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[vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]In keeping with the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, Jeff Tainer gave the thought of the day.  His own “I have a dream” speech included a wish that 1.2 million Rotarians would help eradicate Polio and bring peace to the world.  He urged everyone in the club to follow up on his/her own dream.

Visitors to the meeting were many, including 2013-14 exchange student, Isabela from Brazil, Michelle and Sydney from Rotaract, Sydney’s mom, Melody Stone who was one of Isabela’s host moms, and Andrea who was checking out the club with an eye for joining..  Visiting Rotarian, Mark Harmon from the Hillsboro club, was our featured speaker.

Gina reminded everyone that Dan Murphy would present a one-man show on Saturday to raise money for the Broadway Rose Theater.

Rotaract president, Michelle spoke about the Soles for Souls project in which her club is taking part.  Soles for Souls collects footwear and clothing for distribution to poorer nations.  The organization accepts footwear in all conditions that is then repaired within the countries they work with, providing jobs as well as footwear.  Portland Rotaract is vying with Seattle Rotaract for the most pairs of shoes collected.  The number of pairs to beat is 767; 400 pairs have already been collected.  Sydney will come to our meeting next week to collect shoes for the cause.

Michelle also mentioned that Portland Rotaract is having its first induction ceremony on February 20 and that all are welcome to attend.  (Location TBA.) The Portland Rotaract club began with just 5 members and 17 will be added on that date.

Isabela is here for two weeks to visit friends from her year on exchange.  She graduated high school and is planning to apply to medical school.  She’s been busy studying and taking the required entrance exams.

Our exchange student from Austria, Charlotte “Charley” attended the exchange student retreat in Salem last weekend.  She said it was “amazing!”  She ate good food and made a lot of friends, including Isabela.  The exchange student ski retreat is coming up in February.

Two members of the THS Debate Team gave a moving, 10-minute dual interpretation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s book, “Everything is Illuminated.”  For those who haven’t read the book or seen the movie, it is the story of an American Jew who journeys to Ukraine in search of the person who saved his grandfather’s life during the war.  This writer highly recommends seeking out the book.

In preparation for our speaker, SAA Conrad gave us all a history lesson with 10 T/F questions about Oregon.  All the statements were true and everyone got a reprieve from payment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]