September 3rd – Craig Smith – Union Gospel Mission
Craig Smith became the new Executive Director of the Union Gospel Mission, May 1, when Dan Clem retired.
Craig’s brings extensive business, nonprofit, and ministry experience and leadership to the position. He and his wife Susan launched New Beginnings Baby Boutique, helping moms and their children in need in our community, including women and children from Simonka Place. Craig also had connection with the New Life Fellowship and Greer Street transitional facility. His most recent position was as the Executive Director at Far West Agribusiness Association.
He will present regarding the model for life change used by the mission, current successes, challenges, and initiatives. Craig has been married to Susan for 48 years. They have two children, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
Program Chair – Renée Campbell
Meeting Location: Cedar Hall, Main Salem Alliance Building
President’s Message
Get Ready to Ring! September is Salem Rotary Foundation Month
Welcome to September!! It seems like last school year just ended and here we are starting a new school year already. I love the month of September. My grandson Wyatt turns two, college football season gets underway (GO BEAVS!), and there is a feel of fall in the air but we still have very nice weather.
BUT WAIT, THE BEST THING ABOUT SEPTEMBER IS THAT THIS IS THE MONTH WE HIGHLIGHT OUR OWN SALEM ROTARY FOUNDATION!!!
Get your bell ringers written and submitted each week to the person responsible for announcing events, honors, anniversaries, accomplishments, and fun experiences. What have you celebrated or what will you celebrate, what or who are you thankful for, what upcoming event should others know about, or what is new in your life that you want to share with your Rotary family.
This month’s bell ringers are being super charged by generous Rotarians who have agreed to Match, Super Match, Super Duper Match, and Super Duper Amazingly Match the $20 that each of us donate to the Salem Rotary Foundation as we declare our bell ringing announcements.
Our annual budget for bell ringer revenue is $14,000. That equates to 700 rings of the bell at $20 per item. I will get my left handed gavel wielding bell ringing ready for a busy month. Let’s RING THAT BELL!
Our program lineup for September includes a good variety of topics. We start off with a presentation from Craig Smith the new Executive Director of Union Gospel Mission. The second presenter for September is a good friend of mine, Dexter Johnson who is the Legislative Counsel for the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Dexter’s topic is “Best Practices for Turning Your Ideas into Law”. Our third week presenter will be our own Carolyn Schrader and the topic is AI for Boomers (that’s Artificial Intelligence, no matter what Tammy Dennee says about Artificial Insemination). The month will end with a meeting run by our own Salem Rotary Foundation and highlighting all the good that has resulted from our community investment of approximately $120,000 during the 2024-25 year.
Looking forward to seeing you throughout the month of September.
Remember to order your lunch from either Little Lois Café or Better Than Mama’s, both provide a good variety to choose from.
President Doug Parham
Rotary Club of Salem
2025-2026
