ROTARY RAMBLINGS 4-15-08

[Ellie Lowery]

Ramblings by Ellie 
  _____  


ROTARY RAMBLINGS

ROTARY CLUB OF DELRAY BEACH

 

April 15, 2008

 

 

Today was a beautiful spring day in Delray Beach. (I think I overheard some
of the snowbirds trying to decide whether to stay a while longer, or not.)
This was another banner day for the club; President Kurt Godfrey installed
three new members.  The newest members are Lori Garland (banking), Steve
Butera (banking), and Corbin Hankey (Developer).  These three people are a
real asset to our club; we look forward to working with them on many
upcoming projects.

 

After opening the meeting, President Kurt Godfrey called Bruce Williams to
the podium to offer our invocation.  (It looks like this man is
multi-talented.)

 

Sam Altdoerffer led the singing, in the absence of Jumpin' Jim Weatherspoon.
(Good job, Sam.)  We sang Happy Anniversary to Jim Pignato; he and Frances
are celebrating their 62nd anniversary.  What a record; congratulations to
both of you.  Jim also donated $50.00, an apology for not being able to work
the Delray Affair this year.  (How many more of you are out there????)  

 

Nick Loeb filled in for an absentee Harvey Brown, working the crowd for
applause.  He welcomed two visiting Rotarians and a number of visitors,
including Sam Altdoerffer's friend Larry.  Tom Cook was thanked for doing
six make ups.

 

Nancy King is back!  We were all so pleased to have Nancy visit with us
today, looking great.  Nancy, we hope you can come often.

 

"Double-duty" Fred Bonardi first gave us the stock report, stating the
stocks were quiet today.  The DOW was down 4 points; NASDAQ down 1 point;
S&P down 1 point.  Oil is $113.75, and Gold is $932.00 today. Another
interest cut is predicted this coming week. 

Fred, serving as Sergeant at Arms, collected $203.00 for the club,
highlighting the Scholastic Scholarship Awards, founded by Cliff Ripley.
Tonight is the awards banquet, featuring some of the top students in the
county, treating them to a banquet at The Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach.  

 

 Dale Cochran tended the green hat today, stating we have $491.50+ in
winnings.  Kurt failed to draw the Ace.  

 

BINGO!  Thursday, April 17, 6:00 p.m. Ellie's Flamingo Room.  Donation is
$50.00.  (This includes dinner buffet, one drink and one Bingo card.)  There
will be many nice raffle prizes as well.  If you have not signed up for
this, it is not too late to contact Sue Miller at 251-7513.  Harvey Brown
will be emcee, accompanied by Mark Denkler, calling the Bingo numbers.  It
is always a fun, fun evening.  

 

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT, APRIL 26- Mike Campbell has asked us to meet
the challenge of the Boca Rotary Club, to help build a home at 303 S. W.
Second Street, Delray Beach.  The Boca Club has 28 people signed up for the
morning shift, then dinner at noon, for both clubs.  Our club will have the
1-5 p.m shift.  Come on, let's not let Mike down, he's one of us!

 

In June 2007, the Delray Beach Sister Cities Committee sent its fifth
Student Exchange delegation to its Sister City affiliate, Miyazu, Japan.
The purpose of the Exchange Program is to promote mutual friendship and
understanding through shared experiences.  Today, we had the pleasure of
meeting this delegation.

 

Steve Bates introduced Tony Durante, one of our speakers, who in turn
introduced four students from Atlantic High School, who were part of a
seven- member team of students that had the pleasure of being chosen as
ambassadors to our Sister City, Miyazu, Japan.  The four students were
Joanna Luo, Jake Gittelmacher, Alice Wang and Whittaker Bullard.  They had a
slide show of their visit; some included attending school with Japanese
students. They told us that at the end of each day, the students clean their
classrooms, a respect for their school and a custom of their religion. They
lodged in host homes, with students their ages.  All the pictures reflected
happiness, friendliness and a real bonding.  

 

Today, each student told us some of the highlights of their trip.  Joann Luo
was very surprised at how westernized her host family's home was.  She
explained the hand signs of peace shown in many of the photos, as a symbol
of "Happiness."

 

Jake Gittelmacher enjoyed the dinner table "cross-culture" experience. They
sat for hours, enjoying swapping cultures.  There were three boys in his
host family.  The pictures reflect many good times.

 

Alice Wang stated, "The big yellow bus is strictly American!"  The Japanese
students walked, rode public buses, or mostly rode bicycles to school.  She
noted that bicycling is their most commonly used form of transportation.  

 

Whittaker Bullard elaborated on the cuisine.  He ate sushi once, but had
lots of fish, eggs, rice....and no idea of what some of it was.  

 

All the students agreed their experience was learning common interests with
the Japanese youth.  Language was not the barrier- culture was the biggest
barrier.  One stated, even though they were from opposite ends of the Earth,
they all have the same dream!

 

Nancy King, Human Resources Consultant/Communications Director with the City
of Delray Beach had the pleasure of going on this trip with the students, as
well as teacher chaperone Tony Durante.  Today, Atlantic High School
Guidance Counselor, Kelly Bruce, accompanied them.

 

Delray Beach, Florida also has another Sister City, Moshi, Tanzania, East
Africa.  This is another good topic for future Rotary programs.

 

Next week we will honor our Student and Teacher of the Month.  Our speaker
will be Elizabeth Lugo, an executive at Mae Volen, a senior program.  

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