Literacy Committee co-chairman, Jay Leggett, announced this year's winners of the Rotary Club of Cleveland Interact Scholarship.

Jay explained that the selection committee had great difficulty in determining a single winner due to the outstanding quality of our applicants. Seven applicants were narrowed to three through a review of their individual application packages. The final three were personally interviewed by the selection committee on May 2. With the assistance of the respective boards of both the club and the Cleveland Rotary Foundation, it was decided that the club would support three winners this year.

Each winner served for at least three years in the Cleveland High Interact Club and presented exemplary records of service and academics.


Scholarship recipients from left, Aimee Murray, Becky Han and Briana Cooper.

No CCORK question for May 22. Enjoy Rotarians Night Out at The Bald Headed Bistro.

Elizabeth H. Harting has been named the 2011-2012 Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Cleveland.  Ann McCoin, the 2010-2011 honoree, made the presentation during the April 24th noon meeting.

Elizabeth Harting has been a dedicated member of the Rotary Club since joining in 1991. She has served in many capacities with grace and good humor, intelligence and care. Her service has included being on the Board of Directors, Director of Club Service, the Rotary Foundation Board of Directors, the Group Study Exchange Chairman, the Rotarian’s Night Out Chairman, and many committees, most of these committees multiple times. Secretary’s Day, Vocational Service Week, Spouse’s Night, Four-Way Test, Membership Development, Adopt A Highway, Fitzgerald Golf Tournament and Fund Raiser, and many others. She is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Bequest Society.

A citizen of Cleveland since 1979, she has served in many organizations including the Symphony Guild, United Way, and Civitan Club. A member of Broad Street United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church in Highlands, NC, she is one of five children born to an intrepid English mother and a father whose word was his bond, characteristics they obviously passed on to their daughter. 

She earned a batchelor’s degree from the historic Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, a master’s degree in special education from Memphis State, and her accounting degree from UTC. Married to Dr. Don Harting, she is a partner in the firm of Harting, Bishop & Arrendale, PLLC.  She holds the official club classification of Accounting, Tax, but we know her as the Lovely and Lively Lil.

The Rotary Club of Cleveland has named Elizabeth an honorary Paul Harris Fellow as part of the presentation.

Dr. David L. Whitfield, Director of the SimCenter and Associate Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Story and photo by John Thomas

Using colorful slides and stories, Dr. David L. Whitfield described the work done by the National Center for Computational Engineering, the SimCenter, at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

“What we do at the SimCenter is application-driven research.   Our business is numerical simulation of fluid mechanics, electromagnetics, kinetic theory, structures, anything where there are conservation laws that describe physical phenomena.  There are three things involved in the computational engineering we do:  applied mathematics, advanced computing, and some form of engineering.”

Andong, Cambodia; location of the Build a City project.

Unimaginable problems, and the crushing poverty from which they stem, are the stuff of daily life for the displaced people of Andong, Kondong Kaw, Cambodia.   Living in makeshift homes of cardboard, plywood, sheet metal, and other temporary materials, they lack access to clean water and plumbing.  In monsoon season, water floods their sleeping area shin-deep, bringing with it the sewage that flows down the street outside their door.  The infected water is used for everything, including drinking and cooking. Parasites and bacteria flourish in the water, and mosquitos that carry dengue fever breed.

Story by John Thomas

The rich, exquisite Chinese culture, developed over 5000 years of history, was subjected to widespread, methodical attempts to eradicate it by the Chinese Communist Party over the past sixty years, reaching its height with the Cultural Revolution.  In an attempt to erase traditional Chinese values and replace them with Communist ideology, antiques and works of art were destroyed, morals were denigrated, traditional practices were banned, and many aspects of Chinese culture were infused with new, state-dictated meanings.

Hai Dong, who came to the United States as an international student fifteen years ago, related the story of Chinese cultural development, destruction, and the beginnings of its renaissance.  Hai Dong was born and raised in Zhejiang Province, near Shanghai. He studied polymer engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and has multiple engineering degrees; he currently is a computer software engineer.



Hai Dong from Zhejiang Province, China

Photo and story by John Thomas

Congratulations to Aimee Murray, Sandy Ha, and Briana Cooper for winning the Fred Brown Interview, James Bomar Interview, and James Lacy Essay Scholarships at the 47th Annual Interact Conference held in Pigeon Forge. $6,500 total for the girls. There are four scholarships given at conference, Cleveland High School Interact wins 3 of the 4!

CHS Interact also won 3rd place Community Service Project for their work in Toboggans for Toddlers.



CHS Interactors, from left: Sandy Ha, Aimee Murray and Briana Cooper.

Ann McCoin presented Reba Terry with a $7,495 grant from the Cleveland Rotary Foundation to fund a heating and air conditioning renovation project at The Caring Place.  A plaque, held by Reba Terry, will be displayed in the area acknowledging the gift.

The Caring Place grant was one of eight awards totaling $26,000 made in 2011 by the Cleveland Rotary Foundation to community organizations.



Reba Terry, Executive Director of The Caring Place; Ann McCoin, President of the Cleveland Rotary Foundation

Story and photo by John Thomas

Slow down, consider what is important to you, and take time to enjoy life and the people you love.  Show them appreciation, love, and respect, and make the changes in your life that you need to make.  Stack one good day upon another, and you will make a great “dash.”

These, and other meaningful reflections on life, were presented in a heartfelt address by former Rotarian Ralph Buckner, Jr..  The dash refers to the mark usually shown on a headstone between the dates of birth and death.  The dash represents all that went on between those dates, and thus sums up the entire time on Earth of that person.  How we spend our dash is the subject of a book, The Dash, presented to all Rotarians by Mr. Buckner.

Mr. Buckner discovered the book several years ago, and has turned to it, and to the Bible, many times while coming to terms with the passing of his father and mother, and with the tragic loss of his daughter, Shipley.  The simple narrative upon which the book is based, and the wisdom it represents, gave comfort to him, and brought him to the realization that although we cannot choose the time of our birth or of our passing, we can decide how to spend the time we have between those dates.  He has slowed down and enjoyed life more in the last two years, and believes that each of us should realize how lucky we are to have the time to do a better job at life.

Mr. Buckner presented a check for $5,000.00 to the Cleveland Rotary Foundation as a memorial to his parents Ralph and Stella Buckner, his daughter Shipley Rose Buckner, and his great friend Max Carroll.

Monika Zaldua, a 15-year-old Rotary Exchange student from Barcelona, Spain, is gaining a deep appreciation for our different culture and our different educational system during her year-long stay in the United States, through July 6, 2012.  In Barcelona, a beautiful city of 1.6 million people on Spain’s northeast Mediterranean coast, Monika lives with her two younger brothers, her airport services manager mother and her chemist father.  Monica has many interests, including dance, in which she has participated since age 6, skiing, soccer, swim team, and field hockey. 

In Cleveland, Monika is living with Catherine Rice and her daughter, Olivia Highsinger, while attending Cleveland High School.   She notes that school here is not as demanding as it was for her at home.  In Spain, education is mandatory and difficult.  There are no classifications such as junior or senior, just the subjects you must study.  School there is from 8 am to 5 pm each day, and consists of 13 subjects each trimester.  If you fail two classes, you must repeat the year.

Some of Monika’s friends from Barcelona are also exchange students in the United States, in cities like Boston and Miami, but Monica feels fortunate to be here because she loves Cleveland, Tennessee.  When asked what she would change about Cleveland, she mentioned the lack of public transportation, which restricts her mobility when no one is present to drive her.

Steve Carroll also spoke of his experience as an exchange student, and how he grew through exposure to a different culture in a way that could only have happened through his living in that culture day in and day out.  Steve studied stained glass in gothic cathedrals at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, which altered his course as an architect.  The disciplines he experienced, for example of making sketches in the morning and being required to have finished drawings prepared by the end of the day, were invaluable to him in his architectural career.  He also enjoyed the experience each day of seeing the rooftops of Paris from the fifth floor room he shared with a Buddhist houseboy for the family with whom he lived.

