Presiding: Nicole Hauser
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration: Esther McGann
Professor’s Quote:
Introduction of Guests:
Guests:
Exchange Students: Irene Sottile
Visiting Rotarians: The Konrads
Junior Rotarians:
Rotaract Students:
Humor: Terry
Foundation Drawing: Jenny Eisenhauer won $10 with $469.50 in the jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Jenny Eisenhauer
Announcements:
- Nicole Hauser passed around an invitation to the Downtown Clinic’s appreciation event. Contact Esther with questions.
Upcoming Programs:
September 5 – Jan Daugaard – Red Cross
September 12 – Rob Godby
September 19 – Gerald Mattinson, UW Cowgirls Basketball
September 26 – Peter Parolin – UW Honors College
New Member Induction: Welcome new member Jean Garrison!
Rotarians of the Week: Jenny Eisenhauer nominated those Rotarians that donated to the expansion project at the Centennial Library and Cultural Association; Caitlin White nominated Ray McElwee for picking up exchange student, Irene, from the airport; Nicole Hauser nominated the past presidents who are stepping up to help.
Rotarian of the Month: Becky Maddox
Songs:
Program: UW Creative Writing Program, Jeff Lockwood
Introduction: Paul Heimer
Jeff Lockwood noted that he was born in Connecticut and then grew up in New Mexico. He has been at UW for 30+ years.
Jeff has written several books. In 2000, he started by working on a set of environmental essays that discussed new and better methods for handling grasshoppers, as entomology has a long premise of taking life, and the responsibility that comes with killing insects.
He has gone through an academic metamorphosis from starting as a professor in entomology and natural sciences to a professor in humanities teaching philosophy and creativite writing.
Jeff wanted to find a way to frame his professional life and tell his story. To do so, he decided to use the Noir genre. The Noir genre is where a deeply flawed hero is seduced by a dame to investigate a crime. The hero solves cases related to his moral principals. In the last 20-25 years, the Noir genre has expanded to explore more with gender and race and has increased its numbers of authors that are of different race or women.
Crime noir is uniquely American. It has roots here and has commonly flourished in times of stress and trauma, such as after the Great Depression and during WWII.
Jeff is interested in the anti-hero. This person is a main character that is flawed and principled. He takes responsibility for his violence, and lives in a world of moral ambiguity. The anti-hero works and lives in the shadows and margins of society, except when things go wrong and he or she is called on to help.
Jeff has invented a new genre of literature, entomological noir. His first book, “Poison Justice,” is a story of science and philosophy woven together. This book has won an independent book award. Other books soon followed.
One of his books is set in 1971 in Central Philadelphia and asks the question: who decides what is fair? It explores the line between justice and vengeance.
“Murder on the Fly” is a book set in 1981 during the mealfly outbreak in Califormia. This put crops at risk.
“Lethal Fetish” is in 1982 and follows the aftermath of 2 individuals who wind up dead. These individuals think they are invested with crawling insects. This book is the darker side and looks at what is normal versus perverse.
Stories are the most powerful formation of information where narrative creates a way for fact to come through.
Jeff will host “Locust the Opera,” a chamber opera on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. This originally premiered in Jackson and has also been shown in Morocco.
Response: Jean Garrison
Celebrations: Parents with kids going back to school.
District Assembly: Saturday, October 5 at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne.
Rotary 4-way test
Of the things we think, say, or do
•Is it the Truth?
•Is it Fair?
•Will it build Good Will and
Better Friendships?
•Will it be Beneficial to All
Concerned?
‘Response: The Rotary Club of Laramie will make a donation to the public library children’s book fund in the speaker’s name.
NOTE: We Do Not Donate a Book!
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org