Scituate Rotary - Member News

(Note: For anyone who would like to see President Suzanne's PowerPoint presentation " A Mid-Year Review", please click here. This presentation is in pdf format and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to be installed on your computer.)

Club News for January 31, 2007

Attendance: President Suzanne, Dietrich, Janice, Bill and Joyce Coulter, Candace, Eric, Walter, Beatriz, Mike, Alden, Bart, Bob Price, Judy, Janet, Donn and Carol Sladen, Lisa and David Tompson and as usual “visiting” Rotarian Lew Burridge. He should be reckoned as one of us, but he has not yet been officially transferred from Middletown, Vermont .

January 31st – last day for Bermuda cheap registration but not the last day to register! There is going to be a charter flight out of Providence , RI if they get 100 people to sign up. Now they tell me! Apps at rotary7950.com.

The SAR rang the bell and the meeting began without our Pres. Following the salute to our flag and an invocation by Deacon Bea, Suzanne arrived and told us about mothering a Marine. We are all thankful that Colin is willing to protect us and sympathetic that his mother has to listen to the trials of training – which are not insignificant!

Happy and Sad Bucks raised lots of money this week, which is good as we rarely have time to share this way anymore, it seems. And with Dietrich fining and me selling coffee we netted some $56. Twenty of that was from the coffee and was put into the Foundation. President Suzanne was insistent that the speakers stand and the rest of us listen to what was being said. It made for more fellowship.

Alden and Beatrice survived 24 hr. and 7 day flu’s. Chris and Judy were again applauded for their phonebook efforts and labors. Janice Brown was back after finishing her course. We missed you, Janice. Lisa was congratulated for customizing the application for the Jared FitzGerald scholarships that are awarded each year to SHS students. We give 3 two thousand dollar scholarships to graduates. This is something that we have been trying to do since I was President in 2003. Some things just take time…Thanks so much, Lisa.

Dietrich has been filling in as SAR for Jim McInnis, who is taking a course to attain a Captain’s license on Wednesday evenings. This task will pass on to Lisa for the evening meetings for the month of February. Jim can do the lunch meeting when Lisa cannot. Thank you, Lisa and Dietrich, for your enthusiastic participation. Lisa, busy girl that she is, has also represented us at the DARE graduation last week. (Bart, be sure to amend your attendance records.) Many of us have done so over the years and it is important that we continue to be represented at these graduations. We are appreciated and Officer Dom makes quite a fuss over us every time – whether he knows we are present or not.

Last week it was decided that the newsletter would be done weekly by 4 regular volunteers and 1 alternate. Janet – week 1, Sandy – week 2, Dietrich – week 3, and Bart week 4. Candace will do week 5 when there is one and will try to help if needed other times. Beatrice was EXTREMELY disappointed to miss out on this important division of labor so Bart immediately and ever so gallantly stepped aside to allow her to have his week. Beatrice really prefers to do three months at a time but the rest of us are wimps. (It can all be negotiated, Beatrice. You know who the players are now.) {This does not explain why I am writing this newsletter. The why is best left alone…It just is.}

Another decision of last week was that all would SIGN IN at the door where you will also find your name badge to avoid fines. Speaking of fines and name badges, Eric, your badge has been ordered. The sign in exercise makes us each responsible for our attendance and does not put the burden on the secretary each week and leave the sec. without the information if (s)he is absent. Attendance MUST be reported to the District and RI every month. Attendance reporting is just a rule that must be obeyed to keep a charter. This exercise should help Bart.

President Suzanne reminded us that we are to turn in our suggestions for community service projects to Joe Kelley. I am suggesting that we participate by showing up at The kids tent at the SS Art’s Festival as well as funding it. This is great PR and a great gift to the kids of our neighborhoods. If you care, this is your moment! Put it in writing and give it to Suzanne or Joe, NOW.

Next week we will have our annual report from Rep. Frank Hynes and a few minutes from Eagle Scout candidate, Jason Foote (Eric’s son) to present his project to us – the Michael J. Kelley Freedom Trail. It is proposed that we participate in the District’s “Service Above Self” day on March 10th by working on this trail with Jason. All were in agreement last week. I hope it is warmer…burrrrrrrr

After “the flexible rotary club” ate pizza on paper plates, our jazz man, Bill told us a bit about Jazz and then had us tapping the table and floor with a selection of songs on the piano. Apparently it used to be ‘Jass’ but early graffiti erased the J and what was left was problematic. So, it is Jazz! And it comes originally from New Orleans where no soloists play and now Chicago style where soloists each get a chorus of their own. Jazz bands are made up of 3 melody instruments (trombone, trumpet and clarinet) and 4 rhythm instruments (banjo, drum, bass violin, and tuba). The first verse is always recognizable and the 2nd 3rd and 4th are solo’s of the melody instruments improvising the melody as they please. There is NO music to be read in Jazz. It just happens – flowing from the musician’s heart and hands. Bill played on a piano – the rhythm with his left hand and the solos with his right. Amazing, really. Thanks so much, Bill.

A little bird told me that 3 wheelchairs were paid for by members last night. I saw another put the application in his pocket. No one said a word. It just kinda happened. Don’t you just love Rotary!

I think that covers it all.

As I have week 1, you will hear from me again next week. Have a good one!

Leading the way,
Janet
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ROTARY 1-24-2007

Attendance was as follows: President Suzanne, Dietrich, Bill, Eric, Walter, Bermuda Mike, Joe, Alden, Bart, Bob Price, Judy, Christine, Bob Schipul, Sandi, Janet, Ben and Lewis Burridge.

