July 8, 2010
“Life without chocolate is like a beach without water.”
Chocolate Day July 7, 2010
The Rio Squawk The official newsletter of the Tempe Rio Salado Rotary Club ”The Funniest Rotary Club West & East of the Mississippi.”
District 5510 ~ Tempe, Arizona USA For information regarding subscriptions, advertising, submitting or requesting a story or photograph, sending a letter or making a comment, Email: patrick@pnacentral.org The Rio Squawk is a free publication circulated weekly to both Rotarians and non-Rotarians worldwide, with readership on six continents. For membership information, call 623-326-7951 or join us for breakfast 7:00AM Thursdays at the Hometown Buffet, 1312 N Scottsdale Rd
Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith Missouri, USA District 5510 Governor - Glenn W. Smith Governor Elect - Alan Havir Governor Nominee – Abe Feder Assistant Governor – John Slentz Secretary - Sherry Mischel Treasurer - Joanne Kline World’s First Service Club Organization Founded on February 23, 1905 Over 1,200,000 Members in 33,000 clubs Located in over 200 Countries Worldwide
IN THIS ISSUE 3 5 12 13 15 16 19 21 24 26 27 28 21
Club Minutes Charter Night Photos Best Buddies Contest Chocolate (Cover Story) Mail Box Beth Anne in New Zealand Africa Trip Update The ABC’s of Rotary Born to be Wild Tundra Comics Timmy the Squirrel & Tears of Joy Miscellaneous Foolishness Display Ads
Tempe Rio Salado Rotary Club President Corey Bruggeman Immediate Past President Patrick de Haan Vice President James Greene Secretary Jack Buckles Treasurer Bobbi de Haan Sergeant at Arms PDG Ben Eubank Environmental Services Chair Jim Lemmon Gift of Life Chair Ron Freeman Greeter Kent Hendricks Guiding Rotarian PDG Ben Eubank Health Services Chair PDG Ben Eubank International Service Chair Dona Eubank Leadership Committee Chair Bobbi de Haan Marketing Committee Chair Greg Searfoss Membership Committee Co-Chairs PDG Ben Eubank & Patrick de Haan Official Mascot Rio Macaw Pathway to Reading Committee Chair Jack Buckles Photographer/Writer Bobbi De Haan PolioPlus Committee PDG Ben Eubank & Brad Dowden Progetto Salvamamme – Salvabebè James Greene & Bobbi de Haan Public Relations & Media Management Patrick de Haan River Rally, Octoberfest, Picnic in the Park Jim Lemmon Rotary Foundation Chair PDG Ben Eubank Service Committee Chair Lynsie Scharpf Trainers Kent Hendricks Geoff Pashkowski Ambassadorial Scholars Justin Randall (Spain) Laura Kalb (Middle East) Beth Anne Martin (2011 Nominee-Latin America) Service Above Self Award Recipients Jim Lemmon (2001) PDG Ben Eubank (2007)
Tempe Rio Salado Rotary Club Work Meeting, No Speaker Today July 8, 2010 PRESENT: Corey Bruggeman, Jack Buckles, Sandi Daly, Bobbi de Haan, Patrick de Haan, Ben Eubank, Dona Eubank, Ron Freeman, Kent Hendricks, Tim Lidster, Geoff Pashkowski, and Lynsie Scharpf. GUESTS: Pattie Bruggeman and Morgan Bruggeman. 1) President Corey called the meeting to order promptly at 7:00AM. Today was a very light meeting due to it being a holiday week and many of our members were out of the Valley on vacation and on cruises. 2) Invocation – Ben 3) Pledge & Four Way Test – Tim We missed you 4) Introduction of Guests – Kent BRAD, JAMES, DENNIS, Pattie Bruggeman – Tempe Rio Salado’s First Lady BRIAN, JIM, ANITA, GREG, Morgan Bruggeman – Tempe Rio Salado’s First Daughter and LINDA! 5) Get Food – GOOD as usual – BACON! 6) Rio’s Macaw – BAD jokes as usual. BAD PARROT! a. Q – What do you get when you cross a dog with a telephone? A – A Golden Receiver! b. Q – What do you get when you cross a chicken with a cement mixer? A – A ―Bricklayer!‖ 7) Ben collected Happy Dollars and any other cash that wasn’t nailed down. 8) Simplified Grant - Pat reported that our simplified grant was submitted and received by the District prior to the deadline. Don LaBarge commented that it looked like a ―Great project.