Guests and Visiting Rotarians:

Vernette Knapp, guest of Roger Christian; Patrick Barron, West Chester, PA; Anette Nosted, Youth Exchange student; Mary Bontrager, guest of Ann Langenfeld.

Announcements:

President Ehly reminded Board Members of the Board Meeting Thurs., Feb. 28

Community Service Awards Eve – Tues.,  Feb. 26.  Ok to bring a bottle of wine to share. No morning meeting.

Can Do! Ron Logsden asked people to sign up to “person” the Can Do! Trailer at Hy-Vee (1st Ave) on March 2 – 3.  Volunteers will be paired with students from Interact.

Mark Patton asked for 2 volunteers to help with “Many Hands Make Light Work” Contact Mark.

Casey Cook talked about a Compeer program “The Sound of Friendship” which will take place on Sat. March 2 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Andrews Church.  Dan Knight, Kol Shira and Spontaneous Combustion will perform and dessert will be served.  Casey sold all of the tickets he had on hand ($20/each).

Mark Patton and Andreas Soemadi discussed the Bowling for Kids Sake event this Saturday and asked us to donate to match pledges.

Program:

Our own inimitable and intrepid interviewer, Casey Cook, once again hosted his “What Jazzes You Up?” program.  His victim, or, rather, his guest, was the never-one-to-be-shy Mark Patton.  Their banter provided insight as well as laughter to start our morning.  First question “Tell us about the house you grew up in…”  Mark explained that he grew up in a hotel!  It had been a hotel but then was moved (physically moved from the town of Eller) into the country.  So, the hotel was now located on a farm.  The farm, he said, is 90 miles west of Iowa City.

Mark said that he started out to become a pig farmer, but, the pigs couldn’t hold up their end of the conversation!  So, he went on to work with people (now as Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity.)  It was interesting to note that many of the homes (about 2/3) built by H H are sold to immigrant families.  Mark said that they always pay their mortgages on time unlike some of the American families.

It became obvious that Mark’s devotion to service and to helping people started early.  His father was on the County Board of Supervisors.  As such, his father supervised the County Poor Farm.  Mark spent a lot of time working on the farm with people deemed the lowest and most disenfranchised of humanity.

Mark was the 4th of 5 children.  He also had 3 step siblings when his dad remarried after death of his mother and sister. 

Mark still has a farm in Wilton.  His wife, Emily, a Physicians Assistant, wanted chickens, so they bought some chickens.  Apparently, the chickens have cost more time and money than they ever expected.  But, they do provide plenty of eggs (which Mark brings to Rotary and sells @ $2.50/dozen).

Mark and his wife have 3 children:  Amanda, age 30, in NYC; Nathan, next, commutes to Chicago from here on the Megabus, works for Deloitte Touche; and Luke who lives in Baltimore.  “The kids all wanted OFF the farm!”

A big thanks to Mark who shared his unvarnished personal history.  His humor and many touching life stories made today’s program one to remember.