Ann McCoin shared memories of the many exchange students she met while growing up, through her father’s active involvement in Rotary, and in particular of the senior exchange student from Norway that lived with her family while Ann was in high school.  As a result, Ann has had a lifelong interest in Norway, and attended college there.  Her parents attended the student’s wedding in Norway.  Now, fifty years later, Ann is still friends with the student, who has become a respected doctor and lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Oslo.

From left: Host family members Catherine Rice and Olivia Hysinger; Rotary Exchange Student, Monika Zaldua and New Generations committee chairman, Roger Fuller  

Photo and story by John Thomas 

RI General Secretary John Hewko talks about how these five priorities can help strengthen Rotary: eradicating polio, the Foundation’s new grant making model, placing a value on the service projects of clubs, making Rotary more relevant to younger members, and positioning Rotary more fully as a major player in global humanitarian assistance and development.

Click here to view John Hewko's address at the Rotary International Assembly. . .

Jim Buckner, David Carroll and Amy Card-Lillios pictured with Rotary International General Secretary, John Hewko at the District 6780 Rotary Foundation Dinner - January 6, 2012. 

Patrick Core had aspirations of becoming a professional athlete. He was particularly interested in a career as a major league baseball player. However, a severe injury to his foot when he was only 17 years old changed all that. After a period of reflection, he decided to become a meteorologist. Four years after graduating from Florida State University, Patrick landed a position with The Weather Channel. Shortly thereafter, David Neal with WDEF in Chattanooga made a referral resulting in Patrick Core working as a meteorologist on the 11PM edition of the Channel 12 nightly news. Patrick Core has now called Chattanooga home for 22 years as chief meteorologist at WDEF Channel 12. 

In discussing recent weather patterns in our area, Core noted that last year was the coldest winter in 10 years followed by a particularly active weather pattern in the spring that resulted in devastating tornadoes. Now the weather pattern has changed due to cold air which has stayed in Alaska. Unfortunately, weather patterns indicate that spring may bring more severe weather to our area. The tendency for great tornado outbreaks has traditionally run in a 25-30 year cycle. During the tornado outbreaks of 1974, one tornado in Ohio was on the ground for 300 miles.

Advances in area radar systems have given local forecasters a much needed tool in warning the local population about approaching severe weather. New doppler radar systems coming online in 2012 have the ability to show debris within a tornadic system which increases the ability to identify a dangerous event.

When asked about his predictions for the remainder of our winter, Core said he is more concerned about an ice storm this winter than a major snow storm.

From left: Rotary Club of Cleveland President, Kim Casteel; program coordinator, Don Fenton; WDEF chief meteorologist, Patrick Core; program chairman, Nicholas Lillios.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

The Rotary District 6780 Foundation Committee has made a contribution of $360 to the Cleveland Rotary Foundation in honor of the late Max Carroll. Rotary Club of Cleveland President, Kim Casteel made the presentation to David Carroll.

From left: David Carroll, Kim Casteel

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Past District Governor, Jim Buckner, accepts a contribution of $500 on behalf of the James L. Bomar Rotary Interact Scholarship Foundation from Cleveland Rotary Foundation President, Ann McCoin and Rotary Club of Cleveland President, Kim Casteel.

The purpose of the Bomar Interact Scholarship Foundation is to annually recognize outstanding and worthy Interact members in District 6780 with a scholarship award of a minimum of $1,000 each. To date, the foundation is awarding three $1,250 scholarships annually.

From left: Rotary Club of Cleveland President, Kim Casteel; Past District Governor, Jim Buckner; Cleveland Rotary Foundation President, Ann McCoin 

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm

In title alone, Matthew Brown's presentation on Polk County provides substantial insight into the history of our neighboring county to the east. Gorged on Dam Obsession: A Story of Princes and Frogs, Mountains and Moonshine, Women and Wine and How They Shaped Polk County covers multiple chapters in a presentation that has been thoroughly researched and documented by Matthew with assistance from Polk County Historian, Marion Presswood.

Matthew gave an insightful compilation that tied together the importance of Polk County's rich geography and the early settlers that gave the region a Wild West feeling during the 1700s. The Cherokee Indian nation played a big role in the county's history, arriving in the 1600s, displacing the Creek Indians and assimilating into American culture before ultimately being removed as a result of the Treaty of New Echota in 1835.

The rich geography of the region has created multiple economic development opportunities including the production of hydropower, copper, whitewater activities, wine, and, to a lesser extent, moonshine and human capital.

Polk County remains one of the most beautiful and geographically diverse areas in our region with impressive mountains like Chilhowee, Bean and Big Frog Mountain along with the beauty of the Ocoee River and Benton Falls. Big Frog Mountain is the highest point between Polk County and Texas.

Polk County was established in 1839 and named for James K. Polk. Bradley County had been established only three years earlier in 1836. Matthew was encouraged to make his unique research available to the local school systems.

Rotarian, Matthew Brown presents:  Gorged on Dam Obsession: A Story of Princes and Frogs, Mountains and Moonshine, Women and Wine and How They Shaped Polk County

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

The Rotary Club of Cleveland elected officers and directors for the 2012-2013 Rotary year during the December 20 meeting. These individuals bring significant talent and Rotary experience to lead our organization in the new Rotary year which begins on July 1, 2012. Our new officers and directors are:

U.S. Attorney, William Killian, is the chief federal law enforcement official tasked to represent the people of the Eastern District of Tennessee. U.S. Attorney Killian's territory includes over 2.5 million people living in the 41 county district. Killian was appointed to the position of U.S. Attorney by President Barack Obama in May 2010.

The U.S. Attorney's office represents the interests of the United States, both civil and criminal, in federal court. The office works closely with many federal departments to accomplish the mission to ensure fair and efficient administration of justice. Federal agents assigned to U.S. Attorney's office include: 80 FBI agents, 10 Secret Service, 4 Postal Service inspectors, 30 U.S. Marshals and numerous others including dedicated security personnel with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Killian's office includes a staff of 43 assistant U.S. Attorneys and over 60 support personnel.

The office of the U.S. Attorney has established several priorities for the district:

• Counterterrorism
• Project Safe Neighborhoods
• Civil Rights Enforcement
• Financial Fraud
• Environmental Enforcement
• Project Safe Childhood
• Drug Enforcement Initiation

The Eastern Tennessee U.S. Attorney's office maintains a 96% conviction rate and has recovered over $44 million in civil and criminal actions in 2011. Killian noted that the office recovers about three times more revenue than is required to run the office.

"We have a diverse country and one of the reasons people come here is to seek the justice that they may not have in their country," Killian said.

Rotarian, Michael Callaway, invited Killian to speak upon noting that many Rotarians had little knowledge about the functions of the U.S. Attorney's office. For additional information on the Eastern Tennessee District U.S. Attorney's Office, visit the website at http://www.justice.gov/usao/tne/index.html.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern Tennessee District, William Killian

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Rotarian, Amy Card-Lillios, presented Cleveland State Community College President, Carl Hite, with an annual check to fund an endowed scholarship at the institution during the November 29 meeting. The Rotary Club of Cleveland has funded scholarship opportunities at CSCC since the 1980s. 

L to R: Carl Hite, CSCC President; Amy Card-Lillios, Rotary Club of Cleveland

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Shady Hernandez, Program Director of Family Promise of Bradley County 

"I didn't know we had homeless families in Bradley County." This viewpoint, formerly held by Shady Hernandez, is common in our community. Shady Hernandez is the network director of Family Promise of Bradley County. Family Promise provides assistance including housing, meals and comprehensive support services for homeless families in Bradley County.

A poor economy accompanied by record real estate foreclosures has caused a significant increase in homelessness in recent years. According to statistics from Cleveland City Schools, there were 34 homeless children enrolled in the system during the 2009-2010 school year. Nationwide, it is estimated that children under five years old make up 50% of the total homeless population.

Family Promise works with local churches to provide shelter for homeless families. A homeless family will be housed at a local church facility for seven days, then rotate to another participating church for another seven day period. Hernandez shared the story of a family's gratitude over being allowed to stay at a classroom converted to look like a bedroom at North Cleveland Baptist Church. Thirteen area churches participate in the Family Promise program. Hernandez said, "I could tell the program was working because the children felt safe."