‖ He also asked that we change the amount requested to an even $1,000. Our Club will need to match the grant with $500. Pat says there are 18 elementary schools in Tempe that would benefit from book fairs. If we are awarded the grant, we will have enough funding to purchase 4,285 books from Pathway to Reading. That’s almost enough to cover all of the schools. 9) Treasurer - Bobbi states bills were sent out and advised everyone bills are higher because there are 14 weeks in this quarter. Bobby accepts IOUs for fines. 10) Potential New Member - John Darcy from the Tempe Fire Department would like to be involved with our club. 11) Oops! - At the convention in Prescott, Ken Oakes’ banner for District Governor had his name misspelled on his banner. Corey thought we could have a little fun with Ken. Pat said he’d work on it. 12) Bumper Sticker of the Day – ―A parachute is like a mind. It only works when it’s open.‖ 13) Rotary Trivia - Q: How many districts are in Arizona? A: 5510, 5490 and 5500 are the three districts in AZ. 14) Gift of Life - Hair cut July 18, located in Gilbert. 15) List for Giving – Corey received an email from the district. Our club’s donations were not included in the list. Ben says he will contact Gary White and make sure it is corrected, as the club made its annual quotas. President Corey exerting his authority as our supreme leader
16) Military Service Projects - Pat reviewed the list of possible projects we could do to support our troops. It was suggested that we focus on the Arizona Army National Guard because they are based just a few miles from our meeting place. These project ideas were developed during discussions with the Guard when they attended our July 1 st meeting.
Fellowship – Quarterly we invite a group of troops to attend a meeting Pancake Breakfast – We host a breakfast for soldiers on a Guard training weekend Homecoming – We welcome troops returning home from their deployment Care Packages – We support a group providing care packages to deployed troops Wounded Warrior – We support injured troops Table Flags – We add an American flag as a permanent part of our table signs Memoriam - We notify every Rotary club in the state whenever we lose an AZ soldier Name Signs – We make table name signs for each visiting Guard member. Ladmo Bags – We make well-stocked gift bags for the soldiers who visit us
17) Discussion - Corey would like members to bring in baby wipes and suntan lotion for the troops. Tim volunteered to email the memoriam sheets to all of the other clubs. Jack volunteered to drill holes in the table sign base to hold the flags. Pat offered to write the memoriam. Phoenix Metro Lions has a grill we could use for the pancake breakfast. Ben told us about a soldier who was severely wounded and suggested we support his efforts to recover. 18) There was no further business. Meeting was adjourned at 8:10AM.
King Corey with his daughter, Princess Morgan
Could we possibly have a future Rotary President in the making?
Oops!
First Lady, Patty Bruggeman
CHARTER NIGHT – June 26, 2010
BEST BUDDIES ARIZONA NEEDS YOUR HELP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC9aMVIts2Q Best Buddies is Arizona’s premier provider of ―quality of life‖ programs for developmentally disabled. They have been selected by the Diamondbacks to represent all of Arizona in this year’s Pepsi Refresh competition. Each MLB team has selected a single charity to represent them, so Best Buddies is not competing against anyone else in the state. The winner receives a $200,000 grant. You can cast a vote once a day by texting or going online. Voting starts 7/13 and ends 8/17. It only takes a minute, so vote daily and make Arizona a winner!
VOTING STARTS JULY 13th
VOTE EVERY DAY! There are two ways to cast your votes:
TEXT: “Dbacks” to 76462 ONLINE: at http://www.mlb.com/pepsirefresh
Share this with all your friends: Email list, Facebook, MySpace, Church, Clubs, Coworkers, Family-Everyone you know!NY and CA might have more people, but ARIZONA can win by being better organized!
