERY PERSON: Connie Howe chose Susan Long from Central MO Food Bank as the lucky winner this week, due to her hard work and efforts at Central MO Food Bank.  So, congratulations, Susan!  You get a free lunch next week!

TAIL TWISTER:  Steve Henderson and Brenda Gibbs-Brown sold tickets for a chance to win $$5 at Jack’s Gourmet Restaurant.  Steve attempted to speak in Russian (good job!), which delighted our Russian guests and confounded the rest of us! (What else is new?)  Steve then asked Natalva to draw the winning ticket.  The winner was Rick Guilford!  Congratulations, Rick!  And, a $20 Gift Certificate to Applebee’s was given to the Russian winner in the ticket drawing.  When Mat translated he explained to us that all the Russian guests would enjoy it!

FELLOWSHIP- BIRTHDAYS:  Jake announced birthdays for Chris Kramer on May 26^th, Brian Marshall on May 29^th and Al Buchanan on May 30^th.   Jake then asked if there were any other birthdays or events and Brian Hudspeth announced his birthday on May 21^st since he could not be here last week.  Happy Birthday to all!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Jake announced that there was a Board Meeting on Thursday may 20^th and the following were funded:

1. Phillip Young, Eagle Scout- $300 for National Scout Jamboree
2. Jefferson Junior High Golf Tournament = $100 hole sponsorship
3. Boys Scouts = $700 for Scout Day at MU Football Game for 56 tickets
4. OI International convention = $1,500
5. DOC 2004 Scholarships = 6 at $1,000 each = $6,000
6. 4H Senior Advisory Board = $700

   GREETER: There was not a greeter today, due to our exciting program!

   PROGRAM: Valerie Goodin asked us to be sure to go by to see the table of gifts we received so far from our Russian guests and to see the publicity in the local news media that DOC has received due to their visit.   Valerie then told us her “Sunday Story”, with tears in her eyes! The Home Hosts and Russians went to Fulton to visit the Churchill Memorial and Vitaliy, who is a 'photographer and traveler,' asked Valerie to stand on the West side of the wall while he stood on the East side and Vitaliy then extended his hand to Valerie and a picture was taken of them shaking hands, as a symbol of relationships, enabled by the falling of the Berlin Wall.  She then introduced and talked about her “second son” Aleksandr, who (she explained) she asked to ‘teach her about Vodka.’

   Matt Finkel, Facilitator who now lives in the U.S., told us about the many different areas the Russians are from:  from the beautiful city of St. Petersburg; the Euro Mountains and the coldest place on earth, Siberia!  He said most of the Russians are from the European part of Russia.

   Valerie then introduced each of the PEP Team members: Valerie Goodin, Project Coordinator; Rick McKernan, Training Coordinator; Garry Spotts, Civic Coordinator; Luke Chase, Publicity Coordinator; Sid Sullivan, Home Host Coordinator; Roy Robinson, Transportation Coordinator.  She then introduced each of the Russian Guests, who in turn each gave a short speech in halting (but good!) English or in Russian, which was then translated into English for us by Ilya Zlotnikov, their Translator.

   At the close of the meeting the Russian Guests then stood by the door and shook each DOC member's hand as they walked out.  This meeting was such a great experience!