President Suzanne Kavanagh presented a superb Mid-Year Review via PowerPoint highlights and insightful photo ops of Rotary outreach projects. (Click here to Suzanne's presentation in pdf format. You need Acrobat Reader to view this presentation. )

Bermuda Mike gave a personal invitation for all members to join him, Suzanne, Bart and Janet to the District Conference in Bermuda on May 10-13. He also offered an incentive of leading his club members on a special snorkel event!

Joe Kelley, our newly appointed Service Projects Coordinator, informed us that the club distribution for this year will be divided among the following:

Bike Rack Installation Rotary Foundation

Interact Club Donation to St. Mary's

Scituate Food Pantry Scholarships

Rwanda Containers Wisconsin Training Conference

He noted that our club should begin a new tradition of allotting a portion of our yearly funds to be retained to the incoming President for providing a vehicle to use at the beginning of his term until the new fund raisers bring in a reserve.

Joe reminded us that we must be sure to designate any remaining club finds before the end of May.

He also informed us that March 10^th is the District's Service Above Self Day, when 100 clubs participate in community service projects. It was suggested by the floor that we should make a commitment to this with the possibility of working with Jason Foote and his Eagle Scout Project of preparing the initial walkway for the Sgt. Michael J. Kelley Memorial Freedom Trail. It was further suggested that we also invite the Interact Club to join us.

The Wheelchair Foundation sent a beautiful certificate addressed to the Scituate Rotary Club thanking Bob Price for his generous gift of hope, mobility and freedom to a very deserving recipient.

Bart and Janet invited 6 more Rotarians to join them for the Holbrook Rotary Dinner-Dance on Sun. Feb. 11. He told us to remember the Memorial Service for Charter Member Art Kern will be held at the Congregational Church on Sat. Jan. 27.

Submitted in the spirit of Rotary,

Sandra Schipul

Present were Bart, Janet, Jean (Janet’s guest), Michael, Dietrich, Candace, Lou, Ben, Walter, Beatrice, Jim, Suzanne, Dolores (Suzanne’s guest), Bob S., Sandi, Jane (Sandi’s guest) and Donna. Featured guests: Mr. Al Bangert, Scituate Ombudsman and Elisabeth Von Trapp, recording artist.

Lou led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Following lunch, Mr. Bangert, the Scituate Ombudsman, gave an interesting talk about the coming South Shore commuter rail. He provided information regarding the planned rail service, such as:

· Frequency: 12 trips each way during the week and 8 round trips on the weekend

· Stops: Greenbush, No. Scituate , Cohasset, Nantasket Junction, West Hingham , etc.

· Ride length/comfort: 60 minutes from Greenbush to South Station; seats and some tables; equipped with restrooms.

· Status: Testing of track work and signals to begin shortly. Start training crews in April or May. Perhaps start of service in September.

Mr. Bangert then spoke about the construction status. He noted that the tracks are done, except for final alignment and fencing, and that the signals are being installed and tested. However, a big “To Do List” still remains for items such as completing the station platforms and surrounding sidewalks and parking lots. In addition, some major road modifications still need to be completed. He noted that all of this construction will begin in the spring!

Mr. Bangert then opened the floor for questions. A number of questions followed regarding the planned service, parking capacity, planned sidewalks, the roundabout and train engine noise.

In closing, Mr. Bangert noted that he is available every Thursday at 10 a.m. at Mary Lou’s in North Scituate to answer questions regarding the rail. He also noted that any specific concerns over items such as the need for additional sidewalks, etc., should be communicated to the Scituate Selectmen.

Ms. Elisabeth Von Trapp then performed for the group, singing a number of wonderful songs and playing her guitar. It was definitely a treat and the perfect way to end another interesting and engaging Rotary meeting.

A motion was made by Janet to end the meeting. It was seconded by Walter. The meeting adjourned.

Present were Alden, Bill, Bob Schipul and Sandy, Bart and Janet, Donn and Carol, Dietrich, Lisa, Suzanne, Beatrice, Chris, Ben, Karen and Joe. In addition we had the pleasure to host two guest, Richard Hoehn and Roy Manns, both from Marshfield

A big thanks to Alden, who started us off into the new year with a history overview of the Rotary Club of Scituate. Providing for every member a booklet documenting the first 25 years of the Rotary Club of Scituate, Alden looked back at a club that since inception had shown the characteristics of an active club, addressing needs that it saw in the community and internationally. It was great to see Alden as a forty (something) year old Rotarian, showing the same presence that he still demands today. Too bad, that at that time Rotary was a men only club which deprives us of any pictures that would have shown his lovely wife Connie at his side. Thank you Alden, for a wonderful presentation.

Bart in his function as Secretary informed members to mark the following dates in the calendar: Tomorrow Wednesday January 17, 1800 : South Shore Council Roast Sirloin Dinner in the Neighborhood Club of Quincy. $30 pp.

Saturday January 27, 1100 : Memorial Service for our Charter Member Art Kern in the Congregational Church on Country Way .

Saturday January 27, 1830 : Winter Night Gala of South Shore Habitat for Humanity in the Barker Tavern. $100 pp, silent auction. Black tie.

Friday February 2, 1930 : North River Arts Society Annual Members Show (Gala party) G.A.R.Hall, 157 Old Main Street , Marshfield Hills.

Saturday March 24, 1900: Cambodia Evening in support of the Angkor Hospital for Children, Johnson & Wales Hospitality Center, Seekonk, MA.

Monday April 16, 1900 : Youth Exchange International Night of our District, at White’s in Westport , MA .

Friday May 18, 1900 : Weymouth Rotary Club annual Car Raffle at the Weymouth Lodge of Elks. $100 per ticket, only 700 sold for a BMW 328i Sedan .