COVER THE HISTORY OFSTORY CHOCOLATE
Chocolate’s Roots in Ancient Mesoamerica We tend to think of chocolate as a sweet candy created during modern times. But actually, chocolate dates back to the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica who drank chocolate as a bitter beverage. For these people, chocolate wasn’t just a favorite food—it also played an important role in their religious and social lives. The ancient Maya grew cacao and made it into a beverage. The first people clearly known to have discovered the secret of cacao were the Classic Period Maya (250-900 C.E. [A.D.]). The Maya and their ancestors in Mesoamerica took the tree from the rainforest and grew it in their own backyards, where they harvested, fermented, roasted, and ground the seeds into a paste. When mixed with water, chili peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients, this paste made a frothy, spicy chocolate drink. The Aztecs adopted cacao. By 1400, the Aztec empire dominated a sizeable segment of Mesoamerica. The Aztecs traded with Maya and other peoples for cacao and often required that citizens and conquered peoples pay their tribute in cacao seeds—a form of Aztec money. Like the earlier Maya, the Aztecs also consumed their bitter chocolate drink seasoned with spices—sugar was an agricultural product unavailable to the ancient Mesoamericans. Drinking chocolate was an important part of Maya and Aztec life. Many people in Classic Period Maya society could drink chocolate at least on occasion, although it was a particularly favored beverage for royalty. But in Aztec society, primarily rulers, priests, decorated soldiers, and honored merchants could partake of this sacred brew. Chocolate also played a special role in both Maya and Aztec royal and religious events. Priests presented cacao seeds as offerings to the gods and served chocolate drinks during sacred ceremonies. Cacao Becomes an Expensive European Import Europe’s first contact with chocolate came during the conquest of Mexico in 1521. The Spaniards recognized the value attached to cacao and observed the Aztec custom of drinking chocolate. Soon after, the Spanish began to ship cacao seeds back home. An expensive import, chocolate remained an elite beverage and a status symbol for Europe’s upper classes for the next 300 years. Sweetened chocolate became an international taste sensation. When the Spanish brought cacao home, they doctored up the bitter brew with cinnamon and other spices and began sweetening it with sugar. They managed to keep their delicious drink a Spanish secret for almost 100 years before the rest of Europe discovered what they were missing. Sweetened chocolate soon became the latest and greatest fad to hit the continent. Chocolate was a European symbol of wealth and power. Because cacao and sugar were expensive imports, only those with money could afford to drink chocolate. In fact, in France, chocolate was a state monopoly that could be consumed only by members of the royal court. Like the Maya and the Aztecs, Europeans developed their own special protocol for the drinking of chocolate. They even designed elaborate porcelain and silver serving pieces and cups for chocolate that acted as symbols of wealth and power. Cacao farming required lots of land and workers. Cacao and sugar were labor-intensive agricultural products. To keep up with the demand for chocolate, Spain and many other European nations established colonial plantations for growing these plants. A combination of wage laborers and enslaved peoples were used to create a plantation workforce. Chocolate Meets Mass Production and Machinery For centuries, chocolate remained a handmade luxury sipped only by society’s upper crust. But by the 1800s, mass production made solid chocolate candy affordable to a much broader public.
To meet the demands of today’s global market, chocolate manufacturing relies on both ancient techniques in the field and new technologies in the factory. New inventions and ingredients improved chocolate’s taste and texture. The Industrial Revolution witnessed the development of an enormous number of new mechanical inventions and ushered in the era of the factory. The steam engine made it possible to grind cacao and produce large amounts of chocolate cheaply and quickly. Later inventions like the cocoa press and the conching machine made it possible to create smooth, creamy, solid chocolate for eating—not just liquid chocolate for drinking. Cacao growing hasn’t changed much since ancient times. New processes and machinery have improved the quality of chocolate and the speed at which it can be produced. However, cacao farming itself remains basically unaltered. People grow cacao in equatorial climates all around the world today using traditional techniques first developed in Mesoamerica. Cacao is still harvested, fermented, dried, cleaned, and roasted mostly by hand. We use cacao for more than just making chocolate. Today, additional steps in the processing of cacao help create a variety of new flavors and forms for chocolate candy. But cacao is more than a source for calories and confections. The chemicals and substances in cacao can be extracted and incorporated into cosmetics and medicines. And the by-products of cacao can be used as mulch or fodder for cattle.
