Rotary Ramblings February 10, 2009

[SUSAN MILLER]

Rotary Ramblings –February 10, 2009
 
We were entertained by our own Bruce Williams.  The invocation was given by Ernie Simon and Sam
Aldorffer led us in “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and “R.O.T.A.R.Y.”  There were no birthdays but we sang Happy
Anniversary to Mike Campbell.
 
Harvey Brown introduced our numerous visiting Rotarians:  Harold Lipvoski from Berrington, IL; John
Ahern from Excelsior, MN; Terry Banergy from Framingham, MA; Alan Miller of
Carrollton, OH; Bob Brickman of South Haven, MI; Bob Johnson of Oxford, OH;
Bill Karate of Bronson, MI; Bob Freedman and Lee Siegal of Livingston Manor,
NY; Jay Ackerman from St. Clair, MI; and Don Gingrus from Boundary, VT and
Canada.  
 
Don was presented with a banner by Kate Handley.  He indicated the club is actually in Canada and the 20 members are half from Canada and half from Vermont.   The club was chartered in 1935.
Bob Freedman and Lee Segal presented a banner to and
received a banner from President Steve.  Their club was chartered in 1954.  Lee is a charter member.  They do
a lot of youth projects including an ice carnival.  Their town is approximately 2,000 people, and
the club is comprised of 25 members.
Jay Ackerman presented President Steve with a banner.  Jay’s club is on the St. Clair River coming
out of Lake Heron.  They have 75 members are raise approximately $30,000.  They do projects for senior citizens and have
built a park in the marina.  They are now
raising funds for a skateboard park for the kids.
Dave Harden and Pat Robinson made up at Delray Beach
Sunrise, and Alan Kornblau made up online twice.  The student and teacher of the month were
visiting and the student’s mom, Yan Gu.  
 
Stock Report – No Fred Bonardi; however, President Steve
announced an hour and half ago the market was on he upswing.
 
Sergeant-at-arms report – Roy Simon raised $132.00 from
various sources including Mike Campbell’s anniversary and a very generous
donation from Kate Handley because she has been working so much she has missed
Rotary meetings.  
 
SAVE THE DATES:
3/7 – Paint up Delray – 8:00-12:00noon.  Lots of fun.  Sign up sheet is in lobby.  We
still need another eight volunteers to fill out our team.
3/19 – Bingo – Sue Miller announced that the calling team of
Brown and Denker has agreed to MC the event.  Donations of auction items are needed.  If you have a business, please donate something.  If you do not have a retail type business,
please obtain a donation from a business or restaurant you frequent or purchase
a gift basket to donate.  We need this to
be a successful fundraiser since the Holiday Party was not.  Location:  Ellie’s - Time:  6pm-10pm - $50
includes dinner, 1 drink, 1 Bingo card.  Additional cards available for purchase for $5.00 each.  Signup sheet will be in the lobby starting
next week.
3/26 – Achievement Center for Children and
Families.  Reading to the children and helping with
homework– shifts are 8am-9am; 9am-10am and 3pm-4pm.  Please let Bob Teninga know what shift you
want to help.  
3/28 – Habitat for Humanity – Rotary Day – 8am-1pm.  Please come out and help Mike Campbell with
Rotary spirit.
4/17-4/19 – Delray Affair.  Time to sell Rotary dogs and other delicacies.  Signups will be circulating as it gets
closer.
 
Souperbowl of Caring raised $540.  Thank you for your support again this
year.  The Caring Kitchen will be very
glad to get it.
Pen Pal project is ready to go.  Dave O’Connell’s daughter has the 4th grade classes ready to write to the 4th graders in Buenos Aires as soon as they return from
their “summer break”.  Christina
Dombrowsky is spearheading this project.
Candace Etzler is still collecting new children’s books for
kindergarten thru 5th grade aged children to be donated to Pine
Grove Elementary (one of the schools we deliver dictionaries to).  They are starting a birthday club as many of
their students do not get anything on their birthday.  They are collecting the books so they get
something.  We are collecting these books
at the club.  So when you are shopping,
pick up a couple of books for needy kids.  Not only will you be providing them with a birthday gift, but also will
be helping them to love reading.  Literacy is one of the top focuses for Rotary International.  We are working with David Cook at Hand’s in
Delray to try to obtain books at a discount, so feel free to make a monetary
donation if you would prefer.
 
Sue Miller introduced the student of the month, Shelly Jin,
who has an extensive resume of accomplishments.  In her free time, she plays piano and is a black belt in karate.  She has early acceptance to MIT and Cal Tech.  She is looking to major in engineering and
business or economics or maybe medicine.  She talked about the great experience she has had at Atlantic High with
the students and the teachers.  She took
physics with her teacher of the month, Chris Perry, in the summer before she
started high school and has been taking physics ever since, and she is the
valedictorian of her graduating class.   Chris Perry has been teaching for 19 years 17 of which have been at
Atlantic High.  He teaches physics
including during the summer.
 
President Steve introduced the District Governor Elect, our
own Leo Phillips who share a bit about the training conference he attended in California from 1/17 to
1/25.  The incoming international
president’s theme is “The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands”, and his focus is
on 1) Literacy, 2) Water (20% of the world lacks access to safe clean drinking
water; every 8 seconds a child dies due to preventable diseases borne from poor
water, and 3) Health and Hunger – preventable diseases and famine (852 million
people suffer from malnutrition.  Leo
talked about the status of the polio plus challenge issued by the Bill Gates
Foundation.  Currently Rotarians have
raised $72 million of the $100 million challenge with Canada and
other countries contributing additional amounts bringing the total to $280
million.  The Gates Foundation made an
additional $250 million grant with the understanding that Rotarians need to
raise an additional $100 million by 2012.  Our district ranks fourth in capital giving to the foundation.  Leo will continue to ask the President Elects
to support Rotary Foundation.  GSE Team
next year is from Western Seoul and will be
here from 4/2/10-5/3/10 with the outgoing team from 6930 being gone from
3/10-4/19/10.    Membership will continue
to be a focus for the upcoming year.  Need to be more proactive in recruiting and retaining members.  Need more women and more diversity.  We all need to look at sponsoring one new
member each year.  Leo indicated he will
be putting emphasis on professional ethics.  Rotary is not our job.  Our
priorities should be God, our families, our real job and Rotary.  The leadership Leo has in place includes
Membership-Betsy Owen; Assistant Governor-Nancy Owens; Paul Harris
Fellowship-Marty Phillips and Publicity-Craig Hammett.
 
The green hat contained $128.50, but Bill Talen did not pull
the winning card.
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