Scituate Rotary - Member News

Rotary Minutes 4-25-2007

Vice President Michael Johnson welcomed guests Jean Schmitz, Janet’s mother and Dave Isbrandt. Lew Burridge, our newly appointed Rotarian, led us in the opening pledge.

Bart shared a thank you from Scituate resident Claudine Beale who was very grateful for our support during a recent house fire. Donna Green also wrote to let us know how much she appreciated the generous Rotary gift in 2006.

It was noted that we should all be present on Wed. May 16 for the President’s Night at South Shore Country Club to support the incoming and outgoing Rotary Presidents. It is a great opportunity to fellowship with other Rotarians in our district. Perhaps we will find out who we are sharing our Service above Self award with as the Salmon Catch was to be divided up three ways among the clubs who drew a three-way tie.

On behalf of the International Service Committee, Bob raised up awareness for Kenya projects. He proposed that our club could support the combined requests of Dr. Dennis Snyder, Dave Isbrandt and Dan Schmeltzer. Dave asked that anyone who has old eyeglasses to save them and bring them to upcoming meetings where they will be collected and given to him to take to Kenya.

All attention was turned to our speaker, Craig MacDonald, superintendent of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. He clarified that he does not represent a financial institution, but an underwater ecosystem! So we donned 3-D glasses to probe the miracles of this national treasure that lies right in our own back yard – in Scituate Harbor. It happens to be an astounding marine bank that stretches to encompass our harbor, and then extends north to Cape Ann and south to Provincetown. Even though Stellwagen Bank was designated a national sanctuary in 1992, this marine ledge was created 14,000 years ago when the Ice Age glaciers transformed the area from a mountain ridge into an underwater bank. Now whales swim where mastodons once roamed!

This local phenomenon is the size of Rhode Island, plunging to depths of 600 feet and is a haven for sea mammals, including the nearly extinct right whale and had been the habitat of the now extinct Auk, a penguin-like bird, whose ranks ran in the millions and mysteriously disappeared around the time of George Washington’s presidency. Also 72 species of fish live here including cod, mackerel, haddock, herring, flounder and pollock. Included in the depths are the remains of 18 sunken vessels which are still being discovered and their treasures studied.

The issue that Craig brings to us is the imminent danger to the ecology of the bank by commercial vessel paths and deep floor net dragging of the fishing industries. We were all moved by his fascinating and informative presentation, and hope to be of support.

Yours in Rotary,

Sandra

NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL 4TH, 2007

Attendance: Walter, Janet, Bart, Dietrich, Judy, Jim, Bill, Alden, Ben, Chris, Kelleys, Schipuls, Lew.

Ben did the invocation and Jim the Pledge.

I have been VERY busy since we met and luckily we are NOT meeting tonight. Why? you may ask…but the answer is quite vague. We just are not. If you want to help get the phonebooks out to the advertisers come to my house at 6:30 then we will move on to PJ’s for some fellowship and food.

The Board of Directors met and the meeting was a Club Night to review where we are and where we need to be, etc. The financial report was given by Bart and totals of the fund raisers are available on our “members only” site. There is currently a large amount in our “emergency fund” and the funds given out were listed including TRF Centennial Project (bike rack), food pantry, a senior’s hearing aid, the Wheelchair Foundation and the Interact Club among others.

Chris discussed the process of the Phonebook and evaluated our efforts. She identified many positions needed to do this job efficiently and effectively. It is not a 1, 2, 3, or even 6 “man” show. But we do need ONE chairperson. The task WILL be divided up so no one has to do what Chris did this year or I did other years. We have a great plan but want a new leader. You will not be alone or without great support in the endeavor. Please consider stepping up. Otherwise you MUST consider becoming a club officer!

The next phonebook will be delivered for the end of March 2008 with a Christmas/end of year cut off for all sales. This year’s book needs an article in the Mariner. Is anyone willing to write one? Ben? We need to communicate that it is out there, that it looks new and improved, and that it is a great resource to the community and a great place to advertise for the businesses in town and nearby. A thank you to the advertisers is also a good idea as well as encouragement to use the businesses therein (and let them know where you saw them…). Blah, blah, blah…sorry.

A phonebook committee will meet soon. Please let Chris or Janet know if you are willing to serve in some capacity (to be determined).

Ben won the draw but the queen eluded him. It was great to have Jim back shuffling the cards.

President Suzanne announced that the Scituate Rotary Club is #1 in the District for per capital contributions to TRF (the Rotary Foundation). It helps that 10% of our members are Paul Harris Society members. Speaking of which, Bart has gotten 17 more people to join the society this month. Well done, Bart!

IMPORTANT DATES:
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT is Monday the 16th. Registration was required. If you really want to go, call Janet.
DISTRICT DAY is April 21st. This is the local District Conference and registration is required by this Sunday, the 15th!!! Go to Rotary 7950.com for details. Or call Janet on her cell (781.635.0273). The cost drops from 125 to $100 pp if 4 or more of us go. Needless to say, Bart and I HAVE to go so if 2 more of you join us we save $50 and you save too. Lots of awards will be given out at dinner that night. The business meeting is in the morning and lunch also promises to be entertaining. If you have never joined a District event, this is a fun one.

APRIL 16TH is President’s Dinner at the South Shore Council. $25, pre-registration required. Call Walter for details.

4/30 NYC fundraiser for Friends without Borders/Ankor hospital for children, $300.

6/25 Golf Tournament fundraiser for MMFC. Call Dennis for details.

MEMBERSHIP & RETENTION COMMITTEE met over concerns for generally un-encouraging attendance at weekly meetings. Our new bye laws allow for this poor showing but some missing members are not engaged in related activities and require some follow up. Some times just a phone call helps. We need to consider who we are concerned about, what we should do and what we can do to improve the attendance and participation level of members. Right now we most miss Beatrice, Mary Ann and Jack Borror. We have heard, “I don’t feel like I am contributing,” and “it is not inexpensive to be a Rotarian,” and “there is little communication about programs.” The expense certainly should have been visible before commitment. The programs are very visible on the website. And it is up to us to encourage participation. The true beauty of Rotary is that there is something for everyone! Bill will help communicate this in his Rotary Minute each week in the coming meetings.

The District is looking for corporate sponsors for the District Conference program. If you have a business that would benefit by advertising to and audience of the southeastern part of MA. and Rhode Island, please let the District Governor know ASAP. If you do not know how to find her, call me.

I have to stop so not too many of you show up at the country club this evening…

Yours in Rotary,
Janet