CHOCOLATE FACTS Milton Stavely Hershey first became rich selling caramels. He sold his caramel business in 1900 for $1 million and started making milk chocolate. American consumers average 10-12 pounds of chocolate a year, while in the UK they eat almost twice that amount. Chocolate manufacturers currently use 40% of the world's almonds and 20% of the world's peanuts. (2008)
This scene painted on an ancient Maya vessel reveals how the people drank chocolate as a beverage and often presented it to their gods as an offering.
Chocolate supposedly made its film debut when Jean Harlow ate candy in the 1933 comedy 'Dinner at Eight'. Chocolate syrup was used for the blood in the famous shower scene in the Alfred Hitchcock movie 'Psycho'. The scene lasts for about 45 seconds in the movie, but took 7 days to film. The Cacao tree only thrives in latitudes no more than 20 degrees north of south of the equator. U.S. chocolate manufacturers use about 3.5 million pounds of whole milk every day to make chocolate. Cole Porter got a kick from fudge. He had nine pounds of it shipped to him each month from his hometown. The fruit of the Cacao tree grow directly from the trunk. They look like small melons, and the pulp inside contains 20 to 50 seeds or beans. It takes about 400 beans to make a pound of chocolate
In the late 1800s, cacao seeds were transplanted in West Africa. Today, more than 70% of the world’s supply of cacao comes from this continent.
Never give a dog chocolate, as it contains theobromine, which is a central nervous system stimulant. As little as 2 ounces can be lethal to a small dog. 66% of chocolate is consumed between meals. 22% of all chocolate consumption takes place between 8pm and midnight. More chocolate is consumed in winter than any other season.
I would like to invite each of you to participate in and support the 2nd Annual Back to School Shopping Spree at Target event, benefiting members of Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley North Tempe Branch. Through a generous partnership with Target stores, the North Tempe Branch will be allowed to take 40 youth to a back to school shopping event, where each youth is allotted $100 to spend on much needed clothing, shoes and undergarments (volunteers need to pay for anything during the event). Target has generously discounted many of the items, allowing each youth to take home more than $130 worth of goods (volunteers who shop with youth are not required to pay for any items, just help the child shop). What we are looking for at this time are 40 adult volunteers to assist the youth in picking out appropriate clothing and shoes during their shopping spree as parents and family members are not allowed to shop with the children. Below are the logistical details for the event. I encourage each of you to consider attending, as it is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding events we do with the youth. If you are able to attend, please reply to this email with your FULL name and phone number and date of birth; additional information will be sent out prior to the event. Please feel free to also invite any other adults you may know (spouses, roommates, etc) to join you in volunteering. For those of you who are unable to attend, but are interested in supporting the event, we are currently accepting monetary donations to offset our portion of the event cost. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please email me DATE: Saturday August 7, 2010
TIME: 6:45am
LOCATION: Target Store #1429, 1230 S. Longmore Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202 The event lasts approximately 1-1 ½ hours, depending on how fast the youth shop. On behalf of the over 400 youth our club serves each year, thank you for your consideration! Best Wishes,
Lynsie I just got done watching the videos. Very well done and professional looking. Thank you for providing those to me. I’m honored to have been asked to participate in your Rotary. You had a host of great speakers and to be included among them was a privilege. I still read and enjoy the newsletters. It’s amazing to see how much your Rotary does and is doing. You should be very proud of what you’ve built. It is very special to see the recognition given to our fallen military and police. This weekend, I was scheduled to climb Humphrey’s Peak before the Schultz fire forced a change in plans. It was to be for the Cops On Top memorial which happens across the nation in recognition of fallen officers. I’m still planning on attending despite the trail closures. Before the fire, Arizona had the largest number of climbers in the nation. I was personally climbing for Officer Murphy. http://copsontop.com/ I’ve also decided to ride in the Police Unity Tour. The unity tour is a bicycle ride that begins in Virginia and rides almost 300 miles in three days before culminating at National Police Week in Washington DC to honor fallen officers. All proceeds raised go to help the families of fallen officers. I’m very excited about the ride which will happen next Spring 2011. A fellow officer from Mesa PD is going to train with me as well as officer here in Phx PD. http://policeunitytour.com/ Take care all. You are wonderful people and such an asset to the community and to Phoenix PD.