When asked about the primary needs of the organization, Rotarian Hal Taylor responded that while financial assistance is always necessary, the biggest need is for some people to invest their time into helping of these families. There's a big need for someone to step in and mentor these families and provide some opportunities for them to get back on their feet.

Family Promise of Bradley County is organized as a 503(c) non-profit corporation.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice, Cornelia Clark. 

"The SEC official clearly blew the call" according to Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice and Vanderbilt alumnus, Cornelia Clark, referencing the final play in the recent Vanderbilt vs. UT football game. Sometimes judges make mistakes too, acknowledged Clark. One has to try to make the best decision and always strive for justice given the time and resources available for consideration.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has the luxury of being able to take adequate time to rule on the cases brought forth. Approximately 75-80 cases are selected from 925 proceedings each year with sufficient time applied to interpret statutes, laws, or even the constitution. The supreme court cannot just grab "interesting" cases to act upon says Clark. Matters before the Tennessee Supreme Court must pass through at least two lower courts before being passed into the supreme court's jurisdiction. Each case begins as a lawsuit in some court.

A fair and competent judicial system keeps our state strong and our businesses sound. Yet, to most people, the courts system remains a mystery. When judges are doing a good job, there is little attention drawn to their actions. The courts system must provide the following attributes:

1. Ensure that the government and governmental officials are accountable and responsible,
2. Ensure that the laws are understandable and fair,
3. Ensure that the laws protect fundamental rights,
4. Ensure that the adjudication of rules is done in an impartial, ethical and intelligent manner.

Knoxville Rotarian, Lisa King is a veteran National Immunization Day (NID) participant. Both Elisa King and our very own David Carroll have worked to administer polio vaccine during India's massive NID campaigns. How massive is the effort? Over 174 million children under the age of 5 were vaccinated in a span of just a few days.

In Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab, a team of approximately 40 Rotarians took a 7-hour bus ride to assist with staffing information booths and administering the life-saving vaccine. Children receiving the vaccine have their fingers marked with purple ink to prevent duplication. The vaccine must be kept cold and teams must travel on foot from house-to-house in an effort to deliver the vaccine to households not attending the NID event.

How effective have the NID events been in the effort to eradicate polio in India? During 1985, 1,000 new cases of polio were reported in India -PER DAY! By 2008, there were 559 new cases of polio reported in India during the entire year. In a disappointing turn, the 2009 report indicated an increase in new polio cases to 732. The effort showed positive results in 2010 with only 49 new cases reported. This year (2011), only one new case of polio has been reported in India. A polio-free India is within our grasp. Three consecutive years with no new polio cases is the requirement to be certified polio-free. The United States was declared polio-free in 1994.

Polio and man have a long and tragic history together. Stones carvings from ancient Egypt depict polio victims. Many of us can remember iron lungs and the crippling effects of the disease. Rotarians from all over the world have contributed to the effort to eradicate polio. Now is the time to finish the task. We are this close.

Lisa King was born in South Africa and lived in Greece during high school. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and attended her first NID in 2009. Lisa is a member of the Paul Harris Society.

Lisa King, National Immunization Day Veteran. 

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

To hear Estela Liermann singing Patsy Cline's, "Crazy", you would never know that she's fought a daunting battle for most of her life. You see, Estela contracted polio when she was only one year old while living in Brazil in the 1960s. Her fever had suddenly spiked to 104 degrees and the traditional shot of penicillin did not resolve her illness. One leg became unresponsive to stimuli and she could no longer move it. The doctors in her town hadn't seen a case like this one before, so they sent Estela to a hospital in Sao Paulo. Later they would learn that Estela Liermann was to be diagnosed as the very first case of polio in her town.

Thus began a long series of treatments and operations to minimize the crippling effects of the insidious disease. Estela spent a difficult month in the Sao Paulo hospital as her mother had to travel back to her hometown to care for Estela's seven brothers and sisters. When she was 7 years old, Estela had the first of many surgeries to correct the twisting of the affected leg. Estela considered herself blessed to gain the care she received from Brazil's socialized medical system. She also noted that most of the other children with polio were in much worse shape than herself. It was there, in the hospital, that Estela started singing for the doctors and staff who had become her caretakers.

Today, the effects of the disease still are still manifested in Estela as post-polio syndrome which effects the nervous system. The symptoms seem to come and go and can hamper one's ability to walk. Estela continues to fight the effects of the disease and flatly states that she never gave up before and she's not giving up now. She is especially thankful for Rotary's efforts to eradicate the disease that has caused her so much pain during her life.

As Rotarians, we are inspired by Estela Liermann's attitude and resolve as she continues her fight against polio. Likewise, we are emboldened to finish our own fight to rid the world of the curse that is polio. We are this close.

Estela Liermann, Inspirational Polio Survivor. 

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Amanda Elliott credits a childhood trip to York, England to research her family tree as a major factor in her decision to attend the University of York to pursue a Masters Degree in International Public Health. Amanda's parents encouraged learning and thinking "outside the box" while she was growing up. Now, as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, she has gained an opportunity to maximize her talents in the field of public health by engaging in research on communicable diseases.

Amanda is a graduate of Bradley High School and Lee University where she majored in biochemistry. After taking some time off to evaluate her next educational steps, she was recruited by Kim Casteel and David Carroll to apply for a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. Amanda completed her paperwork and breezed through the one-hour district interview process at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. Ambassadorial Scholarship committee chairperson, Ann McCoin announced that Amanda had won the scholarship this past September. 

Amanda Elliott, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Tourism is big business in the state of Tennessee. A recent report points to an increase in tourism revenue for every county in the state during 2010. According to Melissa Woody, vice president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), this is a rare occurrence given the current state of the economy. "We are considered an affordable natural destination for visitors from all our bordering states and Ohio."

Funding for the Convention and Visitors Bureau's marketing efforts is provided through a portion of the five percent lodging tax. Twenty-seven percent of the total lodging tax revenues go to the Convention and Visitors Bureau to fund tourism development activities. The lodging tax comes from approximately 24 hotels accounting for 1,200 to 1,300 rooms in Bradley County. The CVB's marketing campaign includes advertising in magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens and brochures targeting more specific tourism segments.

In addition to their marketing campaign, the CVB conducts a wide range of product development activities to package potential tourist activities for the marketplace. One example of a destination product with great potential is the Fort Cass site in Charleston, Tennessee. Fort Cass was the governmental headquarters for the entire Trail of Tears operation. Plans are under way for a Heritage Center to be developed in the Charleston community along with a complimentary park and greenway focused on the area's rich historical significance.

The 150th anniversary of the Civil War is also generating major interest in our area from a tourism perspective. To further quantify the the interest prompted by the area's rich history, the CVB has received over 50,000 inquiries this year related to area tourist destinations and activities. Seventy-five thousand visitor guides were printed last year to satisfy requests for information. For more information on our area's attractions, explore www.VisitClevelandTN.com.

Amanda Plecas, Site Communication Manager for Wacker Chemie AG, disclosed that the new polycrystalline silicon facility under construction in Charleston, Tennessee is the largest investment in the company's history.

Wacker expects to produce 67,000 metric tons of the raw material used in the production of solar panels in 2014. The Bradley County plant will be responsible for 15,000 metric tons of Wacker's total polycrystalline silicon production by 2014. Raw materials for the solar industry make up 25% of Wacker's total worldwide sales.

Wacker emphasizes environmental responsibility and production efficiency with their "Responsible Care" program. Production by-products are recycled in a highly efficient, closed-loop manufacturing process that has minimal environment impact.

Rapid growth in the solar industry is fueling Wacker's expansion. Photovoltaic use is forecast to grow by 42% during the period between 2007 and 2014. Rising energy costs have reduced the payback period for using solar cells from four years to two years in California and from six years to two years in Germany. Wacker's polycrystalline silicon production capacity is sold out through 2014.

Amanda noted that Wacker is very optimistic about their decision to locate in our community. Major factors playing a role in the decision to locate in Bradley County included the availability of cost-effective, TVA electricity; over-the-fence chlorine from Olin Chemical; transportation infrastructure; intellectual property protection laws; a skilled labor pool and a strong government incentives package.

