Scituate Rotary - Member News

It was solemn and reverent. It was delicious and friendly. It was wacky and jazzy. It was all of the above and more.

There were those who claimed it was the best Christmas party in the history of the club. And it all happened Wednesday night when the beautifully-decorated Scituate Country Club became the venue for the annual Christmas party of the Scituate Rotary Club.

Upwards of 40 members, spouses, guests and significant others treated themselves to a happy hour where everyone was happy whether they had soda water or scotch. This was mixed with spiffy hors d'oeuvres including scallops in bacon, stuffed mushrooms and lots of cheese and crackers

The festivities broke into a solemn note with a moment of silence in memory of the recently deceased Art Kern, a well-loved charter member of the club. The Rev. Bob Schipul gave his usual thoughtful invocation.

President Suzanne Kavanagh gave a warm welcome and both Mary Jenkins and Maryann Cohan presented information on two worthy causes.

Then came a scrumptious dinner consisting of chicken picatta, rice pilaf and a vegetable medley, followed by a pallet-tingling apple crisp dessert and all the coffee or tea you could swallow.

Chairman Bill Coulter introduced his committee: Deacon Beatrice Hurwitch and Mary Jenkins and praised them for the job they did preparing for the occasion. He also praised Santa Claus (Joe Kelly) for his role at the recent Cushing School party at Barker Tavern.

Then he brought out Maureen Gill, country club manager of preparations and chief Jeff Adams and presented them with gifts on behalf of the club for their most important roles. All of the above were greeted with thunderous applause in appreciation.

Bill and his brother Jim solved the mystery of Bill's email "Koko-ton-yah" by singing the Japanese love song from whence the phrase came and all done in Japanese more or less!!!. Then with Bill on piano and Jim on trumpet the brothers tried to rock the place off its foundations with some dixieland jazz for both listening, clapping and dancing. Many listened. lots clapped and some danced !!! Bart and Janet got perfect tens.

The grand finale came when Mary Jenkins' strummed her guitar to lead us in singing some wonderful Christmas carols many of us were brought up with. The lights were dimmed as we sang "Silent Night" and concluded on a joyful note with "Joy to the World".

Bill Coulter

Attendance: President Suzanne Kavanagh, Judy Rego, Mary Jenkins, Donn Sladen, Walter Heller, Ben Summer, Candace Cramer, Mike Johnson, Rev. Robert Schipul, Joseph Kelley, Lisa Thompson, Bill Coulter, Alden Mitchell, Janet Nuboer, Bart Nuboer, Chris Ryan, Beatrice

President Suzanne Kavanagh opened the meeting and asked Mary Jenkins to lead us in the Pledge, and Rev. Schipul in the Invocation.

Chris Ryan gave us the good news first, we have made $37021.25 on the incoming ads so far. The bad news is that we need to make over $40000, just to break even. She said we have to concentrate on getting new ads, and that we are lacking 90 renewal ads, therefore we have extended the deadline. Ideas were shared as to how to be more effective and productive with the Phone Book next year. It is unfortunate that this year, for whatever reason, we started rather late on the Phone Book.

Chris, who is an excellent organizer, and encourages everyone to help in this project, in whatever capacity they can.

Suzanne Kavanagh asked Lisa Thompson for an update on where we are as far as promotions and press releases, and also asked Mary Jenkins to follow up on that.

Rev. Schipul gave us an update on the preparations for the Elizabeth Von Trapp Concert. Next Sunday tickets will be offered at St. Mary's. As a matter of fact, all churches have been contacted to display posters and sell tickets.

November 9th was The Paul Harris Foundation Dinner in Swansea, Mass. Our Club was well represented.

Attendance: Mike Johnson, Rev. Schipul, Joseph Kelley, Janet Nuboer, Lisa Thompson, Bill Coulter, Dietrich Bilger, Bob Price, Bart Nuboer, Jim McInnis, Ben Summer, Louise Burridge, Judy Rego, Mary Jenkins, Chris Ryan, Donn Sladen, Alden Mitchell, Beatrice H.

The President Elect, Mike Johnson, presided the meeting in the absence of President Suzanne Kavanagh, who is away on a business trip.

Chris Ryan gave us an update on the progress of the Scituate Rotary Phone Book, our main fundraiser for the year, and said we have to call those who have not yet sent in their ads and that we definitely need more new ads if we are going to be successful with this project. She also said that next year we have to start earlier to promote the phone book.

Rev. Robert Schipul also gave us an update on how the preparations for the Elizabeth Von Trapp Christmas Concert is going, which will be held at St. Mary's Church in Scituate on the day after Thanksgiving, November 24th. Next Sunday, tickets will be available for those who wish to purchase them.