Officer Larry Horton
Ambassadorial Scholarship Update Rain and Trees Today, the skies above the farm decided to open up and downpour. Hence, I am spending most of the day doing indoor, online work for the farm and catching up on my blog. The weather’s affect on my daily work is something that I am experiencing, in many ways, for the first time with this job. Most of my other jobs have been indoors. So, rain and shine did not change, for the most part, my schedule, tasks, or duties. Working and being in nature forces me to be an active participant of my work environment-the great outdoors. The thunderstorm is actually a huge benefit for the farm. We are coming off a very dry summer and this wet winter is welcome for the plants and all of us on the island, who rely on rainwater for all of our water supply. One of my other activities this week was replanting trees. The farm is developing a subtropical area and the trees, which had been planted there a couple of years ago, are canopy trees and thus not suited for the area. My luck was that the trees had been planted at the bottom of the farm and needed to go the utmost highest points on the farm. (The farm is built on a couple of hills with flat areas.) So, I spent a couple of days hauling trees, mulch, and shovels around the farm. Despite being sore, the task was actually enjoyable and I liked being able to spend the time outdoors and digging around in the earth. I am reminded of how resilient nature is when I dig up and plant trees. These trees have in the ground for a while but their roots systems had not developed to the point where it was impossible to replant them. Hopefully, they will grow and prosper in their new areas and the trees we plant in the next few weeks will have the opportunity to flourish. My planting activities reminded me of a quote from Henry David Thoreau, ―If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen.‖ I included some pictures of the new location of the trees. I finished that project up yesterday and, if the weather clears, I will be working in the orchard and greenhouse today.
Bats, Rabbits, and Seagulls Though my internship, I am beginning to develop a better understanding of challenges related to sustainability both on our farm and in New Zealand as a whole. My recent farming activities enable me to understand a little more about the connections between sustainability, food production, and ecologies down under. The only native mammal in New Zealand is a bat. I was shocked when I learned- a bat? People are responsible for introducing cows, dogs, possums, sheep, etc. to New Zealand. This continues to create problems as New Zealand’s biodiversity constantly adjust to mammals. For example, as the global demand for meat rises, New Zealand’s meat production has risen. This rise in beef production coincides with the fall in the production of mutton. Since cows consume more grain than sheep, cows are overgrazing fields, which once provided feed for sheep. Also, water demand for the cows is greater than sheep. Both aspects in the shift towards beef production are examples of the ecological impacts because of humans introducing more mammals to the environment. On our farm, rabbits are responsible for eating our Kowhai trees, which are native to New Zealand. An animal eating our plants and crops is one of the obstacles we face on the farm. We fence off and protect as many of our plants as possible. However, just this morning I found our strawberries nibbled. One of my duties later this week is to spray an egg mixture on the base of some of our trees, including the Kowhais, in an effort to save the plants from being destroyed. As I mentioned in some of my previous blogs, water is a scarce resource on an island that relies solely on rainwater. Over the summer, some of the plants on the farm actually died since there was little rain and no surplus water to nourish them. So far this winter, we have experience an abundance of rain. This is fantastic for the plants and our water tanks are filling with filtered rainwater. This being said, finding the most efficient ways to utilize and collect rain are ongoing projects on
the farm. Finding ways to water the plant throughout the summer to keep them from dying is one of the challenges facing the farm. Through being on a farm, I realized how much human power and financial start-up are required. The farm is still in the developing stage. This week, we are adding about fifty plants and trees to the farm. This requires not only an initial financial investment but also the human power needed to plant and mulch all these newcomers. Both of these aspects of the farm are continual factors in the decision-making process of the farm owners. I came across a quote from Aldo Leopold, which read, ―There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.‖ My time on the farm enables me to see the challenges related to urban versus rural living. The pictures below are from my dinner on the beach this evening. Living in such natural beauty reminds me that the challenges and difficulties are worth it in order to create a more sustainable source of food.
Beth Anne Martin is Tempe Rio Salado Rotary Club’s nominee for the 2011 Ambassadorial Scholarship. She is in New Zealand this summer working as an intern on a self-sufficient, organic farm.
