Ron Thompson led the Pledge of Allegiance.  The invocation was offered by Ray Smith. 

 

 

 

Chuck explained the holder of the ticket drawn would win the small pot of $40 plus the opportunity to try to draw the Ace of Clubs from the deck, which would entitle them to the large pot, which was up to $715.  He asked Darl Andersen to draw the ticket, but Darl had Jeanie Morgan draw the winning ticket and he read off the numbers.  Dick Myren was the holder of the ticket drawn.  His luck ran out when he drew the Seven of Hearts rather than the Ace of Clubs.

 

 

 

Polly had a bag of goodie from their trips to the Carolinas the past two years.  She invited our slow auctioneer, Allan Cady to actually conduct the auction.  The starting bid was $35, and Colleen Coons made the final offer of $65, which resulted in her receiving the "gift that keeps on giving."

 

 

With the most recent update Allan Cady reported we were nearing $54,000 in total donations.  The teams were very close in each of their total results.  In the four campaigns held since John Eagleston came up with the sponsorship program idea during his presidency, we have gathered over $200,000 in donations to support our charitable endeavors.  

 

 

Since the speaker had not yet arrived, President Dan asked Don LaBarge to share some info from his experiences while serving as a police officer.  The final nine years of his twenty-one years on the force, Don worked undercover trying to apprehend felons.  Although it is one of the things officers going through the academy most enjoy doing, kicking in doors is frowned upon - particularly in motels/hotels.  A trick Don and his partner(s) used was to push their vehicle into the suspected felon's vehicle in the facility's parking lot, then ask the desk clerk to call the room and ask the owner of the car to come down to exchange insurance information.  Once outside in the parking lot, the suspects were easily apprehended.

 

The more specific and colorful story was that of a 20-year-old male from Oklahoma who shot sand killed a person in Oklahoma, grabbed his girlfriend and split.  The girlfriend kept calling friends, who she knew would call the police.  She was able to inform them that the destination was grandma's house in Phoenix.  She was able to communicate that the suspect was armed and dangerous and had vowed not to be taken alive.  Don said the grandparents were very nice people and were appreciative of being kept informed.  When the suspect was getting close to Phoenix, a swat team was activated and had the home of the grandparents surrounded.  The suspect instead went to a Motel 6.  Don and his partner pushed their truck against the suspect's vehicle and the desk clerk called the room.  Instead of the suspect coming down, he sent the girlfriend.  Finally, he did come out.  He was unarmed and wearing only white boxers.  While he was being easily apprehended, they explained "If you don't want to be taken alive, you need a place to hide a gun."

 

 

Bob said the last mission was in the fall of 2019.  There was a big team of about fifty volunteers.  They saw 470 patients in two very long days.  They were able to provide hearing aids for all, but ran out of earmold material.  Some of the volunteers did not reach the restaurant for the final dinner on the last night until nearly midnight.  They were exhausted when the dinner finally wrapped up about 2:00 a.m. Bob felt bad about those who only received hearing aids without molds.  COVID caused cancellation of the 2020 mission, and a sewage problem at the school caused the 2021 mission to be cancelled.  Since our last mission, the school has been broken into 26 times.  Fortunately none of the mission materials and equipment stored there have been taken or damaged.  It is hoped another mission will be able to happen this coming November.

 

 

Dr. Leonard did arrive close to 1:00 p.m.  Although he lives in Arizona, apparently his calendar software made a daylight savings time adjustment to his schedule causing him to be late.  He briefly explained what he would be talking to the club about when he returns for the August 3 meeting.

 

 

Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.