Luke began by making this statement: “This program is an opportunity for veterans to go to the Sam Beauford Workshop and work for free”! The group’s mission, he said, is: “PROMOTING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR VETERANS THROUGH PEER MENTORSHIP AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION”.
According to the US Government, he said, only about half of veterans get the help that they need due to such reasons as: many suffer from shame and stigma, the fear of being seen as weak, a lack of understanding about treatment options, concerns over wait time and the inability to travel distances for care. This program, Luke said, will provide them what they need right here in Adrian. These will not be therapy sessions but will go a long way to increase the self-esteem of the men and women who served our country.
While we’ve all heard of PTSD (a condition caused generally by a single event), Luke said, CPTSD is a different condition and a bit harder to treat. It is repeated trauma over an extended period of time. Both, he said, can be addressed through woodworking. The program will consist of “Woodworking Wednesdays”. The workshop will be closed to the public those days and be a veterans ONLY day. No classes for the public will be scheduled that day, Luke said.
Veterans will be able to come in and choose from several options. One option will allow them to use the machinery to make whatever objects they want with some materials the workshop will provide. There will also be the educational component which will allow veterans to participate in training by skilled instructors. Classes will be offered in guitar making, knife making, etc. There will also be a PTSD support group even though it won’t be called that.
The success of the program, Luke said, will be measured in several different ways. A veteran who completes a high quality project will be deemed a success. “These are not your typical popsicle sticks and toilet paper tubes. These are projects that have marketable value in the world.” Veterans will see their accomplishments as meaningful. As participants develop skills on machines, they get vocational certification for doing it through a national accredited organization, Luke said. It will be a real plus for those wanting to get into the woodworking industry long term.
Luke shared with the audience the cost involved which was just under $35,000 that would include instructor wages, materials, facility expenses, marketing, tooling & software, and certification fees for up to 20 veterans. Thanks to the equipment the workshop currently has, the costs to launch and run this program have been greatly reduced. This program will seek funding from outside donors as well as from our club who has already confirmed it as a club program. It could very well be our “signature project”!
Following our regular meeting a group of members and veterans from the area as well as four who traveled from Big Rapids met to discuss the details.
Sinner of the Year Award – Kevin Keller did the honors again this year and announced that this year’s recipients (2 tied) were Kevin Marti and Kathy Herrera who were each fined $28 this past year. Comgrats to you both. Well deserved.
Lenawee Bike Tour – Chip updated the members on this event reporting that so far he has raised $11,250 in sponsorships! There will be 3 routes this year – a 15 mile route (along the Kiwanis Trail), a 45 and a 60 mile route. Riders who want to participate will be charged $40 and kids will be free. We hope to double participation from last year (63) to over 120 this year. Chip thanked Luke for his help with the event’s Facebook page and website.
Fence Project in Tecumseh – Nate thanked everyone who turned out over three separate occasions to help erect the fence at the Neighbor of Hope’s Women’s & Children’s Ministry in Tecumseh (formerly the Herrick Manor attached to Herrick Hospital). Nate went on to say that every Rotary Club in Lenawee County participated in this event and contributed a combined $6,500!
Launch Lenawee – Mark announced that training for mentors for the entrepreneurial program would be taking place this evening led by Dave Maxwell. Still time to sign up to help as a mentor.
Student Welcome – President Nelson announced that on August 24th fro 5-8pm anyone who wants to help welcome the new incoming students can do so since we will need a number of volunteers like we did last year in front of the Governor Croswell Tea Room. Please let Nelson know if you can help. More info coming.
Visit by the Simay’s – Kathye mentioned that she had the pleasure of having dinner with Greg and Marje Simay this past week as they returned to Adrian from their new home in Burbank CA where they are both members of that club. She said that they presented her with a club flag. Kathye said they would be returning again in the near future when their new grand baby is born.
DG Chambers’s Official Visit – Prez Nelson wanted to be sure and make everyone aware that John will visit our club on Thursday, August 15. The board will meet with him at 11am and he will address the club at our regular meeting. Please be sure and attend. Let’s have a huge turnout for DG John!
New Member Brochures – They are now available reflecting our new president, District Governor and RI President along with the address of our new location. It is a tri-fold brochure with an official membership form in the middle. Be sure and pick some up and recruit, recruit, recruit!
Upcoming Programs:
Aug 1 - TBD Aug. 8 - Bike Tour open discussion and last minute plans Aug 15 - DG Chambers Aug 22 - Joy Smith from Zonta Aug 29- TBD
DATES TO REMEMBER
August 15 – Official DG Chambers visit
September 14 – River Raisin Cleanup
September 21 – Lenawee Bike Tour
October 24 - World Polio Day
October 24 - Welcome Students Back
Guests: Jerry Fisher, Fallon, Mary Martin – all from the Hope Center; Matt Swartzlander.
Mark Daniel Maloney, of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama, USA, is the new President of Rotary International for 2019-20. Maloney is a principal in the law firm of Blackburn, Maloney, and Schuppert LLC, with a focus on taxation, estate planning, and agricultural law. He represents large farming operations in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States, and has chaired the American Bar Association’s Committee on Agriculture in the section of taxation. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Alabama State Bar Association, and the Alabama Law Institute.
Luke began by making this statement: “This program is an opportunity for veterans to go to the Sam Beauford Workshop and work for free”! The group’s mission, he said, is: “PROMOTING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR VETERANS THROUGH PEER MENTORSHIP AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION”.
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