Looking for a Simple, Low-Cost, High-Impact Polio Project?
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All we need is a $25 donation from 100 Clubs, Companies, or Individuals
To make a contribution or if you need additional information, contact:
Patrick de Haan (Tempe Rio Salado Rotary Club) 623-326-7951 or patrick@pnacentral.org Jan Snyder (Tempe East Rotary Club) 480-951-9250 www.sustainableltd.org
UPDATE FROM JAN AND CLARICE SNYDER IN AFRICA While in Kenya delivering the adaptive equipment to Clemet, Jan and Clarice had the opportunity to visit President Obama’s Grandmother (top picture). By the way, we are still short the total amount needed to purchase the container for Clemet to use as his shop (see above ad), so it is not too late to contribute.
Traveling with Jan and Clarice is an audiology team that will be testing hearing at the various stops.
19. EXCHANGE OF CLUB BANNERS One of the colorful traditions of many Rotary clubs is the exchange of small banners, flags or pennants. Rotarians traveling to distant locations often take banners to exchange at "make up" meetings as a token of friendship. Many clubs use the decorative banners they have received for attractive displays at club meetings and district events. The Rotary International board recognized the growing popularity of the banner exchange back in 1959 and suggested that those clubs which participate in such exchanges give careful thought to the design of their banners in order that they be distinctive and expressive of the community and country of which the club is a part. It is recommended that banners include pictures, slogans or designs which portray the territorial area of the club. The board was also mindful of the financial burden such exchanges may impose upon some clubs, especially in popular areas where many visitors make up and request to exchange. In all instances, clubs are cautioned to exercise discretion and moderation in the exchange of banners in order that the financial obligations do not interfere with the basic service activities of the club. Exchanging club banners is a very pleasant custom, especially when a creative and artistic banner tells an interesting story of community pride. The exchange of banners is a significant tradition of Rotary and serves as a tangible symbol of our international fellowship. 20. TOLERANCE OF DIFFERENCES Occasionally there is a temptation to criticize the laws, customs and traditions of another country which may seem strange or contrary to our own. In some instances illegal practices or customs of one nation are completely lawful and acceptable in another. As members of an international organization dedicated to world understanding and peace, it behooves Rotarians to exercise restraint in judging our Rotary friends and citizens from other countries when their behavior seems unusual to us. A Rotary policy has existed for more than half a century relating to this dilemma of international relationships. The statement, adopted in 1933, says that because it is recognized that some activities and local customs may be legal and customary in some countries and not in others, Rotarians should be guided by this admonition of tolerance: "Rotarians in all countries should recognize these facts and there should be a thoughtful avoidance of criticism of the laws and customs of one country by the Rotarians of another country." The policy also cautions against "any effort on the part of Rotarians of one country to interfere with the laws or customs of another country." As we strive to strengthen the bonds of understanding, goodwill and friendship, these policies still provide good advice and guidance. 21. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS Each May or June, Rotary International holds a worldwide convention "to stimulate, inspire and inform all Rotarians at an international level." The convention, which may not be held in the same country for more than two consecutive years, is the annual meeting to conduct the business of the association. The planning process usually begins about four or five years in advance. Future RI conventions are scheduled for Nice, France, in 1995, Calgary, Canada, in 1996, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1997 and Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A., in 1998. The RI board determines a general location and invites cities to make proposals. The conventions are truly international events which 15,000 to 20,000 Rotarians and guests attend. All members should plan to participate in a Rotary International convention to discover the real internationality of Rotary. It is an experience you'll never forget.
NO COST INVOLVED! STAND AND BE COUNTED!
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Your Club is invited to join Tempe Rio Salado and our Sister Club, the Rotary Club of Islamabad, Pakistan, to become part of this important Global Peace Initiative !
