Vol. 17, No. 11, September 13, 2004

The Friday Program
The USO, the Military’s Home
Away From Home

The Executive Director of the Puget Sound United Service Organization — USO — gave a detailed description of what the endeavor does for military troops and their families. Krista Cossalter Sandberg leads the organization with two major centers — McChord AFB and SeaTac Airport.

“Prior to the beginning of World War II, the USO began when President Roosevelt decreed a need for support for our military beyond the barracks. The USO was formed in February of 1941. The goal was to bring together six organizations to help single soldiers and sailors. That’s why there are six stars in USO flag. The original six were Traveler’s Aid, Catholic Community Services, Salvation Army, a Jewish organization, the YMCA, and the YWCA.”

The USO is not a government agency and today operates as a not-for-profit, chartered in 1978 by Congress. After the Korean War, the USO generally disbanded, although your correspondent remembers a canteen run by USO while in the Army in 1956-58 in Germany. As the Viet Nam war heated up, more canteens began serving the troops.

Today, the USO operates a 2700 square-foot facility at SeaTac Airport, primarily to serve military personnel and their families in transit to new posts. READ MORE

Coming District Event

Rotarians are invited to participate in the ground-breaking ceremony for Habitat for Humanity’s 100th home in Seattle. The project is underwritten by Rotary District 5030 and takes place on Saturday, September 18, at 2:00 p.m. The site is Othello Place in Seattle. The dedication of the third of three homes being built for Rotary’s 100th anniversary. Contact President Norm for more details.

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Hopelink Volunteers

Steve Peters is heading up the Vocation at Work project at Hopelink. He needs volunteers to help with practice interviews for those in training. These are held on Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. To make the program effective, a minimum of six Rotarians is required. Please call Steve and volunteer.

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Ethiopia Water Project

WCS Committee Chair Kim Shrader explained his attendance at a District 5030 Ethiopia Water project meeting this past week. “One-hundred people attended the meeting at the Museum of Flight. We talked about clean water and a multi-district project to raise funds to match with RI to build wells in Ethiopia. This country has 65 million people, where 500,000 children die each year. Much of this alarming statistic is caused by unsafe drinking water. Kim said his committee meets two weeks on September 24 to discuss the BBRC’s support in this project.

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Thought for the Week

There is destiny that makes us brothers. None goes his way alone. And all that we send into the life of others, comes back into our own. Be needed.

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THIS WEEK'S EDITOR
John Mix

THIS WEEK'S PHOTOGRAPHER
John Hague

IN THIS ISSUE:

The Friday Program: The USO, the Military’s Home Away From Home

Coming district Event

Hopelink Volunteers

Ethiopia Water Project

Raffle Update

Friday Potpourri

Cummings Classification Talk

Mahoney’s on Rotary Friendship Exchange

Steve Goodier: Concentrate on Today's Date

Web Fun

This Week
We learn more about a new, innovative program “Chess in Schools,” presented by Salome Thomas-El, a middle school principal in Philadelphia. His award-winning memoir “I Choose to Stay” is the story of how he revitalized his school’s chess team and took them to the national championships.

This intriguing program begins Friday at 7:00 a.m. at the Glendale Country Club. Breakfast at 7:00 a.m., followed by the weekly meeting and the program at 8:00 a.m. Bring a guest, a prospective member and enjoy!

Admin Corner
Getting closer to the end of the Quarter. Some unpaid remittances remain. Please check your status and bring your account up to date. Send your mail to Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club, PO Box 3003, Bellevue, WA 98009-3003; or give check to the Cashier at any Friday meeting; or use your credit card at the Cashier’s desk. Thanks.

CLICK HERE
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