Club Meeting Recap--July 25, 2016
Posted on Jul 26, 2016
Connie Caiceros, from the Center for Community Justice,
Addressed the Club
Club President, Scott Puckett, rang the bell calling to order the July 25, 2016 meeting of the Elkhart Rotary Club.
Stu Barb opened and led in the pledge and four way test.
In attendance was as a guest of Connie Caiceros, her 12 year old son David, who just got back from New Mexico after spending in a month there with his father.
Announcements:
Eric Garton from Wellfield Botanic Gardens reminded us that Taste of the Gardens is August 27th. Tickets are available online for $6.00 and will be $8.00 at the gate. Buy early, buy often!
Doug Risser (who joined Rotary on 1999) told a brief story about the Rotary Foundation which was started by Arch Klunk. Arch was born on June 6th in 1869 and was forced to leave school at the age of 12. He was able to resume his education at the age of 16 and graduated with honors. At the age of 18 he studied the flute and played with the Philadelphia Orchestra for 14 years.
In 1911 at the ae of 42 Arch was the Founding member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland. 19 1916-1917 Arch served as the International President. June 18, 1917 The Rotary Endowment Fund was born, $26.50 was raised in proceeds.
Scott Puckett asked for volunteers to please host a birthday party and educate those in attendance about the history of the Foundation. Tell them the story and let them know what they are supporting.
The Sargent for the day was Jeff New, who joined Rotary in 1980.
Brian Housand introduced the speaker for the day: Connie Caiceros, Center for Community Justice (CCJ)
Connie talked about Elkhart being considered the Father of Restorative Justice which is spreading around the Nation.
CCJ serves 4000 clients a year-60% adults and 40% juvenile. Restorative Justice looks at things differently, its focus is to rebuild and restore. They deal with weaknesses, which in turns creates courage, integrity, and honesty as well as reentry, meditation and education.
Success is defined as recidivism, 80% never commit again, contracts are signed and the party that is harmed gets to state what they need to make it right. CCJ is humanizing conflict and resolution.
Accountability, fairness and a healing of resilience. Connie states that “We are all connected like spider webs and when the one rung is broke, we need to mend it.” She also quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” which brings it back around to how relationships are harmed and we need to mend through the process of Restorative Justice.
If you would like to help CCJ they are looking for volunteers, board members and funding; visit http://www.centerforcommunityjustice.org/
Upcoming programs:
8/1 – Doug Risser
8/8- Costa Rica
8/8 Jill Lafontaine – Girl Scouts of America