We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:02:23 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification I am a Rotarian. So's my Dad. I'm proud to be one, as it is through Rotary I have been able to serve in a volunteer capacity in my community - and the larger world. Via Rotary I serve as a volunteer and Board member for two other organizations, and help serve the entire region of northeast Kansas. I'm more than a checkbook giver - I give my time and skills, as well. The New York times noticed Rotary International today. It's just amazing what we small-town dentists and funeral directors can accomplish, once we put our minds to... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html Thu, 12 May 2005 08:44:21 -0600 Hey I'm a Rotarian too. Our club does a lot of good things in the community although I have to admit that it's also a front-group for evangelicals and republicans to exercise their insidious worldviews and gain converts. (I'm using the word "insidious" with tongue-in-cheek.) I'm sure there are Rotary clubs in other places that are front groups for internationalists, peacniks and liberals but hopefully through Rotary they still manage to do some good in their communities. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24672 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24672 Sat, 14 May 2005 15:20:21 -0600 Ooops. Yep. I've chosen not to go that route, so it tends to escape me - but you are absolutely correct! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24656 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24656 Sat, 14 May 2005 09:49:58 -0600 American Legion and the VFW We're a whole lot more than a place to get a cheap beer, tell war stories, and bellyache about the VA Budget. Volunteer oportunities abound, and you do get to occasionally handle firearms, though they may contain blanks. Dang, I've not been here for 4 days......I never will get caught up now. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24655 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24655 Sat, 14 May 2005 09:34:15 -0600 Now *that* would be a fun make-up slip to turn into the Club secretary! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24652 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24652 Sat, 14 May 2005 09:10:34 -0600 If Hamas wants your head on a platter, just for being a Rotarian, that makes me think that being a Rotarian is "a good thing" and an honorable estate. Which reminds me: I really don't remember if I've posted this here before, or not, but I recall reading that some of the prisoners captured by the Romanians as a result of the Ploesti raid were brought downtown to the local Rotary Club meeting to give accounts, while POWs. (The Romanians were already hedging their bets at that time about who would win the war, and treated the surviving American airmen quite nicely. I believe they were among the very few POWs who actually gained weight during captivity in that war.) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24639 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24639 Fri, 13 May 2005 22:31:00 -0600 LINK]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24613 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24613 Fri, 13 May 2005 15:17:15 -0600 BC - y'mean like Delaware Township around here? I would do that too, if I was physically up to it anymore. Then there are the reserve police and sheriff's deputies, too. All of which are represented in my Rotary Club, as well - but your point is well taken, there are many venues in which to serve, if you have the interest. And JTG - as long as you could handle the dues, our club would take you. Helk, there are clubs (in the *BIG* cities our journo seemed to miss, that I couldn't get into... or wouldn't want to join, because of cost. Our lunches are $7.00 - $6.50 to the caterer, $0.50 to the Rotary Foundation. Dues are $150 a year, plus some mandatory fund-raising costs. I've done make-up meetings (when you can't make a regular meeting at your home club because of business or pleasure travel, for example) you are supposed to try to make meetings where-ever you are at - which is fun. But one club I did a make-up at was a breakfast club in the DC area - and breakfast was $35, everybody was in 3-piece suits... exactly what many people envision Rotary as. By contrast, my club is come-as-you-are, our local photographer routinely shows up in hawaiian shirts and shorts, our pediatric dentist shows up in his 'kid-friendly' smock, most of us are in some form of business casual. We've got guys who slogged across a lot of beaches in Europe and the Pacific during the US Military World Tour 1941-45 and later, we've got school teachers, small business owners, a Judge, the County Clerk, and we got plain folks, too. As long as you can meet the minimum costs required, which averages out to about $100 a month on my bill, though if you do the exact minimum I believe it's about (sound of calculator) $53 a month, and you can pay by the month. Like I said, it's not horribly expensive (at least in my club) but it can be if you want it to be. We have several Foundation benefactors who have contributed over $25K. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24591 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24591 Fri, 13 May 2005 06:34:28 -0600 John, For folks who like a little more "action" there are volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance services in many small towns. bc http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24587 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24587 Fri, 13 May 2005 00:40:10 -0600 Sorry, no. My only commercial experience has been as a minimum-wage employee of other folks. Not eligible, I think. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24585 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24585 Thu, 12 May 2005 23:14:10 -0600 So, JTG - are you? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24582 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24582 Thu, 12 May 2005 22:13:42 -0600 Yup. My Dad's one, too. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24578 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24578 Thu, 12 May 2005 20:29:59 -0600 From mine own research, the Catholic church probably does more good (in terms of bringing aid and succor to the down-trodden of the world) than any other organization- or any combination of them... despite genuine scandals, and politically driven headlines. The church has missions, doctors, and nurses in every corner of the world- dispensing medicine and care to the poorest, most desolate people of every faith. No-one is turned away, and for many women and children the only health care they have ever received has been at the hands of nuns... and those nuns have all the practical medical knowledge of any combat medic; they deal with wounds as well as disease and hunger. Mother Teresa was the most famous, but thousands follow her example around the world, known only to those they care for. I'm not Catholic, either- nor am I particularly religious, in the sense of belonging to an organized group. But I know true goodness and Christianity in action when I see it, and the Catholic church has my respect and admiration for that... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24577 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24577 Thu, 12 May 2005 20:28:20 -0600 Actually, Barb - I'm probably a *tad* over-committed, but I'll manage it. Being on a governing board, with real budget authority, is taking up a lot more time than I expected, but worth it, because the charity, Catholic Community Services (no, I'm *not* Catholic, in case you are wondering) does some really *good stuff* without being a complete liberal knee-jerk outfit. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24575 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24575 Thu, 12 May 2005 19:27:42 -0600 I've said it before, and I'll say it again and again... your sense of civic duty and involvement astounds me, John. *high five* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24574 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24574 Thu, 12 May 2005 19:03:14 -0600 John, I'm impressed -- when DO you find the time? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24569 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/aw_shucks_maam.html#comment-24569 Thu, 12 May 2005 14:46:50 -0600