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64 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, October 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 13, 2004 Volunteer invited to meet Bush By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune A longtime volunteer for Dogs for the Deaf in Central Point will meet President George W. Bush when he arrives at the Medford airport Thursday. Lois Rodger, 76, of Central Point was selected by White House staff members Tuesday to exemplify the president’s commitment to national volunteer service. "I thought that was pretty good. I canceled my bowling," said Rodger, who passed two telephone interviews to gain the honor. Plans call for Rodger to meet Bush at the bottom of the stairs leading from Air Force One, on the tarmac at the Medford airport. "I’m supposed to stand to the right," she said, adding that White House staffers promised her a picture with the president. Advertisement Rodger, who has volunteered for Dogs for the Deaf since 1998, shows up every Wednesday to work in the nonprofit agency’s office. She sometimes works in the kennels helping to exercise and socialize dogs trained to help people with hearing disorders and other special needs. She also volunteers for the vestry at St. Andrews Anglican Church in Jacksonville. A White House staff member chose Dogs for the Deaf from a list of local nonprofits on the Medford chamber Web site, said Judi Rubert, personnel coordinator for the agency. "They went onto our Web site and they liked it, so they called us," Rubert said. "It’s just kind of the luck of the draw; we’re excited." Rubert hoped the president’s attention would spur more local residents to volunteer. Since March 2002, Bush has met with more than 300 volunteers like Rodger, according to a White House statement. He has called on all Americans to volunteer two years or 4,000 hours of service during their lifetimes and he created the USA Freedom Corps to foster such initiative. Rodger said she and her husband, David Rodger, 77, have volunteered in one capacity or another most of their lives. They signed up with Dogs for the Deaf after moving to the Rogue Valley from San Leandro, Calif. But the former manager for a construction office said she never thought volunteer service would lead to a meeting with the president. Rodger said she’s a registered Republican who supports Bush, but she added that no one from the White House ever asked. "That did not enter into it. They’ve kept it totally non-partisan as far as I’m concerned," she said. Rodger spent much of Tuesday afternoon conducting media interviews about the high-profile meeting. She said she doesn’t anticipate any pre-presidential jitters. "It’s interesting," she said. "But I’m not ga-ga about it." For information about the USA Freedom Corps, visit www.usafreedomcorps.gov or call 1-877-USA-CORPS. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities