Altus Rotary Recap 11/5 (Nov. 05, 2024)

Mark Your Calendars

11/12 Rotarian of The Day

Kathy Darby with a program from the Altus All-School Production Cast of Beauty and the Beast

Junior Rotarian for the month

Altus High School Senior, Emily Torres.

11/14 Salvation Army Banquet

The Salvation Army is inviting all Rotarians to join them at Beyond Bell Bellringing, a banquet honoring their William Booth recipient, Tal Oden. Guest speaker will be Senator Brent Howard. The dinner is free.

11/26 NO ROTARY

11/28 Happy Thanksgiving

Tal Oden Award Banquet Invitation

Announcements

Last week's ROTD was Tom Yates with a program from Lexi Tusek, Child Welfare Specialist II, Oklahoma Human Services

A sign-up sheet will continue to be shared on Tuesday for volunteer opportunities. This will not commit you to anything but will give those in charge of the events an idea of who may be able to serve. The events coming up are Salvation Army Bell Ringing, Christmas Parade Candy Distributors, and Santa Connection.

Ask me how to sponsor a new Rotary member!

Do you have an idea for a program? Do you see a service that you think Rotary can support? Are you craving something special for Tuesday's lunch? If you have thoughts, concerns, or ideas, just let me know. I am here to serve!

A Little History...The Story of Paul Harris

Rebecca Chambliss

11/19

Time To Celebrate

Birthdays

and

Rotary Anniversaries

Celebrated all our November Members

last week

Last Week's Program

Lexi Tusek, Child Welfare Specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, has been in her position for approximately a year and a half and is responsible for the five counties of SW Oklahoma. Lexi works in one of the six divisions of DHS that recruits foster parents for the more than 6,000 children in the state.

Lexi shared that in Jackson County alone, there are 54 children who are in the foster care system. She said that due to the shortage of foster parents, 84% of foster children are removed from Jackson County and placed in other areas of the state or even out of state. She said that sibling groups are rarely left together in the same foster home but usually end up separated, not only to different homes but even to different counties.

DHS seeks homes for newborns through 17-year-olds. Lexi said the biggest need they have is for foster parents who will accept the teenage children. She said that is the most vulnerable age group. Currently, there are only 8 foster homes in Jackson County.

To be a foster parent, you will be required to fill out an application and take a training course in person or online. You must be 21 years of age or older. You must be in good health and have a stable home (including any relationship you are in). All applicants must pass a criminal background check and be fingerprinted. You will also need to prove that you are financially stable and be able to show that fostering a child will not be a financial burden.

A foster child can be from one or more of several categories. There are traditional foster homes that are made up of community members who take in a child unknown to them and care for them. There are kinship fosters who are related in some way to the child. There are higher categories of fostering that require more training. These are special cases in which the child may have physical or mental disabilities.

Lexi also told me that they look for respite fosters who are short-term caregivers to foster children when the foster parent(s) wish to have a break or take a vacation. These cases are usually anywhere from one day to two weeks at a time.

Lexi says the way that Rotary can help is to consider fostering a child. You can also share the information found on their social media and sign up for the CarePortal to see what items or needs a foster family may have that you can help with.

Oklahoma Human Services

Last Week's Rotarian of the Day

Tom Yates and his wife Ellen are both retired. The Yates have been dedicated members of Altus Rotary for numerous years. Tom will celebrate his 42nd Rotary anniversary this December.

Normally, I can interview the Rotarian of the Day and get some personal insight into who they are. Unfortunately, Tom hasn't been feeling well so I did not reach out for this article. When I am not able to speak directly to a Rotarian, I am always able to find resumes or bits of information here and there. The world wide web has no secrets!

Alas, Tom Yates is an enigma to me. While doing some digging around, I did find a very interesting news article about Tom's family history here in Oklahoma. I hope you take the time to read it, it is a great story about a good family.

Update on the Yates:

**Tom and Ellen are back at their home and they both need some rehab to get back on their feet. Ellen told me that they look forward to coming to lunches again and hopes to see us all in a couple months.

The Yates Family in Oklahoma

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