What an incredible week this has been at the Summer 2012 Olympics. It was interesting to notice how surprised some athletes seemed to be when they did not come first in the scoring, and then notice how they were way more determined to go for the gold at their next event.

I have given your board some very high goals for this our new Rotary year. I know they are working on them even now. However, it is difficult to put together and implement a great plan with only part of the team involved. My I please see with a raised hand how many of you are currently active on a committee this year?

I personally have set some high goals for our club and our committees this year, as well as some personal goals for me personally. One of my goals is to have our entire membership, each one of you personally, actively, as much as you can, involved in at least one area of service.

Many of you indicated interest in serving with various committees on the back of your personal commitment forms. However, when the call for attendance at the committee meeting is sent out, only a few of you showed up. ALL CHAMPIONSHIP WINS REQUIRE 100% COMMITTMENT TO THE GOAL. Won't you agree to get on a team to make this year a great year?

A great win is a wonderful thrill. Setting a new world record is an even greater thrill. Won't you get involved starting right now, and help us to set new performance achievements for this Rotary Year?

I am passing around new sheets on which you can indicate which area of service you will participate in. Please do your part and join in with us to make this a wonderful year, and to make our community service acheivements truly worthy.   Thank you!!!!

Nancy & Tom Caruso

Tom and Nancy Caruso are doing something not many people have done; retracing the historic route of Lewis and Clark from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Astoria, Oregon by boat.

The idea came to Nancy six months ago while studying for her captain's license but there's another reason for her inspiration.

"To be in the places that my grandfather has been and read along in his journals and to see the experiences as he had as well," said Nancy.

Nancy's grandfather, William S. Deely, made the same trip in 1973 with a buddy and wrote about his experiences in a book.

When Nancy's grandfather made this journey 38 years ago, he walked away with two things: don't make any plans and rely on the kindness of strangers, something Nancy said she also had to do.

"We had rely on the kindness of strangers and it's so refreshing to see the hospitality and the warmth of America from our side on the river," said Nancy.

They began their journey on July 16th in Pittsburgh, taking the Ohio River to the Mississippi where they connected with the Missouri River. But while there, they ran into some challenges.
 

Lewis & Clark's Expedition Travel Route

 
"We eventually had to pull the boat out because of the river closures because of the flooding that has happened in the summer and we've been driving around to finally getting to Lewiston and Clarkston where we'll continue the last 500 miles of the journey," said Tom.

The journey will come to an end in Oregon but it certainly won't be the last of their voyage.

"We kind of learn that we should always have a goal once we finish up our last trip so we have something to look forward to," said Tom

They're still debating what their next goal is but whatever it is, they say it will be quite an adventure.

The reason why Tom and Nancy began their trip in Pittsburgh is because that was where Meriwether Lewis started his journey.

Lewis met up with William Clark weeks later at Camp Dubois in what is now Indiana.

To learn more about Nancy and Toms projects, click here