The Rushville Rotary Club met Tuesday at Flatrock Grill.

President Norm Voiles called the meeting to order and presided over the gathering. Pam Leisure led in a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Kevin Snyder provided an opening prayer, including a moment of silence for Rotarian Bill Ward’s wife, Patty, who passed away earlier this week following a long battle with cancer. Our heart and prayers are with you, Bill.

Debbie “The River Princess” O’Neal was welcomed as a visiting Rotarian. Debbie was a long-time member of the Rushville club and it was good to have her back.

Nancy Rice was the Mystery Person and she awarded the free lunch to Pam Leisure for her efforts at the Rush County Chamber of Commerce and with the Rush County United Fund.

Shelly King was up next with Brag for a Buck, but with a nod to the past she asked Debbie O’Neal to handle the task for her, which Debbie gladly agreed to do.

Debbie began with her own brag, stating that Rushville has the best Rotary club she’s ever attended and noting that the local club doesn’t take itself to seriously; rather, Rushville Rotarians like to have a good time. She then said that everyone who has missed her had to pay $1, making sure that everyone — even Bill Todd — anted up. Pam Leisure bragged on a recent ribbon cutting for a new business on West First Street and indicated several other ribbon cuttings and/or groundbreaking were scheduled for coming weeks. Julie Smith bragged on ISP trooper Mike Ooley for coming to her assistance after she recently ran out of gas. Bill Todd boasted about a recent trip to Fowler with several other local officials. The group toured the new wind farm there and Bill said the giant windmills used are very impressive. Chip West bragged on his two boys, both of whom are playing soccer for RCHS, and on the efforts of this year’s boys’ soccer team to date. And Debbie supplied the last brag by reporting that her son is back from Iraq.

Sergeant-at-Arms Dr. John Williams was up next. Noting that Debbie had done an outstanding job of helping to fill the club’s coffers he waived any and all fines for the day.

With business conducted it was time for Avy Dare to introduce her guests, David Fry and Andrew Stoner. Fry is president of the ECDC board in Decatur County and Stoner is corporate communications contact for Honda Manufacturing of Indiana in Greensburg.

Fry talked briefly about the steps taken that helped land the new Honda plant in Greensburg and Stoner talked at some length about various aspects of the manufacturing facility (see related story on A1 of today’s Rushville Republican).

Upcoming programs:

Tuesday: Garry Cooley

Sept. 9: Dawn Peffer with information regarding the Vial of Life program at Rush Memorial Hospital

Sept. 16: Dr. John Williams

Sept. 23: Paul Barada Jr.