 Our own Retired Air Force Col. Jon Berry shared with us a fascinating program recounting his two years of service on Guam. Although we have an Air Force base on the island, Jon was actually assigned to work with the Navy, under the command of a short, female Admiral, who did not turn out to be his favorite person on the island. He said one of his key responsibilities during his time there was to make sure the Air Force General, commanding the air base, knew what the Admiral, commanding the Navy base, knew, so they could coordinate their operations, and their responses to any emergency situations. The strategic significance of Guam is due to the enduring importance of its location and its topography to major maritime nations in the Pacific Ocean. Guam, some 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, is the largest of the Mariana Islands, an archipelago of high volcanic islands in Micronesia, a huge expanse of small islands scattered across the western Pacific. Our continuing presence there is essential to keeping a political balance in the region. Thanks, Jon, for a good program! CLUB SERVICE Christy had a special "Birthday Girl" headband for President Laura, whos birthday had been on Tuesday. The club was able to surprise her with a signed birthday card, and our serenade with the Happy Birthday song. With our knowing that Dr. Gus Bergman is a diehard Creighton University fan, and that Nebraska is a basketball foe of Creighton, we were shocked to see Gus show up at our meeting with a bright-red Nebraska cap. He explained that he was magnanimously celebrating Nebraska's round-ball win over #1 Purdue on Tuesday night. Glen Hammond asked us if we knew what the "N" stood for on Nebraska caps — and informed us it stands for "Nowledge." TRAINING FOR OUR DISTRICT GOVERNORS Rotary has two primary training programs for incoming District Governors. Each paired Rotary Zones holds a Rotary Institute each year, with both a Governor-Elect Training Seminar (GETS) and Governor -Nominee Training Seminar (GNTS) associated with it. Our Rotary Institute, for the 30 districts comprising Zones 26 & 27, was held in San Diego in November. This past week, the second training, the International Assembly, was held in Orlando. F. Governors-Elect from Rotary's 529 districts around the world are brought together at the International Assembly for their final training together. They get to personally meet the incoming President of Rotary International, to hear that international leader speak, and to see and hear for the first time the President's theme for the next year. YOUTH SERVICE 120 enthusiastic high school age delegates to this year's RYLA arrived at Camp Pinerock here in Prescott last Friday. This 4-day leadership training program was led this year by our own A.J. Sheridan,, as the RYLA Chair. On the faculty as an instructor was Jon Berry; and several other club members assisted with different aspects of the program. Our inbound Rotary Youth Exchange students play a big role in the success of RYLA. This year we have 17 of these RYE Inbound Ambassadors, and A.J. is seen here speaking to them, as they stand by the flag of the country they represent. Before the RYLA delegates arrive at the camp, they are already assigned to a team, which will bear the name of the country of one of our exchange students. During their time at the camp, they will get to know the RYE student representing their team's country, and will learn about that country's history and culture. We are deeply saddened by the loss of John Wintersteen, one of our district's key youth leaders, in a tragic accident this past week. John has been a friend of youth around the world, including this disabled boy in Kenya. John served as an Adult Advisor to two Interact Ambassadors to Kenya teams, and he was instrumental in helping us launch our JR RYLA program. He will be greatly missed!! INTERNATIONAL SERVICE Stephanie Urchick, President of Rotary International for 2024-2025, addressed the assembled District Governors-Elect from around the world last week at the International Assembly in Orlando. Revealing that her Presidential Theme would be "The Magic of Rotary," she said, "Don't misunderstand me — we are not going to end polio or bring peace to the world by waving a wand and saying some funny words, It's up to you. You create the magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member." Rotary International President's Theme for 2024-2025 You know it's going to be a BAD DAY when... > You jump out of bed in the morning and miss the floor. > Your four-year-old greets you with the news that it’s almost impossible to flush a grapefruit down the toilet. > The bird singing outside your window is a vulture. > Your horn gets stuck when you're following a group of Hell's Angels on the freeway. > You get to work and there's a 60 Minutes news team waiting in your office. > Your twin sister forgets your birthday. > Your doctor tells you that you're allergic to chocolate. > Your boss tells you not to bother to remove your coat. > Your blind date turns out to be your ex. __ What was the caterpillar's new year's resolution? To turn over a new leaf. __ What do you call a snowman's temper tantrum? A melt down. __ T’is better to have loved a short person, than never to have loved a tall. __ 15 EXERCISES WE'D BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT IN 2024...
~ Jumping on the bandwagon
~ Running around in circles
~ Pushing your luck
~ Playing in traffic
~ Spinning your wheels
~ Adding fuel to the fire
~ Beating your head against the wall
~ Climbing the walls
~ Beating your own drum
~ Dragging your heels
~ Jumping to conclusions
~ Grasping at straws
~ Fishing for compliments
~ Throwing your weight around
~ Passing the buck
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