Finally, I have time to catch up on the last couple of meetings. I could give excuses, but basically it boils down to not making time to get it done. 

The last two meetings of December were all time favorites of the club. Our annual "Joe Grizzell" meeting was again a thought provoker. Joe's list for Christmas reminded us of the need to give thanks in everything, even if we have to look for what is worthy of our thanks. The reminder that our expectations can limit what we see as blessings explained through Joe's life story was touching. Wonder how our lists (and our attitudes) were changed while listening? 

Once more Norman Sooner Rotary made good on reaching our goal of learning more about our fellow club members on the December 27th meeting. Everyone joined a group and related personal experiences and thoughts of Christmas' past. Exploring the hearts and minds of such an ecclectic group is surely entertaining. I am sure everyone had unique stories of one sort or another to relate. Our group most certainly did, ranging from Christmas in Australia and Jamaica to our most favorite foods that make the holiday. 

Other noteworthy news includes collections of books for Seniors and gifts for our soldiers serving overseas have been promoted these last several weeks. Connie has already mailed a couple of boxes to reach our soldiers later this month or early February, although more can be sent. Kris has been sending updates on the collection of books already received and suggestions for what can still be contributed. A great time for cleaning out those dust collectors around your house.

On a more personal note: Thank you to those who have encouraged me as I have brought the news to you from our meetings. I do enjoy the opportunity to write and my desire is that you have found the letters to be informative and entertaining. One more reason I enjoy being a member of Norman Sooner Rotary!!!

Have a blessed 2012. 

Lynn Droescher 

David  has been a Sooner Rotarian for 22 years. His favorite quote, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”, has led him  to be successful at various Rotary positions: Ways and Means, Membership, Fellowship, International Service,Sergeant-at-Arms, Vice President, Club President, District Governor, District  Grants Chair, District Trainer, Assistant District Governor, Zone P.E.T.S  Trainer, and Shelter Box Representative.

David  enjoys the fellowship and the members of Sooner Rotary.

David  was the Bursar at the University of Oklahoma for 33 years.  He is still working for the OU Sooner club(20 years); Chairman of the Board of the OU Federal Credit Union; and Trustee  Board of Purcell Municipal Hospital. He enjoys working with OU students and  staff.

David’s  spouse is Lynn and his children are Ashley and Chad.

One  book David enjoyed is The Bible because he is still learning from it.

His favorite childhood book is TheLittle Engine That Could.

Three words that David used to describe  himself are lucky, trustworthy, and dependable.

David enjoys participating in playing  cards, eating out, and watching OU sports with friends.  He enjoys yard work for an activity he enjoys  alone. In high school, David played baseball and sang in the choir.

He enjoys mystery and action comedy  when he gets a minute to watch television.

The one thing he really wants his  Rotary friends to know about him is the he’s always available to help.

When asked what he intended to do when he grows up,he responded with, “Why? Who plans to grow up?” 

David’s favorites:

Singers: Oak Ridge Boys

Candy: Snickers

Flowers: Roses

Pro-team: OKC Thunder

A recent magazine he’s read:  The Rotarian

Recent movie: The Grown-ups. He enjoyed the comedy.

Food: Chicken fried steak.

Game: Playing cards.

Sport: Football

The most interesting places David has visited are Hong  Kong and Hanoi. They are also the farthest points he’s traveled from home.  He would love to travel to Switzerland or  Aruba.  And if he could live somewhere  else for awhile, it would be Ft. Lauderdale, FL. However, home is his very  favorite place because of family.

If he could, he would study music.  He would not study politics.  Other interests include going to his place at  the lake, singing in a gospel trio, and volunteering at OU athletic functions.  Other organizations to which David belongs    include the OU Sooner Club and Shelter Box USA. Two things David enjoys on the weekend is church and spending time with  grandkids.

Someone David  admires is his wife, Lynn, because of her strong will and her giving nature. 

A wish David has for others is for good  health and happiness.  A daydream David  entertains is a life without stress and pain. “Why do people do the things they do?” is a curiosity he often considers.  “I Survived It All” will be the title of his  first book.  Advice he would give himself  if he could go back two years is, “Relax. It will all work out.”

David describes the ideal friend as  someone who is trustworthy, loyal, and forgiving.  He describes himself as the kind of friend  who will always help and listen.

Three things he does best are:

                      1._Help People

                       2._Organize

                        3._See the Big Picture

Things  to work on this year include learning to relax more and spending more time with  extended family.  He also spends time  with four dogs and his miniature burros.

Three  wishes for his family include health, happiness, and financial peace.

Bob and Ellen Usry brought counselors and students together to share the life-changing experiences that were part of RYLA 2011 with Norman Sooner Rotary. Bob related the joy and challenges that he and Ellen have shared over the last eighteen years, first as organizers and now as directors. From a trial beginning Rotary Youth Leaders Awards camp has served as an example for many other Rotary clubs to follow. Bob and Ellen believe each year has proven to be even better than the year before.  

RYLA camp provides student leaders an opportunity to develop skills and attitudes that they will be able to use in their positions as leaders on their campus and in life itself. Several students from 2011 were given the floor and related their personal observations as RYLA attendees. Life lessons for the students included treating everyone with respect and allowing others to be themselves. 

Jennifer Tregarten and Joan Johnson were asked to share what they had learned as first year student counselors. Jennifer explained her discovery that camp provided a time of testing as she focused on caring for her students and exemplifying the values of Rotary as she interacted with others. Joan commented on the changed lives she observed over the course of the week. Joan Baker was also recognized for her contributions to the success of the camp.  

