If you didn’t make it to this week’s Rotary Club of Forest Grove meeting, here is what you missed.

Club Announcements
Hope For The Holidays: Before you know it, it will be time for one of our club’s most anticipated service projects, Hope For The Holidays. We have been approved for a $2,500 matching grant from District 5100 for the project. Coupled with a $1,000 grant from Walmart, we are well on our way. Fundraising is now underway! You can donate or pledge funds (to be billed) at any club meeting in November.

For those who are new to the club, Hope For the Holidays is an annual project where we provide money, through a store gift card, to under-privileged families to help make the holiday season a bit brighter. We identify families with the help of local school districts, Habitat for Humanity and other local groups. On our shopping night (Thursday, Dec. 19), Rotarians assist families in making their purchases.

Holiday Light Parade: We are once again planning to have a float in the annual Forest Grove Holiday Light Parade, which takes place on Saturday, Dec. 7. Tara Cirlincione is once again leading this up and will have additional details soon.

Rotaract Career Development Workshop: The Pacific University Rotaract Club will be holding a Career Development Workshop for its membership on Thurs., Nov. 14, from 7-8 p.m. at the university. They are looking for members from our club who are willing to give a 5-minute talk about their career and then meet with students in one-on-one sessions to discuss your career path.

The club is particularly interested in members that have careers as an optometrist, physical therapist, registered nurse, engineer, teacher, police officer, doctor, social worker as well as professions in the tech sector, healthcare administration and business. If you are interested in able to attend, please let President Tim Pearson know and he can put you in contact with the Rotaract leadership.

Thank You Julie: After many years of service to the club Julie Schmidlkofer has stepped down as the bookkeeper for the Rotary Club of Forest Grove. We are grateful for Julie’s efforts to help keep our club and foundation finances in order! With Julie stepping down, Virginia Ohler has agreed to step in and take on that role. Thank you Virginia!

Congratulations Paul Harris Fellows: At last Wednesday’s meeting, club Rotary Foundation chair Tom Rabbe presented Paul Harris Fellow recognition to the following members…

Paul Harris Fellow: Andrea Stewart
Paul Harris +1: Geoff Johnston
Paul Harris +2: Tim Pearson
Paul Harris +4: Jeannine Murrell

Thank you to these individuals for providing continued financial support to The Rotary Foundation and helping it do good around the world.

Honoring Veterans: We would like to invite veterans to join us for our Wed., Nov. 13 meeting as a way to honor them for their service to our country’s armed forces. The club will provide lunch for those veterans. If you will be bringing a veteran with you, please President Tim know.

Concours Meeting: The next Concours d’Elegance Committee meeting takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m., at the Forest Grove Chamber Office. All club members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

November 20 Meeting: Instead of meeting the Boxer Pause for our Wednesday, Nov. 20, we will instead meet at the Ridgewalker Mail Room Event Center, 1822 21st Ave., Forest Grove.

Satellite Club Meeting/Thirsty Thursday: Our next Satellite Club Meeting/Thirsty Thursday will take place on Thursday, Nov. 21, 6:30 p.m., at Blackdog Bar & Grill, 2835 19th Ave., Forest Grove. All club members are welcome.

Holiday Meetings: The club will “go dark” (Rotary term for not hold a meeting) on the following upcoming Wednesdays: November 27 (in observance of Thanksgiving), December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day).

Concours d’Elegance Update: Court Carrier presented to the club on some of the ideas about trying to expand activities around the Concours weekend in an effect to bring more people to town from a tourism perspective. He is looking for individuals interested in helping develop and initiate activities that will complement Concours, but not conflict from the event, which is our largest fundraising activity. If you have ideas, or are interested in being part of a committee, please contact Court at 971-404-7864 or ccarrieriv@gmail.com.

 Have A Program Idea?: If you have an idea for a program or would like to present something yourself, let our program chair, Julia Kollar, know. She will also have a program planning board at meetings so you can see what is on deck and what dates may be available.

Next Week’s Duty Roster: Make note of your assignment!
Greeters: Andrea Stewart & Howard Sullivan
Thought for the Day: John Forsyth
Rototeller Article: Amy Tracewell
Raffle Prize: Michael Doherty

Last Week’s Program: Kevin Barton, Washington County District Attorney
Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton presented to the club on the inner-workings of his office and the justice system in Washington County. Before being elected district attorney, Barton has served as a career prosecutor in Washington County, including murder, child abuse, assault, domestic violence, fraud and theft cases.

In making appearances at service clubs, like Rotary, is important is Barton’s eyes because it allows him to present to the public what his office truly does. Much of the public’s perception of the role of the district attorney comes from television shows like Law & Order.

The DA’s office, Barton explained, is like the airbag in a car. You don’t often think about that it is there to protect you. But when you need it, it is there and it works.

In illustrating the role, Barton told a couple of stories about experiences from his career. In particular, he told the story of prosecuting a sexual abuse case involving a 13-year-old victim and how his work in bringing the case to trial made an impact on that person’s life.

By the numbers last year, the Washington Country District Attorney’s office…

• Reviewed 11,600 criminal cases.
• Brought charges in 8,400 cases.
• Saw 300 cases go to trial.
• Served 11,700 crime victims.
• Saw $5.8 million in restitution ordered.
• Collected $32.4 million in child support.

 Club Calendar
Tues., Nov. 12: Concours d’Elegance Meeting, 7 p.m., Forest Grove Chamber
Wed., Nov. 13: Weekly Meeting, Noon, Pacific University
Program: Nathanael Andreini, Washington Country Museum
Thurs., Nov. 14: Executive Board Meeting, 7 a.m., Moore & Welliver Lawyers
Thurs., Nov. 14: Rotaract Career Development Workshop, 7 p.m., Pacific University
Wed., Nov. 20: Weekly Meeting, Noon, Ridgewalker Mail Room, 1822 21st Ave.
Program: Four-Way Test Committee
Thurs., Nov. 21: Board Meeting, 7 a.m., Forest Grove Chamber
Thurs., Nov. 21: Thirsty Thursday/Satellite Club Meeting, 6:30 p.m.,
Blackdog Bar & Grill, 2825 19th Ave.
Wed., Nov. 27: No Meeting. Happy Thanksgiving!