Rotary Club of Salem

Jason Green, Forest Manager for Pioneer Forest was our program today. Jason completed his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in forestry at the University of Missouri and began working for Pioneer Forest as a forest technician in 2007. In 2013, he succeeded Terry Cunningham as Pioneer Forest Manager. Jason also serves as an affiliate director of the Missouri Forest Products Association. Jason shared information on Pioneer Forest’s stewardship and forest management operat...ions. Pioneer Forest is the largest private landowner in the State of Missouri with 150,000 acres. Jason also shared information on their efforts regarding feral hogs, including large scale traps that can catch upwards of twenty hogs at a time. We appreciate Jim Sample arranging the program. Jim Heavin has the program next week.

Marilyn Schweitzer, was guest speaker at Rotary today. Marilyn has taken the lead for the past 3 years in making this event, "Honoring our Heroes Marathon," happen. If you are a active serviceman or veteran, or if you support our military, this event is for you! From the Patriot Guard lead escort and National Anthem singing,to the Stars and Stripes at every mile, to the entrants wearing bibs honoring a soldier(s), along with patriotic music and the bestowing of your medal by ...a combat veteran, we hope to show our appreciation for all our servicemen and women have done for us. We have a very generous award program; there will be an award for the fastest veteran in each 5 year age division, both male and female; and an award for the fastest veteran marathon relay team. ALL of the proceeds from the 2020 event will benefit these local causes: American Legion Post 99's Dent County Veterans emergency fund Mid missouri chapter of the AUSA's Warrior in need fund VFW Post 6280 (Salem) & VFW POSt 2025 (Rolla) Poppy funds VFW POST 4238 (DIXON) POPPY FUND Woody Williams Foundation to Honor gold star families Friday November 20th Packet Pickup 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM Marathon/Relay Start Dent County Commons 7:AM See more

Nathan Kelsaw, Associate Circuit Judge of Dent County was our Rotarian Speaker today. Nathan is a lifelong resident of Missouri. He attended Southwest Missouri State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and later earned his law degree from Saint Louis University in 2010. Before obtaining his law degree, he worked for the Missouri Division of Youth Services as a Youth Specialist. Nathan was elected to the position of Associate Circuit Judge in 2018. Hi...s position deals with the judicial aspect of law. The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets, defends and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary can also be thought of as the mechanism for the resolution of disputes. Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the judiciary generally does not make statutory law (which is the responsibility of the legislature) or enforce law (which is the responsibility of the executive), but rather interprets law, defends and applies it to the facts of each case. Nathan likes to refer to a quote by Justice Antonin Scalia, The judge who always likes the results he reaches is a bad judge. Nathan says sometimes he makes a decision that he does not like but it is one that follows the interpretation of the law. See more

Our guest speaker at Monday's Rotary meeting was Jamie Homeyer. Jamie was sworn in as the new Dent County Assessor Dec. 31, 2019 to replace the retiring Tina Whitaker. Homeyer has a background in real estate, earning her license in 2005. She has worked for VIP Properties in Salem for the last 14 years. Homeyer was appointed by the county commission after interviewing for the position and Governor Parsons made the official appointment in mid January of 2020. Jamie won the prim...ary election in August and is on the ballot for the General election. The Dent County Tax Assessor is the local official who is responsible for assessing the taxable value of all properties within Dent County, and may establish the amount of tax due on that property based on the fair market value appraisal. Jamie and the staff are available to answer questions and help residents with any concerns they may have regarding their property taxes. Thanks to Chris Hendrix for hosting our speaker. See more

Tis' the season to join forces and sign up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle. Donations from the community are critical to help the less fortunate in Dent County with past due bills, prescriptions, shelter and emergency needs. Rotary volunteers are teaming up with Salem Area Chamber of Commerce volunteers to accept donations on Wednesday November 25th at Country Mart. Salem Rotary President, Jason Jones presents a cash donation for the Salvation Army to Sherry Lea from The Rotary Club of Salem. Also presented was a cash donation to help support Healthy Dent County.