ROTARY RAMBLINGS 1-8-08

[Ellie Lowery]

First Ramblings of 2008, by Ellie 
  _____  


ROTARY RAMBLINGS

ROTARY CLUB OF DELRAY BEACH

 

January 8, 2008        

 

A new year has arrived; let us all strive to be better Rotarians!  Let us
live the four-way test daily; practice "Service Above Self!"

 

Big News! Cliff Ripley won the BIG green hat winnings of $2,208.00, with
only six cards left in the deck.  He graciously donated half of it back to
our Scholastic Scholarship Fund.  Cliff, you can now take Madeleine to
dinner!

 

More Big News!  Go to our website: Rotary Club of Delray Beach, then click
on "Photo Gallery."  Our fine webmaster, Jim Blocker, has set up a photo
gallery for our website.  Kurt Godfrey can download weekly pictures directly
to the site for your viewing pleasure.  Jim, we thank you once again for
your expertise.

 

President Kurt Godfrey led our first meeting of the year.  Dave Richards
gave the invocation.  Then, "Jumpin' Jimmy" stepped to the podium and led us
in song; keeping the music lively.  Bruce Williams paid tribute to
"Dixieland" with his renditions.  At this time, it is my pleasure to
announce that Tony Allerton has procured another piano for our club, since
Bruce Williams announced that our old one is about to "bite the dust!"
Tony, we thank you for your efforts, and are looking forward to hearing the
new one.

 

Harvey Brown worked his way through the crowd to welcome five visiting
Rotarians, as well as visitor Don Learch.  Tom Cook brought in his make ups.


 

Fred Bonardi announced the market is down; gold is at $877.00; oil is down
(a joke) to $96.50 a barrel.  

 

Sergeant at Arms Ernie Simon gathered in a total of $107.00.  Dr. Gay Vela
gave a banner to Steve Everhardt of Bristol TN/VA.  (For those of you that
are unaware, this little town is half in TN and half in VA.)

 

President Godfrey commented on how overwhelmed the "Adopt-A-Family" was at
our club's generosity, showering them with a wonderful "Christmas to
Remember."  He also mentioned that Ms. Bodner, our big $4,000.00 winner of
the Rotary Raffle, donated $400.00 back to our club.  She is an employee in
Jim Pignato's office.  

 

Bob Teninga is looking for volunteers to help once a month with our program
of reading and doing crafts with the children at the Achievement Center.  If
you can read, or if you can hold a paintbrush, you are a good candidate.
Please see Bob for volunteering.

 

President Godfrey inducted two new members into our club, Ira Fine, owner of
General Rental in Boynton/Lantana, and Delray Beach Fire Chief David James.


 

Vison is back from Thailand, bringing us his pleasant smile; welcome "home!"

 

Attorney Tom Stanley was our guest speaker, introduced by his amiable
assistant for the day, Harvey Brown.  

 

Tom spoke on "Water Management."  He explained the hydrology of Lake
Okeechobee (Big Lake, named by the Indians).  At the present time, the lake
is about 9-10 feet deep, but should be about 12-16 feet.  It covers 500
square miles, but should cover 700 square miles.  He had slides explaining
the natural water flow, where the aquifers are located, etc.  He mentioned
the water restoration projects throughout, and the 234 million dollar
project being conducted in PB County.  Boca Raton has the largest
desalination plant in the western hemisphere; it is coal powered.  

 

The city of Delray Beach has issued a media release indicating our water
restrictions/use.  One day a week watering begins January 15, 2008!  For the
first time in the agency's history, the South Florida Water Management
District has declared an extreme District-wide water shortage, directly
affecting more than five million South Florida residents and thousands of
farms and businesses.  This is very serious folks!

 

Tom, since you barely had time to "scratch the surface," I hope, in the near
future, you can elaborate more on this issue. Thank you for your informative
report.

 

Rotary shirt orders will be taken next week!

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