Volunteers discuss Sandy work at Rotary

Jim Ukestad introduced Dave Smette and Beth Dewald at the Nov. 27 Rotary Club meeting.

Smette helped as a volunteer with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey. He and another Red Cross volunteer from North Dakota drove an Emergency Response Vehicle from Minot to Pennsylvania to assist with meal distribution to the residents of New Jersey. The trip took 17 hours of driving straight to Pennsylvania.

Once in New Jersey at the temporary field command site, Smette and crew would drive meals to the different towns assigned to them. They would take the hot prepared meals twice a day to their feeding sites. A typical day started at 6 a.m. and ended around 8 p.m.

“The days were long, but so rewarding. No day was the same,” Smette said.

There was no electric power, so generators were set up to provide the necessary power as well as propane to run the kitchen. There were more than 14,443 worker/volunteers in their area of operation. Smette and crew assisted for a few days on the barrier islands. Their ERV was one of the first let on the island. Prior to them arriving were only the police and the National Guard. The area had been totally evacuated. Smette also showed some pictures of the area, their operations kitchen and some of the devastation left by the storm. The Red Cross is an “awesome organization,” Smette said.

Quincy Backen presided over the meeting. The Rev. Johnny Rhoads said the blessing. Darrell Losing and Gina Dahl led the group in Christmas carols. Warren Tobin collected “Happy Dollars” for Rotary projects.

Samantha Dick and Brianna Hart said their goodbyes having spent the month of November as representatives of Jamestown High School.

Three new members, Rhoad, Joe Rector and Todd Hudspeth were inducted in to the Jamestown Rotary Club. Larry Motacek, Steven Looysen and Clarice Liechty were also approved as reactivated members. Backen reminded members of bell ringing for the Salvation Army on Dec. 3 and 4.

Mike Kudrna has the program, Shirley Jackson has the invocation, Mike Sherfy has the music and Larry Hoffman will be the sergeant at arms at the next Rotary meeting.

Tags: life, clubs