On Friday, February 25, the Eugene Airport Rotary hosted its annual auction to raise funds for deserving high school seniors to attend college. Thanks to your generous support this year, our club will distribute more than $25,000 in scholarships. This brings our total scholarship distribution to $222,600, helping about 213 students over 15 years. Scholarship recipients are able to renew their funds up to three times during their college career. Thus, for some students, Airport Rotary has provided scholarship monies for all four years of their college career. Since the application procedure lacks...

Our guest on Thursday, March 19th was Pamela Cournoyer, CEO of Communicate with CLASS, who talked about managing difficult people. The lively and very awake group started by listing their top difficult people concerns, the winners were: People who cannot get to the point People who cannot explain things so we get it People who are not up front People who are rude and Impatient with us while serving us The group approved the following strategies to deal with their top two selections: 1. People who are not up front Ask them Questions to clarify what they mean Ask open ended questions to walk them...

LEAD—Leadership Education Adventure Direction—was established in 1998 as a component of the City of Eugene Outdoor Program. In July 2001, LEAD became an independent nonprofit agency offering a comprehensive leadership development program serving low-income teens ages 12 – 17 in Lane County. A lot of work goes into organizing this program with Heather Brule as the LEADership group program director, the program is like butter. Heather has facilitated groups of teens and adults in rock climbing, rafting and other outdoor adventure activities for various organizations during the last five years. She...

Two individuals and a local nonprofit were honored on June 5th at the annual vocational awards presented by Eugene Airport Rotary. Our vocational service awards typically recognize individuals and organizations who use their vocational talents to make meaningful change and to contribute to our community. This years winners: Jeanne Jordon, director of the Senior Companion Program, recognized for her service to seniors in Lane County. Pam Perkins, Eugene Airport Rotary member and community volunteer, recognized for her commitment to the Eugene Airport Rotary Dinner & Auction, which raises...

The last Thursday in May, our Rotary club awarded college scholarships to Oregon’s future doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers and musicians. It was a packed house with students, their families and their school support (superintendent’s, counselors and others) in addition to our membership. For more information on our membership, click here. Here are the proud scholarship recipients!

Just a reminder! On Thursday, June 11 we’ll be touring RiverBend, the new PeaceHealth hospital in Springfield. Please RSVP here via the comments or to Ellie Dumdi if you plan to attend.

Kari Westlund, with the Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon (CVALCO), presented on Eugene ’08, the 2008 Olympic Trials that will be held in Eugene this summer. Kari and CVALCO work to make Lane county a key visitor destination with the Eugene ’08 campaign. Eugene has a long track history and has hosted the Olympic Track Trials in 1972, 1976, and 1980. CVALCO promised precise execution for the meet, an athlete friendly environment, and the best track and field trial! So far, 40,000 rooms have been booked for the trials with an economic value of $28 million. Donations...

Little Stars Pediatric Hospice helps and educates about end of life issues with children. The program takes a holistic approach to helping children and families by offering emotional, spiritual, and medical help for children ages zero to nineteen. Services include twenty four hour palliative care/hospice nurse, flexible and individualized care plans, hands on instruction to assist and support family members in caring for the child, education on the changing needs of the child, specialized services that focus on symptoms and end of life comfort care, and many more. Children who qualify includes,...

Ed McDunn, the Executive Director of the Pearl Buck Center, came to present at our March 20th meeting. Pearl Buck provides services to mentally disabled and their families. Pearl Buck offeres four main programs, including: Families with Special Needs Program, Production Workshop, Life Enhancing Program, and Community Employment Program. Pearl Buck does amazing work to enhance the lives and families through development and community development for individuals with mental disablities and their families. For more information click here.

Meals on Wheels in Lane County came to speak about the service that the organization and volunteers provide. Their objectives and goals are to provide nutritious meals, to perform safety/health checks, and to prevent isolation to inbound individuals in our community. Meals on Wheels delivers meals to clients, especially seniors, five days a week for short and/or long term care. The client chooses if they would like hot or frozen meals delivered. Meals on Wheels also provide Emergency Meal Boxes to their clients. Volunteers provide a friendly face with the meal delivery. The socialization is...