The economic impact of the Wacker development is substantial with the creation of 650 direct jobs in addition to as many as 1,000 construction positions and an equal number of jobs within their supplier stream. The Wacker plant is expected to be commissioned in 2013. Click here for additional information about Wacker Tennessee.

Amanda Plecas is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has worked as Creative Director for Waterhouse Public Relations and as Director of Public Relations for WTCI. Amanda has also participated in a Rotary Group Study Exchange as a team member traveling to India.  

Amanda Plecas, Site Communication Manager for Wacker Chemie AG. 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

-Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

According to Marj Flemming of LaunchPoint Leadership, the Dickens quote from A Tale of Two Cities and its implications for leadership are still applicable today. Fleming described the characteristics of a good leader after noting that "We don't have many good leaders today." The elements of good leadership include:

• The ability to set others up for success. This ability fills the pipeline with future leaders.
• The ability to create a pathway for their followers.
• The ability to make their followers stay focused.
• The ability to provide inspiration. Leaders use igniter phrases, e.g. "That's a great idea!" 
• The ability to leverage their influence by learning to listen and making impactful comments.
• The ability to show initiative with passion, energy and enthusiasm.

Doug Berry, VP of Economic Development for the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, presented a set of preliminary site plans for the proposed industrial park off Exit 20 in southern Bradley County during the October 4 meeting of the Rotary Club of Cleveland. The strategically located property consists of 343 acres from the former Bob Zeige farm, fronting Interstate 75 and located approximately 13 miles from both Volkswagen and Wacker. The location and accessibility of this site make it an excellent location for suppliers to these new industrial operations.

The preliminary site layout features nine buildings ranging from 30,000 to 600,000 square feet. Berry noted that the site plan adapts to the topography of the land and includes 75 acres of buffer zones to minimize any environmental intrusions into the surrounding community. The redesign of the Exit 20 interchange provides access to the new site and opens an additional 200 acres to commercial development along I-75. The new commercial area will probably have a 20 to 30 year buildout period according to Berry.

Additional information on the progress of Whirlpool's migration to their new facility was provided during the presentation emphasizing potential future uses of the old property and buildings in three distinct sites in the downtown Cleveland area. Some of the existing buildings spread over 90 acres include multiple floor configurations that most manufacturers would view as unsuitable for production purposes. Some parts were moved over seven miles before becoming a completed stove due to the layout of the old facility. The old Hardwick Stove building seems to be the most usable structure based on initial inspections. Whirlpool is expected to fully vacate the downtown buildings by 2015. 

Doug Berry has been named the recipient of the Fred Harris Professional of the Year Award at the annual meeting of the Tennessee Economic Development Council in Memphis. Berry's contributions in the Whirlpool, Amazon, and Olin projects were cited as factors in the award.

Doug Berry, VP of Economic Development for the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Randall Hebert of Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough presented the basics for evaluating and preparing a business for sale during the September 27 meeting of the Rotary Club of Cleveland. A prudent business owner will begin to prepare for a potential sale well in advance of the event, as at least three to five years of business history will be considered during the valuation process.

The three most common forms of business valuation are:

1. ASSET - The tangible assets of the business are used as the basis for valuation.
2. MARKET - A multiple of the business earnings common for the industry is used as the basis for valuation.
3. INCOME - The discounted value of cash flows from the business are used as the basis for valuation.

Randall Hebert is a CPA and is recognized by the National Association of Certified Business Valuation Analysts as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). 

The tax-sheltered account for designated health care expenses should be called a "Health Disaster Account", according to Dr. James Marcum. When we use the money from a so-called Health Savings Account, the funds are utilized to cover a health emergency or problem. Health is your most valuable asset. The actions one takes to maintain good health are the true deposits to your real Health Savings Account (HSA). Drinking plenty of water, eating healthy foods and getting plenty of rest are all investments that should be made to your HSA.

Poor investments in health are causing 1 in every 5 dollars in this country to be spent on health care. Specific problem areas include poor diet and negative input through our senses causing increased production of adrenaline and cortisol which lead to the inability to get proper rest. Anxiety induces "stress chemistry" causing poor diet habits and other health problems.

It is estimated that three out of four people do not drink enough water. The average person should take their weight divided by two to determine the proper amount of water to drink (in ounces) on a daily basis. For example, a 200 lb. person needs 100 ounces of water per day. An additional problem area is the overuse of prescription medications. According to Dr. Marcum, prescription drugs may be the third or fourth cause of death in the U.S.

Dr. Marcum is a practicing cardiologist with the Chattanooga Heart Institute and a director of HeartWise Ministries. HeartWise Ministries is dedicated to helping God's children find the Biblical truth in an over-marketed society. Watch for Dr. Marcum's new book, "The Ultimate Prescription" now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

Life Care Centers of America president, Beecher Hunter, initiated the September 13 meeting of the Rotary Club of Cleveland with "high fives" and the story behind his company's support of the Operation Christmas Child program.

Life Care (LCCA) started assembling shoeboxes filled with gifts for children in 1995. They fell slightly short of their initial goal to provide 22,000 boxes to the Samaritan's Purse effort. The project has rapidly grown throughout recent history with last year's campaign netting over 189,000 shoeboxes from the 28 states where LCCA operates. The residents of LCCA's care centers view the activity as a source of inspiration in helping the children of the world.

LCCA sponsors five company associates to travel with the Samaritan's Purse organization to assist with the distribution of the shoeboxes each year. "God directs every shoebox", stated Hunter. LCCA has collected 2.25 million shoeboxes for the children of the world since the effort began in 1995.

According to Randy Riddle, who directs domestic activities for Operation Christmas Child, the 2011 goal is to provide gift boxes for 8.5 million children in over 100 countries. The beleaguered country of Haiti was the recipient of 250,000 boxes last year.

Samaritan's Purse staffs 7 processing centers in the U.S. with over 40,000 volunteers to inspect and prepare the packages for final distribution. Over 500,000 volunteer hours are utilized in fulfilling the annual mission. 

The Rotary Club of Cleveland is participating in this year's Operation Christmas Child campaign. 

Randy Riddle (left) of Samaritan's Purse and Beecher Hunter of Life Care Centers of America answer questions about the Operation Christmas Child project. 

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee Chairperson, Ann McCoin, has announced that one of the Rotary Club of Cleveland's candidates for an Ambassadorial Scholarship has won the award.

Amanda Elliott is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Elliott of Cleveland. She is a 2006 graduate of Bradley High School and a 2010 graduate of Lee University with a B.S. in Biochemistry. In 2011, she has worked as a substitute chemistry teacher at Bradley High School. Amanda intends to use her Ambassadorial Scholarship to continue her studies by pursuing a Masters Degree in Public Health (International) at the University of York in England.

Ambassadorial Scholarships, the Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program, was founded in 1947. Since then, more than 40,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today it is one of the world's largest privately funded international scholarship programs. Nearly 700 scholarships were awarded for study in 2009-10. Through grants totaling approximately $16.2 million, recipients from about 70 countries studied in more than 80 nations.

Congratulations Amanda! 

Past District 6780 Governor, Bobby Davis, has recognized Cameron Fisher for his role in establishing the prototype Rotary youth organization, Youthact, in our district. Cleveland Middle School hosted our local Youthact organization until earlier this year when Rotary International decided to lower the age requirement for Interact to 12 years old. As part of Rotary's 'New Generations' avenue of service, Youthact has now become part of Interact by the age extension. The Rotary Club of Cleveland now sponsors active Interact clubs at both Cleveland Middle School and Cleveland High School.

From left: Cameron Fisher and former Rotary District 6780 Governor, Bobby Davis.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

2011 Rotarian of the Year, Ann McCoin, memorialized her parents Francis Hansbrough Yarbro and George Lawson Yarbro by naming them Paul Harris Fellows. Rotary Foundation Committee co-chairman, Norm Fontana, made the presentation and thanked Ann for her ongoing support of the Rotary International Foundation. In addition to being named Rotarian of the Year, Ann is the president of the Cleveland Rotary Foundation and is chairperson of the Ambassadorial Scholarships Committee. 