Looking for a COST EFFECTIVE Literacy Project? Are you working with a limited Club service budget or short of voluynteers? Would you like to get books to hundreds of impoverished valley children for just a few cents per book? Contact Rotarian Jack Buckles & learn about Pathway to Reading! JBuck32175@aol.com
Bobbi de Haan’s
Born to be Wild Celebrating the Care and Husbandry of Exotic and Endangered Wildlife
Conservators' Center – Mebane, N.C. My name is Arthur. I'm a handsome, young white tiger who recently moved in with a beautiful, young female lioness named Kira. I was rescued from bad situation as a photo booth tiger when I was around 3 months old and came to live at the Conservators' Center, Inc. in Mebane, NC. When I arrived at CCI, I was very underweight for my age and malnourished. The staff were concerned I wouldn't grow normally due to such a rough start in life. Over time and with lots of yummy food and warm attention from the staff and volunteers at CCI, I grew into the athletic young tiger I am today. I enjoy playing in the mud, splashing visitors, chuffling, running around, annoying Kira, soaking in my water trough, keeping a watchful eye on scary neighbor Tonka tiger, eating, sleeping, drowning my toys in water, grooming, chewing tree branches, getting mud on Kira (who hates mud and water!), and watching tour groups with little kids. Mission Conservators' Center is a nonprofit organization that preserves threatened species through rescuing wildlife in need, responsible captive breeding, and providing educational programs and support worldwide. The three parts of our mission support each other and help secure our reputation as a leading facility for the care of these species. Rescue and placement of animals in need. Educational programs for fellow professionals and the local community. Responsible captive breeding of selected species. Rescue We accept and care for the animals that no one else wants - including ones suffering from behavioral issues, physical disabilities, and those who are elderly. For many, we are the home of last resort. Education Our incredible animals serve as the best possible ambassadors for their respective species and the need for comprehensive conservation efforts. Children and adults alike leave our site touched by the experience and with a better understanding of how we are all interconnected. Conservation Selective conservation breeding is vital for maintaining species of animals whose survival is threatened by loss of habitat, disease, and unrestricted breeding. Our breeding efforts are strategically coordinated with an international coalition of conservation programs. Our Rescue Commitment In order to save a species you must preserve an entire ecosystem. The Conservators' Center participates through our conservation work. We also believe there is value in individual animals. The animals in our care contribute to the survival of their species because people who learn about them come to understand why it is important to protect them, and their habitats. Our conservation breeding program contributes to the limited numbers of these animals that are bred in captivity. Networking
with other organizations allows us to have more of an impact through sharing offspring for educational programs and future breeding. Saving individual animals requires accepting rescue and placement animals. The majority of our animals arrived at the Conservators’ Center by rescue and placement. Our staff has the experience and ability to accept the worst-case animals. For instance, those who: have serious behavioral issues are very ill are at immediate risk of death are seized from angry owners who were responsible for animal abuse, neglect, or cruelty The animals we rescue are confiscated by government authorities who ask us to take them, or come to us after an urgent call from an owner who is no longer able to control the animal. We receive no state or federal funding to transport or house rescued animals.
If you like these cartoons, visit Chad’s web site - http://tundracomics.com
James Greene’s
Timmy the Squirrel
Memorial Bizarre Pictures of Cute Little Animals
JACK BUCKLES’ TEARS OF JOY Funny Stories, Bad Jokes, Bumper Stickers, etc.
Corey, Ben, and Kent were at the Rotary International convention together and were sharing a large suite on the top of a 75 story sky scraper. After a long day of meetings, they were shocked to hear that the elevators in their hotel were broken and they would have to climb 75 flights of stairs to get to their room. Corey said to Ben and Kent, ―let's break the monotony of this unpleasant task by concentrating on something interesting. I'll tell jokes for the first 25 flights, and Ben can sing songs for next 25 flights, and Kent can tell sad stories the rest of the way.‖ At the 26th floor, Corey stopped telling jokes and Ben began to sing ―The Eyes of Texas.‖ At the 51st floor, Ben stopped singing and Kent began to tell sad stories. "I will tell my saddest story first," he said. "I left the room key in the car!"
RIO MACAW’S FACEBOOK PAGE Rio now has 659 friends on his Facebook page. What’s even more amazing is that more than 200 of them are from different countries around the world, true to the spirit of Rotary International. Rio currently has friends in: India Greece Turkey Argentina Portugal Denmark Italy England Venezuela Bangladesh Pakistan South Africa Brazil Chile Mexico You can visit Rio at this link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/rio.macaw?ref=name
The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands!
The 2011
WE TOUR Walk Across America For Special Needs Kids