[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE MUNCIE ROTARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2008

  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise to thank the Rotary Club of Muncie, 
Indiana for their invaluable service to the residents of my hometown of 
Columbus, Indiana following catastrophic flooding that city experienced 
in early June.
  ``The Power of One,'' by Tom Farris was published in the Muncie Star 
Press on August 10, 2008. The article outlines the tremendous support 
provided by the Muncie Rotary Club and the leadership they provided in 
the early clean-up efforts. Tom Farris writes:

       Often when we think of Rotary relief and assistance 
     programs, we picture people in need halfway around the globe 
     or the worldwide eradication of polio. However, the 
     summertime flooding, which has been labeled a once-in-
     several-hundred-years disaster, caused hundreds of millions 
     of dollars in damages in Indiana and proved that those in 
     need can be as close as several counties away.
       Congressman Mike Pence visited the Muncie Rotary Club on 
     June 17 to provide an update on what had been going on in 
     Washington. But since he had been back in Indiana visiting 
     the flood-ravaged areas of his district, he focused on the 
     extensive damage he had observed in many parts of eastern 
     Indiana, especially severe in the Columbus area . . .
       While the Congressman spoke to us, a banner in the Indiana 
     Room at Minnetrista proclaimed the theme ``The Power of 
     One.'' Within 24 hours, ``The Power of One'' was well 
     underway to connect the Muncie Rotary Club to flood victims 
     in Columbus, thanks to Muncie Rotarian Gay Nation, the Club's 
     then incoming chairman for community service. Gay is well-
     known for taking a project and putting her mind and heart 
     into it for dramatic results. She contacted the Columbus 
     Sunrise and Noon Rotary Clubs to offer help and by the 
     following Tuesday, four work trips were planned--July 12, 19, 
     26 and Aug. 2--so Muncie Rotary Club members could volunteer 
     to assist in Columbus.
       Gay learned bottled water was in great demand, so she 
     clipped coupons from the Sunday edition of The Star Press, 
     contacted retailers and Rotary began accepting donations to 
     purchase water and cleaning supplies. Plus Rotarians began 
     contacting other organizations to make them aware of the 
     needs and to connect them to the relief efforts.
       Members of the Muncie Rotary Club participating in the 
     Columbus area flood relief efforts included: Doug Bakken, 
     Marlin Creasy, Roni Johnson, Gay Nation, Jim Needham, Pat 
     Garofolo, Lois Rockhill, Bob Gortner, Loyal Cutforth, Leslie 
     Anderson and Ray Montagno, along with Bill Green, a neighbor 
     of Gay Nation. Tom Kosar from the Muncie Sunrise Rotary Club 
     collected funds for the purchase of 28 cases of water. 
     Columbus Sunrise Rotary Club members assisting with the 
     relief efforts included: Jodi Engelstad (president), Charles 
     Dewey, Mike Ferree, Paula Ferree, Don Harvey, Cindy Greene, 
     Owen Hungerford, Lyn Morgan, Kara Steele, Celeste Racette, 
     Jill Shedd, Mary Tucker, Lacretia Ulery, Bia Carasco (an 
     exchange student from Brazil) and David ``Mac'' McCorry, 
     president of the Columbus Noon Rotary Club.
       Additional donors to the project include Muncie Sunrise 
     Rotary Club, which donated 28 cases of water; Lynette Freeman 
     of Cardinal Greenway, more 111 gallons of water, plus 28 
     cases of water and soda; Mary Alice Hatten, CVS store 
     manager, personally donated two large coolers and 10 cases of 
     water; K-Mart store manager Joetta Roysden donated three 
     large coolers and allowed Rotary to purchase 10 cases of 
     water at a great discount, plus Rotarians donated over $750 
     to a matching fund to provide a new $3,000 camera for 
     Columbus Regional Hospital. In total, Rotary delivered 2,280 
     bottles of water.
       Never underestimate ``The Power of One'' in getting people 
     engaged to assist neighbors in need--or people they don't 
     even know. Although the flood devastation in the Columbus 
     area didn't receive great media attention, people were 
     hurting and the need for help was real. I think Rotary's 
     Flood Relief Efforts provide a perfect illustration of the 
     Rotary motto ``Service Above Self.''

  I commend each of the individuals mentioned in this article, and 
extend my deepest gratitude to this dedicated group of volunteers who 
went out of their way to help fellow Hoosiers in need.

                          ____________________