District Governor lauds
Putnam Rotarians

Tom Greenstreet addresses Putnam Rotarians as spouse Nancy looks on. Greenstreet presents Don Broyles a banner with the "Rotary shares" slogan for 2007-08.

The current theme of Rotary is "Rotary Shares," and the Putnam club is in the forefront with a number of international, regional and local service projects says District Governor Tom Greenstreet in a visit with the group today.

In a litany of community service, Greenstreet enumerated a broad list of Putnam activities that included a goat for a village in Nepal, chickens for a secondary school in Uganda and support for education and senior citizens in the Putnam community.

"You wore me out with all your projects," he told the group. "The Putnam Club is a great example of the many good things that can be accomplished with teamwork, commitment and a little effort."

Rotary is in a unique position through its local networks to provide assistance when and wherever needed, he said.

When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf coast, a Rotary Club in Mississippi received $1.5 million -- all unsolicited. Since the disaster, over $21 million has come to the same community through Rotary.

"There were no strings attached, no red tape," said Greenstreet. "Contributing Rotary Clubs knew that local clubs would spend the funds appropriately."

During the recent floods in southern West Virginia, a former district governor in Boone County received $500 from Haiti. "Haiti," he repeated for emphasis, "where the average per capita income is $400, sent funding for flood relief to West Virginia."

The DG for District 7550 brought a water cooler jug with him for the Putnam club.

The jugs will be used to collect loose change. "Each club in the district has a jug," he explained. "The money given in weeks to come will be used in partnership with Rotarians in Ghana to dig wells and purify water.

"People cannot pull out of poverty without water," he said.

Rotary District 7550 includes thirty local clubs in southern West Virginia.