From left: Rotary Club of Cleveland President, Kim Casteel; Ann McCoin; Rotary Foundation Committee Co-Chairman, Norm Fontana.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Fellow Rotarian and State Representative, Kevin Brooks, shared his personal insights on the first legislative session of the 107th General Assembly during an address to the Rotary Club of Cleveland on August 30.

Representative Brooks emphasized the focus on job growth by stating that he "believes that small business is the key to improving our economic situation". The federal government now accounts for 27% of the country's GDP. Upon adding the impact of state and local government, the percentage of GDP generated through government spending increases to an "unsustainable" 42 percent. Departments in state government have been asked to prepare for an expected 30-40% decrease in federal funding as the federal government begins to address its massive debt crisis.

The legislature passed a balanced budget for Tennessee that reduced spending by an impressive $1.2 billion. Brooks noted that the passage of a budget is the only constitutionally required action of the legislature. Therefore, of the 4,000 bills passed in the most recent legislative session, 3,999 were unnecessary.

Brooks praised our state and community as being tops for economic growth and a great place to raise a family. Representative Brooks also introduced Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner, John Schroer, who was preparing to present a Transportation Enhancement Grant of $261,541 to Meigs County for a pedestrian/bicycle project in Decatur. 

Representative Kevin Brooks and Rotary Club of Cleveland President, Kim Casteel 

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

The Rotary Club of Cleveland co-hosted the 2011 United Way Kickoff Luncheon on Tuesday, August 23 at the Peerless Road Church. Brenda Lawson and Tanya Mazzolini are co-chairs for this year's campaign which has a goal of $2.3 million. Tennessee's First Lady, Chrissy Haslam, delivered the keynote address which focused on the importance of early childhood education.

Year 2010 statistics show that 42% of third graders in the state of Tennessee were unable to read at their grade level. Further examination shows that many of these children were not properly prepared when they began kindergarten. According to Haslam, as many as 34% of children entering kindergarten don't have the required language skills required to learn. First Lady Haslam is using her position to resolve these issues by promoting programs to increase parental involvement in early childhood development. She is also assisting with a program to utilize faith-based communities in Memphis to improve child preparedness levels. "I think the entire country is watching Tennessee as an example for education reform," Haslam said.

Haslam said she wanted to attend the United Way of Bradley County kickoff when she heard about the community's response to the disastrous April tornadoes. "It just really touched my heart."

Pacesetter and Challenger firms announced pledges totaling $902,280 to get the campaign off to a strong start. Many of the pledge reports are yet incomplete and will be updated at upcoming report luncheons according to United Way board chairman, Terry Henry. The next report luncheon is scheduled for noon on Monday, September 12  at the Mountain View Inn.

"This is the best time to be alive in history", says Frank Rothermel, our District 6780 Governor. The intertwined objectives of prosperity and health have never been higher as shown by Hans Rosling's statistical video; 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes. Rotary wants to continue to play a prominent role in the march toward a better life for all people. Bill Gates, who has given over $355 million to Rotary International's fight against polio, notes that in 1960, 20 million children died of various disease worldwide. Last year, the number has dropped to 8.1 million, a 60% decrease in 50 years.

Rotary's battle against polio continues toward a successful conclusion with our own District 6780 having contributed over $2 million since 1985. The technology for tracing the disease in India is now so advanced that a single polio case may now be traced back to its carrier. Rotary International has raised over $1 billion to eradicate polio as our signature project for the last 25 years. Success is now within our grasp.

DG Rothermel echoed RI president, Kalyan Banerjee's theme for the 2011-2012 Rotary year, "Reach Within to Embrace Humanity". Given the inward and individual focus of this year's Rotary theme, we are reminded of Mahatma Gandhi's saying, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Frank Rothermel joined the Knoxville, Tennessee Rotary club in 1996 and served as its president in 2006. In 1998, he was selected as the Four-Way Test Rotarian of the Year. Frank and his wife, Judy, are Paul Harris Fellows, Benefactors of the Rotary Foundation, Major Donors, Members of the Paul Harris Society and the Arch Klumph Society. He is president of Denark Construction and is a partner in Fielden and Rothermel Properties where he oversees the management of over 350 apartments and several commercial buildings. DG Rothermel also has an exhaustive list of community service activities and achievements outside of Rotary. Our district governor certainly personifies the Rotary motto, Service Above Self.

The Rotary Club of Cleveland has made a $250 contribution to Rotary International in memory of Frank's son, John Thomas Rothermel. 

Matthew Brown was recognized by District 6780 Governor, Frank Rothermel, as a major donor to the Rotary Foundation during the Rotary Club of Cleveland's August 16 meeting.

Achieving major donor status is representative of a very substantial commitment to the programs and work of Rotary International. Matthew joined the Rotary Club of Cleveland in July 1995 and served as our president during the 2002-2003 Rotary year.

Pictured with Matthew are his father, K. Harrison Brown, a level 4 major donor, and DG Frank Rothermel, a member of the Arch C. Klumph Society. We thank these individuals for their MAJOR support of the Rotary Foundation and their contribution to the worldwide eradication of polio.

For more information on Rotary Foundation giving and individual recognition levels, click here.

From left: K. Harrison Brown; District Governor, Frank Rothermel and Matthew Brown. 

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

noun informal

a bird-watcher, i.e. David Chaffin

Our "roving" Rotarian, Dr. David Chaffin, introduced the Rotary Club of Cleveland to a new world of competitive observation -birding. For the uninitiated, this probably means bird-watching in the backyard or while relaxing on vacation. For David Chaffin, birding is a slightly more involved activity. His documentation of bird species sightings has him ranked 22nd in the United States and 9th in the state of Tennessee. With 11,242 sightings, David Chaffin is the world's 229th most prolific birder.

He has recently turned the focus of his birding activities toward the Cleveland Greenway, with the intent of documenting as many of the "Fine Feathered Friends of the Cleveland Greenway" as possible. To date, he has recorded 82 species of birds in the greenway area, including a first time in Bradley County sighting of the Willow Flycatcher. David's greenway sightings include Sand Hill Cranes, Canadian Geese, Red-Tailed and Red-Shouldered Hawks, and the ever-numerous European Starling, also known in some circles as the "air rat". Our highly-ranked birder expects to document 100 avian species in the greenway area by the end of this year. Fellow Rotarian, Don Ritzhaupt, is also hooked on the hobby after an introduction to bird-watching by Chaffin several years ago.

David Chaffin, our 2010 Rotarian of the Year, also holds the Rotary Club of Cleveland's number one ranking in collecting Rotary club banners while traveling the country in his work and as our "roving" Rotarian. David has collected over 240 banners for our local archives during his travels.

From left: Tennessee's 9th Ranked Birder, Dr. David Chaffin; Rotary Club of Cleveland President, Kim Casteel 

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

The Rotary Club of Cleveland welcomes new members, Dr. Martin Ringstaff and Michael Baker. Dr. Ringstaff is the newly appointed director of the Cleveland City Schools System and Michael Baker is the new city executive for BB&T. Dr. Ringstaff was proposed for membership by Dr. Don Robinson and Michael Baker was proposed by Max Carroll. Welcome to Rotary and the Cleveland community!

Pictured from left: Dr. Don Robinson, Dr. Martin Ringstaff, Max Carroll and Michael Baker.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Fellow Rotarian and greenway board chairman, Cameron Fisher, provided an update on the status of the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway during the August 2 meeting of the Rotary Club of Cleveland. The Phase 5 portion of the greenway linking Raider Drive and Tinsley Park is now underway with an expected completion date in October 2011. The Phase 5 addition will sport highly efficient LED lighting which will save thousands of dollars in energy costs during their operating lifespan. New signage relating greenway rules and etiquette have been posted along the pathway. Several historical markers are planned for the route with one already installed describing the origin of the name Cleveland.

