PRESIDENT JOSH’S THOUGHTS

As trite as it sounds, serving as President is both challenging and rewarding. Everyone in our club is so busy with work, family, fun and other civic duties, that it is a challenge to encourage our members to find more time for the everyday responsibilities of the club. Vacancies in Vocational Service and Club Service, as well as some doubling up by some members to cover various club responsibilities, is a strong indication that our members are stretched too thin elsewhere to fully support the club. Finding ways to engage all members in a way that rewards the member and the club, is thus far my greatest challenge and I welcome suggestions and/or would be willing to talk further with anyone about any of the areas our club could use more support.

The rewards are numerous. My understanding of Rotary is many times better than it was 12 months ago, directly through fulfilling my responsibility as a Club President. I’ve heard numerous testimonials from Rotarians who have been involved with  International Service projects; a motivating Rotarian in the Midwest who demonstrated it only takes one person with a lot of passion to change the lives of thousands, if not millions; and numerous distinguished Rotarians who had me laughing so hard it hurt, while delivering a poignant, thought-provoking message.

Thank you for this chance to learn more about the world’s most successful and impactful service organization, and more importantly, the thank you for opportunity to serve the Rotary Club of Philomath.

--Josh

KNOW YOUR FELLOW ROTARIAN - BRUCE JOHNSON

One of our newer members is Bruce Johnson. He was introduced to Rotary by Roman Gillen and sponsored by John Mayse. What he likes about Rotary is “PEOPLE helping PEOPLE”.

Born in Kansas, he moved to Oregon in 1956, graduating from Albany Union High School and attending Oregon Institute of Technology.

He was always intrigued with electricity and started working in the electrical utility industry in 1969 for Pacific Power. He’s
done it all---reading meters, lineman, operations manager, director of operations in North California and Southern Oregon.

During major power outages he has battled floods, snow, ice, hurricane winds, rain and even heat waves restoring  power, not only in southern California and the northwest, but also Hawaii. After retiring from Pacific Power in 2006 he worked for several electrical contractors for two years building transmission and distribution power lines and substations.
Currently (no pun intended) he is Director of Operations and Engineering for Consumers Power Inc. What Bruce likes most about his career is people and the challenge of keeping power in service.

That’s his job. His career is “Husband, Father, Grandfather, first and foremost!” He and his wife Sharon have three sons,
three daughter-in-laws and four grandchildren. When they gather for family functions and holidays with his mother, two sisters, brother, their spouses, children and grandchildren the clan numbers forty and the ages range from 1 to 88.

Bruce’s favorite activities are trail riding with his horses, hunting, fishing, camping and working around his hobby farm in southern Oregon. He likes to read technical manuals, management books, American history and western novels, plus outdoor magazines. He likes country music and conservative talk shows. Ask him about his travels to Mexico, Canada and
the Caribbean.

When he retires he wants to travel across the U.S. visiting historical sites and spend more time with his family.

TRICK OR TREAT IN PHILOMATH

OFF TO ETHIOPIA

A month or more ago, Merv commented to me that he and Carol were going to Ethiopia. Before they left, Merv gave me this article. We look forward to having a full report when they return.
-Don

In the mid 1950’s, when I was just a young lad a devastating disease spread throughout the world, including the U.S. Gatherings of large crowds of people were discouraged, swimming pools were closed and so on. People who contracted the disease became paralyzed, including their breathing system.

Those severely ill were placed in a machine called an Iron Lung. The disease was eventually stopped in its tracks because a man called Jonas Salk found a vaccine that prevented this disease called Polio. Then a man named Sabin discovered an oral vaccine. There is no better health care method than  preventing a disease and we found it for Polio.

No person should be infected by this disease since a vaccine is available. Carol and I, as a health care worker and educator, wish to help eradicate it. An opportunity arose to fulfill this wish: join the Rotary Polio-Plus campaign, go to Ethiopia and participate in the National Immunization Day in that country.
As an added bonus I would see Rotary International in action. One of the reasons I am grateful to be a Rotarian in this worldwide commitment.

--Merv Moldowan

KNOW YOUR FELLOW ROTARIAN - Andrea Myhre

Andrea Myhre grew up in Montevideo, Minnesota, where her parents still own a small business. She is of Norwegian, Swedish, Irish and Scottish heritage and knows lots of” Ole and Lena” jokes and likes Lutefisk. At a young age she did community work and knew that she wanted to make a difference in the world.