Bethesda, Inc board member Beau Dean introduced two OU busines students who have provided over $16,000 to Bethesda, Inc this semester. Rachel Hill and Chase Miller, as part of OU's core business program, took a few minutes to share their experiences of taking their business from a start-up phase to production and now to closing their business.

The course curriculum allows students to develop a product that will be used to produce support for a community service organization. The first class of the semester involved establishing five businesses. Various community service organizations attended a Service Fair to explain their services and needs. Each business was responsible for choosing the service organizations they would support through their business. Over the past 16 years IBC has donated over $1 Million to charities int he Norman area. 

Rachel and Chase, along with their partners, chose to produce and sell Sooner Stickies. Their support of Bethesda, Inc. allows sexually abused children receive counseling and support. 2010-2011 over 460 children with an average stay of nine months to one year have received care at Bethesda. The monies from the project will allow Bethesda meet their obligations for the current year. Rachel and Chase were also involved in volunteer work within the Norman community providing over 700 hours of sweat equity to Middle Earth School. Their business is the first to complete the project, having sold out of their product. 

 Posting the sign up sheet for your reference for this week's bell ringing.

NEW 12/1: Bell Ringing at JC Penney is inside the WEST Door. Sorry for the confusion!

24 years ago a number of Norman’s business leaders determined that the city of Norman needed to provide opportunities for like-minded professionals and business owners to give back to their communities, their nation and the world. Today, this group, now known as Norman Sooner Rotary, along with others who have joined their ranks were celebrating their successes over the years.

Denise Kueny honored those original members before the club and gave each the microphone to share their thoughts. What makes Norman Sooner Rotary so special? Several mentioned the family atmosphere and included personal accounts of the support and encouragement that fellow members had offered during difficult times. Others mentioned the successful projects that had funded or supported life changing programs like RYLA camps, TOUR DE VIN, FOOD AND SHELTER FOR FRIENDS, and Thunderbird Clubhouse.

Doug Lyle recounted the club’s history. He shared how the club has continued to offer a wonderful group of people, who work well together, the opportunity to do great things around the world. Many have made friends here in the U.S., as well as, abroad by working in various international projects. Who would have thought that such a small group would have had such a phenomenal impact by providing over $100 million to Polio Plus? Always a step ahead, the club never thought twice about including women. It just seemed the natural thing to do according to Doug.

Denise recognized members Andy Paden and Grover Cleveland for their outstanding service to the club. Bob and Ellen Usry were honored for their support of RYLA and other projects that have made a significant contribution to the lives of youth in our community.

James Harp, as the incoming President of the club, announced several upcoming events to recognize the Silver Anniversary of Sooner Rotary on November 9, 2012 including a banquet. The banquet will provide a venue for historical reflections of the club’s contributions and for visions of future adventures. James also announced that the club’s banner will be updated over the course of the year.

Christi Moore led the membership in a discussion of future goals and objectives. Beginning with pointing out what our club does so well, members mentioned the inclusiveness of the group, the welcome feeling that is extended to new members, the support given to one another and continued enthusiasm.  Increasing membership, now at 105, to 150 and starting a new club were proposed as future goals. Members volunteered community service activities that could be adopted such as reading to children in the Norman’s public schools. Setting a goal of 100% sustaining membership was proposed, as was growing our international presence. A suggestion was made for members to plan to attend future International Assemblies to be held in Portugal and Australia as Ron Burton, a fellow Normanite, takes  the role as President of Rotary International.

The celebration concluded with birthday cupcakes distributed to each member as they were leaving. Thanks Denise for making this a special Birthday Bash!!

Additional announcements:

Secret Santa Party is December 2 at 6pm. Held at Crosspointe Church. Ellen Usry will be contacting members with names of children and items requested.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing December 1 and 2 at Dillard’s West entrance. Members need to sign up for 1 hour time slots.

Paul Harris Foundation supporters recognized: Doug Lyle, Bob Dill, Don Sherman, and Lynne Miller 

 A very informative program was given by Dr. Jeff Buyten of Norman. As a general/pediatric otolaryngologist, or for the more common term Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist, Dr. Buyten spoke to the issues of both children's and adult needs for his specialty. His practice treats patients from age 3 weeks to 97 years of age.

Many of us are familiar with the difficulties young children face with ear infections and the need for tubes to reduce the occurrence of those infections. Dr. Buyten explained the common reasons for the infections and the procedure that helps to alleviate those problems.

In addition, he discussed the likelihood of children having difficulties in sleeping due to sleep apnea and how that could be detrimental to cognitive and neurological development. Restless sleep is also associated with ADHD.  Many are aware of adults suffering from sleep apnea and how the lack of sleep can affect their lives.

Other areas of expertise include testing and treatment of allergies, cancer, and hearing. In fact, this specialty is the only one that treats the ear and hearing difficulties including replacing ear bones and fitting hearing aids.

Dr. Buyten and his wife are graduates of Norman High and OU. He also graduated from UTSW Medical Center.  Having lived in various places around the country, an offer to return to OK and family was a no-brainer. Dr. Buyten and his partners practice in Norman.

Sooner Rotary also inducted three new members, Kirby Owens, Adam Woods and Charles Foster. Kirby works as a marketing specialist at Tyler Advertising, Adam has opened his Chiropractic practice in Norman and Charles provides mortgages through Gatewood Mortgage. Denise Kueny, club president, led the three in their swearing in ceremony while sponsors gave Rotary pins to their new recruits.