Members of the Rotary Club of Cleveland gathered at the Cleveland Greenway on July 19 to officially dedicate the drinking fountain installed by the club this past April. Club vice-president, Pam Nelson, thanked those involved in the installation including, Lloyd Rogers, Wholesale Supply Group; Ben Nelson, Tennessee Craftsman; Wayne Wallace, WW Concrete and Allan Colloms who performed the plumbing for the project. Fred Garmon with People for Care and Learning provided the landscaping around the perimeter of the fountain area and Kim Randolph of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home provided the granite marker.

Rotary International has a worldwide emphasis on clean drinking water while the Rotary Club of Cleveland is an enthusiastic supporter of the Cleveland Greenway. The drinking fountain is a complementary project to the Willow Street Entry Portal and picnic area that was installed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Rotary.

The fountain is located just off the Harris Circle trailhead and parking area near the newly installed restroom facilities. 

From left: Wayne Wilhelm, David Chaffin, Cameron Fisher, Gary Sears, Allan Colloms, Tom Thomas, Ben Nelson, Pam Nelson, Norm Fontana, Amy Card-Lillios, Jerry Bird, Julia Scoggins, Art Rhodes, Kendra Bailey, Kim Casteel, Nicholas Lillios, Harrison Brown, David Carroll, Victor Boltniew, guest, Aaron Weatherford, Ryan Marshall. 

The tagline of the Distinguished Young Women program is: Scholarship - Leadership - Talent. The Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2011, Katye Brock, from Tullahoma, Tennessee is a perfect example of the great potential found within the program's participants. "This is not a beauty pageant", says Brock. These young women have an average ACT score of 32 and 11 high school valedictorians may be found in this year's group of 23 candidates competing for the title of Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee.

Katye Brock credits the program for boosting her confidence, self-esteem, poise, fitness, time management skills, maturity and building lifetime connections and relationships. She enjoys the opportunities provided for volunteerism and giving back to the community. The "Be Your Best Self" component of th program allows Distinguished Young Women participants to reach out and encourage young people nationwide to make a commitment to being their best selves in areas such as: academics, physical fitness, morality, character and social and civic participation.

Twenty three girls are in the Cleveland community competing for the state title at Lee University's Dixon Center on the evening of July 22 and July 23. Cleveland Rotarian, Sheryl Jaggers and husband Dr. John Jaggers have served as a host family for the group during this week's activities. 

From left: Nicholas Lillios, program chairman; Katye Brock, 2011 Distinguished Young Woman of America; Kim Casteel, Rotary Club of Cleveland President, and Sheryl Jaggers, program coordinator.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm  

Tourism is a $13.3 billion business in the state of Tennessee. Tennessee's rich Civil War history plays an important part in the tourism economy according to Lee Curtis, Director of Program Development for Heritage Tourism. Tourism in Tennessee related to the Civil War is so popular that an additional phone line had to be installed to handle requests for a new Civil War Trails brochure developed by the Department of Tourist Development.

The state of Tennessee is a Civil War heritage area as designated by Congress. Tennessee is the only state whose entire area has this congressional designation. More than 1,400 battles were fought in Tennessee with a least one occurring in each of the state's 95 counties. The Henegar House in Charleston, TN was briefly used as a headquarters for General William T. Sherman, where he made the following statement to Margaret Henegar, "When I am through with the South, not even a bird will fly here." Margaret Henegar was a secessionist while her husband Henry was a Union sympathizer.

An interesting film entitled "The Civil War in Four Minutes" showed the ebb and flow of the constantly changing battle lines and the mounting casualty numbers in the conflict. 

The Civil War in Four Minutes 

The state of Tennessee and the city of Cleveland are marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with a series of events focusing on the history of our "border state". Over 215 markers have currently been installed as part of the Civil War Trails program with over three hundred scheduled by the end of this year. For more information on Tennessee's sequicentennial programs, visit www.tncivilwar.com.

Ann Yarbro McCoin has been named the 2011 Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Cleveland. David Chaffin, the 2010 honoree, made the presentation during the July 5 noon meeting. Ann has served in many capacities since becoming one of the Rotary Club of Cleveland's first female members in 1989, including heading up the Ambassadorial Scholarship committee. Ann has perfect attendance for 21 years and currently serves as president of the Cleveland Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Club of Cleveland has named Ann an honorary Paul Harris Fellow as part of the presentation.

Pictured from left: Joseph Y. "Mac" McCoin Jr.; Ann Yarbro McCoin; Kim Casteel, Rotary Club of Cleveland president; David Chaffin, 2010 Rotarian of the Year. 

Photo by Norm Fontana 

Rotarian, Michael Callaway, honored his three daughters during the July 5 meeting by naming them Paul Harris Fellows. Marie Callaway Kellner is recently married and is an attorney and trial judge clerk in Boise, Idaho. Libby Callaway is a writer involved in a Nashville fashion and lifestyles business called Imogene & Willie. Her recent book about "American Pickers" star, Mike Wolfe, is being published by Hyperion Press. "American Pickers" is a popular show on the History Channel. Millie Callaway lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is a Community Development Consultant for TVA. Millie manages TVA's community development activities in northern Alabama, northern Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and eastern Tennessee.

Michael Callaway, who joined the Rotary Club of Cleveland in 1967, is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and former recipient of the Rotarian of the Year award. He's also a very proud father for good reason. Thank you, Mike, for your support of the Rotary Foundation!

Pictured from left: Marie Callaway Kellner, Libby Callaway, Michael Callaway and Millie Callaway. 

Photo by Norm Fontana 

Dr. Martin Ringstaff is looking to improve the Cleveland City School System by creating successful relationships between students and teachers. In his first address to the Rotary Club of Cleveland since taking over for retiring director, Rick Denning, Dr. Ringstaff explained his philosophy on successful learning. “We are looking for that perfect relationship for our kids to be successful ... we want the teachers that are going to get to those kids the best,” Ringstaff explained. “Providing these students with the best opportunities possible in the best learning environment possible is what we are here to do.”

Progressive education reform recognizes that students learn in different ways. New teaching methods such as Quadrant D Critical Thinking skills are favored over rote memorization in modern educational settings. Newly graduated teachers already have these teaching skills. Some existing, long-time teachers need additional training to utilize these new teaching methods.

Funding remains a challenge for school systems as "No Child Left Behind" is outdated and unfunded. Dr. Ringstaff also favors recent changes in the teacher tenure system. Tenure has tended to protect some mediocre teachers. Increasing the time required to attain tenure from three to five years is a positive. Ringstaff's motto for education is "Every Child, Every Day.

Dr. Martin Ringstaff was previously principal of a high school listed in the U.S. News top 100 high schools in the nation.

Pictured from left: Nicholas Lillios, program chairman; Kim Casteel, Rotary Club of Cleveland president; Dr. Martin Ringstaff and David Norton, program coordinator.

Photo by Norm Fontana

When I attended the recent Rotary International Convention in New Orleans with a group of fellow Cleveland Rotarians, I heard incoming president Kalyan Banerjee, of India, challenge us with our theme for 2011-2012, “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.” He urged Rotarians to harness their inner resolve and strength to attain service success, explaining that to achieve anything in the world, a person has to use all the resources he or she can draw on, starting with what is within.

The theme resounded with me. Before we will have the energy or will to reach out in service to others, it must start with the heart. We acknowledge that everyone has the same hopes, dreams, and desire to be happy and fulfilled. Only when we achieve that can we help others do the same.

This year Rotary will concentrate on three areas around the world: family, continuity, and change. Family is the core of our existence, so service must begin there. Continuity signals that we will keep doing what we’ve dedicated ourselves to for the last several years; literacy, clean water, reaching young people, and working to eradicate polio. Change reminds us that we must focus on our strategic plan and future vision, including an emphasis on developing our own social network and seeking new young members and diversity so vital for our club success.

Cleveland Rotary has a rich heritage of community and international projects, such as the Dairy Show, Dictionary Project, Greenway, Ambassadorial Scholarship, Group Study Exchange, Rotary Auction, and our focal cause—Polio Eradication. We will continue these vital emphases.

In Cleveland Rotary, help me this year lead our club to greater diversity in ethnicity, gender, and age. Help me spread the word to our community who Rotary is and what we stand for.  Help our club coalesce around our visionary strategic plan enacted by this year’s board. 

