Ray grew up in Chariton and graduated from Chariton High School.  He received his Bachelor's degree in history from the University of Missouri in Columbia; his Master's degree in political science at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and his Law degree at the University of Iowa College of Law.

He was an attorney in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, MN, a Visiting Professor at the University of Iowa College of Law.  Since 1995, Ray has been an attorney in Chariton.

In August 2011 Governor Terry Branstad announced a plan to make Iowa the healthiest state in the United States by 2016, as measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.  To reach his goal, Governor Branstad asked Ric Jurgens of Hy-Vee, John Forsyth of Wellmark, and Doug Reichardt of the Iowa Sports Foundation to form and lead an advisory group, which in turn created a new organization called the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative to provide a structure for the project.  Raymond Meyer is a member of the Board of Directors of the Initiative and will review the 2011 results for Iowa on the Well-Being Index as well as identify key areas where Iowa can improve its ranking in the effort to achieve the goal.

Thanks to all Rotarians who came to help put the labels in the dictionaries.

Thank you to the following Rotarians who helped with the distribution of the dictionaries to the third grade class at Van Allen:
Ford Brockman, Craig Scott, Kari Lambirth, Veronica Fuhs, Corliss Klaassen, Jody Sandy, Jeanne Klaassen

A special thank you to Craig Scott who gave a presentation to each third grade class as the dictionaries were handed to the children.  He challenged each of them to see who could find the word polio in their dictionary first.  He told them about polio and challenged them to find out what three countries polio is still endemic.

In Japan, we place great importance on the value of work.  Whatever we are called to do, we should do it to the very best of our abilities with dignity and with pride.  Whether the job is running a country or shining shoes, there is honor in every vocation.

I grew up embracing this belief, but I had never stopped to contemplate it.  One day, in my third year in Rotary. we had a speaker at our club who talked about the purpose of one's livelihood.  He asked, why do we work hard?  What is the importance of our work?

I had never thought about this before.  I never saw it as a question.  We work to earn money.  We work to be successful.  We work because it is required of us.  To me, this was all.

On that day, I learned about the idea of vocational service.  It was the idea that through our work, we can serve others.  We think about others' needs, and grow to care more for the needs of our communities.  We build positive connections between people, and a more peaceful world.

This is the idea that has changed my life.  It did not change how much I worked, or how hard I worked.  But it changed why I worked, and how I experienced my life.  It has made me see a higher purpose in everything I do.

The idea of Service above Self is an idea that is unique to Rotary.  But is is an idea that can be embraced by anyone.  And I believe very much that in Rotary, and beyond Rotary, we can build Peace through Service.

Nov Song Leader:  Dan Kent
Prayer:  Fred Steinbach

Nov 2
Program:  Bill Baer
Greeter:  Adam Bahr
Rotary Minute:  Bill Ballard

Nov 9
Program:  Adam Bahr
Greeter:  Bill Ballard
Rotary Minute:  Steve Bright
Reader:  David Laing

Nov 16
Program:  Bill Ballard
Greeter:  Steve Bright
Rotary Minute:  Ford Brockman
Reader:  Ford Brockman

Nov 23
No Rotary Meeting
Happy Thanksgiving

Nov 30
Program:  Corliss Klaassen
Greeter:  Ford Brockman
Rotary Minute:  Dean Christ
Reader:  Karen Wilker

To check your information in the Directory, update missing information, or change incorrect information, go to http://www.clubrunner.ca/chariton

username:  yourfirstname.yourlastname.1637
password:  1637 (Unless you have changed your username & password)

District Governor 2012-13 Terry & Peggy Geiger tlgeiger@grm.net
Assistant Governor - Mary Ellen Stanley - grandme@grm.net
District Adminstrator-Carolyn Scharff-877-976-8279-District Office-Pella
President, Rotary International 2012-13 Sakuji Tanaka, Yashio, Saitama, Japan

To enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

To find out how to log into the website click here.

Bill Shelton, President
Corliss Klaassen, Secretary/Treasurer
Kris Patrick, Immediate Past President
Veronica Fuhs, President-Elect

Board of Directors:
(Term ends 6/30/13)
Bill Ballard
Nancy McDonald

(Term ends 6/30/14)
Sandra Knebel
Becky Struve
Christopher Watkins

first
      Is it the TRUTH?
second
      Is it FAIR to all concerned?
third
      Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
fourth
      Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?