While in high school Andrea started a club called ECO (Environmentally Concerned Optimists), played saxophone, sang, and won several speech and music contests.

She has a Masters Degree in Applied Anthropology and teaches anthropology classes part-time at LBCC, although she has never excavated a dinosaur. Her main job is Director of Strengthening Rural Families.

What a world traveler--- Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia, visited China, Russia, Belize, taught English in Mexico. On the wish list: to visit Spain, Italy, and ride the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way to St. Petersburg.

She is divorced and lives with her children ages 3 and 7 and her boyfriend and his children, ages 13 and 16. They are fully involved in the kids’ lives, so it “feels like Grand Central Station”, but there’s lots of love to go around.

Ron Thieson and Pete Tuana got her involved in Rotary. She likes what Philomath Rotary has  done in bringing the community together for kids and thinks our meetings are fun. She says, “Everyone gives each other a hard time but there is a feeling of genuine friendship. I hope I can get involved in the exchange program and international programs someday.”

Her hope is to someday be a wise woman like her Great Grandmother Ann and her dream is” that the world will be a better place to live in by the time I am done with it, even if it’s just our country!”

--Peggy

KNOW YOUR FELLOW ROTARIAN

Here’s the scoop on our immediate past-president, RonThiesen. Ron was born in Omaha, Nebraska and moved to Salem when he was five. While a student at South Salem High School he played football, was a student body vice president, and worked cannery jobs.

He started college at UO but finished at OSU and OCE with a BA in History, BS in Education and  Masters in Guidance and Counseling. For 13 years he was a teacher/coach, the last four years in Germany with Dept. of Defense Dependent Schools.

Ron has been married 48 years to Sandra, “the most wonderful woman ever” and traveled all over the world. He owned Campus Connection and Anything Printable in Corvallis for 26 years and retired in 2006, but that didn’t last. For the last three years he has been Development Director for Horner Museum.

Joe Malcom got him interested in Rotary. Ron loves Rotary---“It’s about the people”---serves on the  Chamber of Commerce and Vina Moses boards, loves good wines, the beach, vacationing in Sun River, cheering the Corvallis Knights, Beaver football and baseball.

On November 8th he is getting a NEW KNEE and says, “Watch out, world!” We wish you a speedy recovery, Ron.

KNOW YOUR FELLOW ROTARIAN

Did you know Josh Kvidt is a Bridge whiz? While in college he and a friend developed a passion for Bridge and started playing at local senior centers. They won a trip to Houston and Washington, D.C. and won a minor tournament in Houston and placed well in the main event.

Josh was born in Orange County, Ca and moved with his family to Philomath in 1991 when he was ten. The next year he moved to Corvallis where he lived for 16 years, graduated from CHS, OSU and married his high school sweetheart Kezzie Vickers. They have two children, 3-year-old Alyssa and 1-year-old Camaron.

While a teen he received $10/month allowance, which taught him he would have to work for what he wanted, so he got a paper route in 8th grade As a sophomore in High School, he got his first “real” job at McDonalds. He worked there for a year before getting a job at the Safeway in Downtown
Corvallis, where he worked for 3 years, including his first year of college, when he worked both at Safeway and on campus at OSU Youth Programs (now known as KidSpirit). He worked all four years of college at KidSpirit and was hired at Citizens Bank about a month after graduation. He started as a teller at the downtown Corvallis branch of Citizens Bank in 2004.

Josh’s boss Dave Gazeley recommended he consider joining Rotary and he joined Greater Corvallis club in 2007. When Joe Malcom retired in 2008 Josh moved here to manage the Philomath Branch.

Josh says, “ I truly appreciate being a member of the Rotary Club of Philomath because of the great people in the club. Since joining, I have also grown a greater appreciation for the International Service aspects of Rotary, though nothing hits home (literally) as well as a great service project to help our own town.”

Josh likes sports of all kinds, day trips with his family, working around the house and yard, playing the piano, attends First Baptist Church of Philomath, aspires to be a great husband and father, enjoys each day as it comes, is glad to be back in Philomath and looks forward to many more great years here. We are lucky to have him for our Club President.