I am honored and humbled to serve as president of the Cleveland Rotary Club. Thank you for the confidence in me that your election implies. Together, we will “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.”

Sincerely,

Kim Casteel

President, Rotary Club of Cleveland

Past District Governor, Jim Buckner, officially installed the new officers and directors for the 2011-2012 Rotary year during the June 28 noon meeting. PDG Buckner commented on the rich heritage of leadership and the good reputation that the Rotary Club of Cleveland enjoys in District 6780. He also reminded the new leaders that incoming RI president, Kalyan Banerjee, has encouraged us to harness inner strength to build stronger families and better communities.

Front row from left: Fred Garmon, director-service projects; Steve Carroll, past president; Kim Casteel, president; Pam Nelson, vice president-public relations; Craig Mullinax, treasurer.

Back row from left: Tom Thomas, director-Rotary Foundation; Wayne Wilhelm, director-publications; Tim Spires, secretary; Matthew Brown, director-membership; Nicholas Lillios, director-programs, Bill Balzano, chaplain.

Not pictured: Art Rhodes, president-elect; Norm Fontana, director-Rotary Foundation; Ted Moss, sergeant-at-arms.

Photo by Ken Jones 

The Caring Place is a Christian, ecumenical, non-profit organization whose mission is to model the love of Christ by addressing basic physical, spiritual, and social needs of the disadvantaged in Bradley County. In 2010 The Caring Place distributed over 166 tons of food while serving 3,316 needy families. In addition to providing food and basic necessities, the organization provided professional social work and counseling services to 511 people. In order to qualify for assistance, the household income level must be below the poverty level.

Executive Director, Reba Terry, who is a licensed clinical social worker, shared the results of a recent community survey which polled the need for various services in our community. Dental care ranked highest followed by assistance with rent and/or utilities, health care and employment assistance. The survey results may be used in developing new service areas for The Caring Place or other organizations in the area.

In May 2011, The Caring Place kicked off a new program called diaperLove. The diaperLove program provided 84 children from 65 different households over 7,500 diapers during the first month of operations. According to Ms. Terry, the program is on target to double in June. It was noted that severe diaper rash is grounds for removal of children by the Department of Children's Services.

The Caring Place was the recipient of a Cleveland Rotary Foundation grant in 2010. The $8,700 grant was used to enclose an entry/waiting area in order to protect clients from harsh weather conditions. 

"We have a long way to go to be out of recession", according to Gary Farlow, president and CEO of the Cleveland Bradley Chamber of Commerce. Improvement in the local unemployment rate is encouraging with the March 2011 rate falling to 9% from 9.7% one year earlier. The 9% rate translates to approximately 4,500 people registered as unemployed. Building construction remains flat with retail sales and sales tax revenue numbers climbing only slightly.

There's plenty of good news for the local economy on the horizon with major investments from totaling over $2 billion from Wacker, Whirlpool, Amazon and Olin Chemical beginning to filter into Cleveland and Bradley County. Farlow estimates that between 80 and 100 expatriates from Germany will begin to arrive in the area during the next four months in connection with Wacker Chemie AG. The recent approval of an "international baccalaureate" program by the Bradley County school system will help in attracting these international workers to our local community. 

From left: Steve Carroll, Rotary Club of Cleveland President; Gary Farlow, Cleveland Bradley County Chamber of Commerce President.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

We welcome Kendra Bailey as the newest member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland. Kendra is the owner of Ever After Bridal and Formal Wear. Kendra's Rotary classification is Bridal Apparel and she was proposed for membership by our president-elect, Kim Casteel. Welcome to Rotary Kendra!

From left: President-elect, Kim Casteel; Kendra Bailey; president, Steve Carroll.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Faculty advisor, Don Markham, reviewed a successful year for the Cleveland High Interact Club during our June 7 club assembly. The rapidly growing organization now consists of over 80 members who participated in 22 service projects during this past school year. CHS Interact contributed over 1,100 hours to projects such as Mercy Ships, Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraising, providing assistance to The Caring Place, working at elementary school fall festivals and Operation Christmas Child. The Interactors raised hundreds of dollars in support of their successful service endeavors.

Several Interactors excelled with individual accomplishments including Justin Cousineau, winner of the Rotary Club of Cleveland academic scholarship; Aimee Murray, winner of the District 6780 speech contest; and Sandy Ha who served as a district Interact officer. Six Interact members attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy this year.

CHS Interact is a shining example of what young people can accomplish with a little assistance from Rotary and guidance from great faculty advisors like Don Markham and Holly Gobble. Congratulations on a great year!

To bring a bit of the convention to those who were not able to attend the International Convention in New Orleans, we are providing links to copies of the speeches made by RIPE Kalyan Banerjee and Bill Gates during the convention.

---Bill Gates

Click here for full text of Kaylan Banerjee speech. . . 

Click here for full text of Bill Gates speech. . .

"Some of the walls that the storms destroyed were not tragic. Walls of isolation, excluison, economics and judgement tumbled as we reached out to care for our neighbors. The truest tragedy would be to rebuild those walls as we rebuild our community."

-Ruthie Forgey, Administrator, Salvation Army, Cleveland, TN

Fellow Rotarian and Salvation Army Administrator, Ruthie Forgey, shared her experiences surrounding the disastrous tornadoes of April 27, 2011 during our May 24 program, including a harrowing near miss in the Villa Drive area. The community's response was overwhelming and social media played an important role in getting the word out on needed food and supplies. The Salvation Army mobile canteen served over 5,000 peanut butter sandwiches in the 24-hour period immediately following the disaster.

Through May 20, the Salvation Army's Cleveland, Tennessee chapter has served over 16,000 meals; 32,000 drinks; 4,000 snacks and 2,000 food boxes. Volunteer assistance is still needed, especially in the receiving warehouse at White Wing Publishing. For additional information call (423) 308-3467 or visit the Salvation Army of Cleveland Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/tsacleveland. To donate to the Salvation Army's relief effort, visit http://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/give/. Designate "Bradley County Tennessee" on your donation to be sure your dollars are utilized in our community.

Cleveland High School Interactor, Justin Cousineau, has been awarded an academic scholarship by the Rotary Club of Cleveland. Justin is an outstanding candidate with an excellent academic record and made a great impression during the interview process. Justin will continue his education at Middle Tennessee State University where he plans to secure a degree in mathematics. Justin aspires to become a math teacher after completing his education.

The Scholarship Committee was challenged in selecting a winner given the exceptional quality of this year's applicants. Nine applicants with superb credentials were evaluated by the committee to select the top three candidates who would participate in a live interview to determine the winner. Congratulations to all the applicants for their remarkable achievements.

Pictured from left: Rotary Club of Cleveland President-Elect, Kim Casteel; Justin's Mother, Debbie Cousineau; Justin Cousineau; and Scholarship Committee Chairman, Bill Creech.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

The Rotary Club of Cleveland was well represented at the 2011 District 6780 Assembly held on May 14 at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. Incoming officers and board members had the opportunity to learn about Rotary operations and share ideas with other District 6780 clubs. District Rotary Foundation committee chairman, David Carroll, moderated the breakout sessions on the Rotary Foundation. More than 200 District 6780 Rotarians attended the event.

Pictured from left: Don Ritzhaupt, Jan Wilms, David Carroll, Wayne Wilhelm, Tim Spires, Bill George, Cameron Fisher, Kim Casteel, Art Rhodes, Craig Mullinax and Norm Fontana. 

Cleveland YMCA Director, Lee McChesney, outlined recent steps the organization has taken to provide disaster relief following the devastating tornadoes of April 27. Michigan Avenue Elementary School has been using the YMCA gymnasium for PE classes due to damage sustained at the school. The YMCA has also made its facilities available to displaced families needing shelter and a place to shower. Additional scholarships have been provided for impacted students utilizing the After School Program.

The YMCA is also sharing its location with Farmland Community Church and First Baptist Church.

Upcoming YMCA programs include the Summer Day Camp providing weekly themes such as science and recycling. Field trips are planned to the Ocoee and Chattanooga Lookouts games. The annual back-to-school Middle School Party is scheduled for August 20. Between 700 and 800 students are expected to attend. The Harlan White Memorial Volleyball Tournament to fund YMCA scholarships will be held on August 27. The tournament will be played on outdoor courts and will consist of four-on-four, coed teams. 

Pictured from left: Rotary Club of Cleveland President-Elect, Kim Casteel; Cleveland YMCA Director, Lee McChesney.

Photo by Wayne Wilhelm 

Bradley County Mayor, Gary Davis, described the struggle to manage the emergency created on April 27 when multiple tornadoes hit Bradley County, destroying hundreds of homes and killing nine people. It was the first time during the mayor's tenure that the emergency 911 operations center had to be activated due to a disaster in our community. "We already had reports of over 40 entrapments by the fourth wave of tornadoes. We didn't know that two more waves of tornadoes were yet to come." Some roads were blocked by literally hundreds of downed trees. Emergency personnel had no way to access some areas where help was needed. The situation threatened to descend into chaos.

Despite the extreme circumstances, TEMA reported that Bradley County had a near textbook response to the emergency conditions. Mayor Davis reports that initial damage assessments have been completed and thousands of meals have been served to displaced families and volunteer workers. Over 500 families have been displaced and will need short and long-term housing. The recovery is well under way in Bradley County. FEMA debris removal and monitoring contracts have been signed and volunteer efforts are continuing.

In spite of the devastating situation, Bradley County and Cleveland still look forward to continued economic growth through the investments of Wacker, Amazon, Whirlpool and Olin Corporation. Mayor Davis says we will face another challenging budget this year due revenues that are flat or down from last year. The potential loss of over 500 homes from the tax roles due to the tornadoes is another area of significant concern.

Mayor Davis blasted the pending legislation to tax Amazon customer purchases fulfilled through the new distribution centers in Bradley County and Chattanooga. Our industrial recruiting efforts will be ruined if we get the reputation of not following up on our commitments to existing industry. Mayor Davis noted that "It's scary when the legislature is in session in Nashville." He praised our local state legislators for pressing the state government to honor its commitment to Amazon.

The Rotary Club of Cleveland was recognized for several important achievements during the recent Multi-District Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee. Our club was awarded Star, Eradicator and Globe club status for goals attained during the 2010-2011 Rotary year. Pictured below are delegates from the Rotary Club of Cleveland who attended the event over the April 29 - May 1 weekend. Congratulations to president, Steve Carroll and the entire membership of the Rotary Club of Cleveland for a very successful year. 

From left, Steve Carroll, Kim Casteel, David Carroll and Norm Fontana. 

Literacy Committee Chairman, Bill Creech, and Park View Dictionary Project Team Leader, Wayne Wilhelm, present Park View Elementary School with a Rotary Four-Way Test banner. Park View principal, Deb Bailey, wants her students to be exposed to these important ethical standards as part of the development of their leadership skills. Also pictured are student leaders from the fifth-grade classes at Park View Elementary. 

Park View Elementary School's third grade classes received student dictionaries as part of a Rotary Club of Cleveland literacy project during December.

Craig Oetting enjoys debating the merits of biodiesel versus ethanol-based fuels distilled from crops such as switchgrass and corn. Craig currently manufactures his own supply of biodiesel fuel by collecting and processing used vegetable oil from local restaurants. By collecting about 150 gallons of waste vegetable oil per month and utilizing his own equipment, Oetting is able to produce fuel for his Dodge diesel pickup for about 80 cents per gallon. He estimates that he saved enough in fuel costs to offset the $1,600 cost of equipment within six months.

Oetting adds methanol and sodium hydroxide to neutralize the acidity of the waste vegetable oil. Additional processing steps remove glycerol and moisture from the non-toxic final product. Current "gas station" diesel is comprised of 80% petroleum and 20% bio-based fuel. Bio-fuels currently account for about 20% of total U.S. consumption. Craig is allowed to make up to 399 gallons of biodiesel per year for personal use without paying fuel taxes on the product.

While biodiesel creates about 67% less emissions than fossil fuels, one might notice the aroma of french fries or tacos emanating from the truck's exhaust, depending on the source restaurant. As gas prices continue to skyrocket, interest in alternative fuels is rising. Craig is the third student to enroll in the new bio-energy degree program at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Craig Oetting is a graduate of Cleveland State Community College.

Rotary Club of Cleveland member, Don Ritzhaupt, recently honored his father, Delbert Ritzhaupt with a Paul Harris Fellow award at the Rotary Club of Galion, Ohio. The Galion club is a 100% Paul Harris Fellow club! 

From left, Delbert Ritzhaupt,  Don Ritzhaupt.

Cameron Fisher and 2011-2012 District Governor Frank Rothermel set the pace.

Photo by Don Ritzhaupt 

Lee University theological studies graduate, Beth Staton,  was the recipient of a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship in 2007. The RI Ambassadorial Scholarship program is the world's largest privately funded international scholarship program. The competition for the scholarship is extremely competitive and Beth was nervous as she prepared for a critical District 6780 interview in Knoxville. Her diligent preparation had prepared her for all but one possible interview question. She was asked for six words describing herself instead of the customary and expected five words. The pressure was diffused when she answered "silly" as the sixth word describing herself.

Beth won the scholarship and entered what she has described as "Rotary Bootcamp" in Nashville while being seven months pregnant. Her scholarship ultimately allowed her to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland for an opportunity to pursue her PhD at a prestigious divinity school. Her experience with Rotarians in Scotland led her to change her program focus from the United States to herself. A hearty "Hi, y'all" quickly became her tagline in Scotland as she adopted a Rotary inspired theme of "promoting world peace through mutual understanding."

Ambassadorial Scholarships, The Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program, was founded in 1947. Since then, more than 40,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Nearly 700 scholarships were awarded for study in 2009-2010. Through grants totaling approximately $16.2 million, recipients from about 70 countries studied in more than 80 nations. Beth was sponsored in the RI Ambassadorial Scholarship program by the Rotary Club of Cleveland. Ann McCoin is the chairperson of the Rotary Club of Cleveland Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee.

As a supporter of Rotary's worldwide clean water initiatives and the Cleveland Greenway, the Rotary Club of Cleveland is currently working on the installation of a water fountain to be located on the Greenway near the Harris Circle parking area. The project should be completed in the next two weeks! 

Photo by Pam Nelson.  

Special thanks to Ben Nelson, Tennessee Craftsman, Inc. and Allan Colloms for contributing the trenching and plumbing work. Wayne Wallace of WW Concrete provided the concrete pad and Rotarian Lloyd Rogers of Wholesale Supply Group helped procure the fountain at a greatly discounted price. Rotarian Kim Randolph of Buckner Funeral Home donated the marble marker for the site. Click here for more photos.

We're encouraging everyone to get out to the Greenway and see what we're up to. It's good for you! 

From left: Cameron Fisher, Rotary Club of Cleveland; Mark Rogers, Bradley Sunrise Rotary Club president-elect; Kalyan Banerjee, Rotary International president-elect; Don Ritzhaupt, Rotary Club of Cleveland; Kim Casteel, Rotary Club of Cleveland president-elect.

Check out our new historical documents section located in the "members only" area of the Rotary Club of Cleveland website. View interesting administrative notes, programs, brochures and directories dating all the way back to the first year of our club's existence. See the original program from the 1927 Ladies' Night event held at the Centenary College Chapel. Did you know that J.M. Dunlap held the classification of Ice Cream Manufacturing according to the 1937 directory? On January 11, 1928, Cleveland Rotarians were treated to a selection of harmonica music by M. Cloyde Sullivan also known as "Harmonica Mike" radio's harmonica king.

We hope to continue to digitally preserve the history of our organization for future generations of Rotarians. If you have Rotary documents or photographs with historical interest, please pass them along to our Director of Publications, Wayne Wilhelm. 

To access the historical documents, use your user id and password to access the "My ClubRunner" section of the website. Find the historical documents under the "Club Documents" link. Note that some historical photographs are listed in the "Photo Albums" section of the main page of the website under the heading, "Memorabilia".

As of June 30, 2011

^*As of May 31, 2011