Scituate Rotary - Member News

Attendance: The following members were NOT present at our club meeting: Jack Borror, Janice Brown, Maryann Cohan, Candace Cramer, Eric Foote, Beatriz Hurwitch, Mary Jenkins, Michael Johnson, Loic Meston, Donna Nuzzo - Müller, Bob Price, Donn Sladen and Dennis Snyder. Our guests were speaker Paul Grueter together with members of the South Shore Astronomical Society who braved the cold to set up their instruments for later viewing of the Moon, Saturn and Orion and Pat Hunigton as a guest from Austin, TX of Suzanne.

It was a pleasure to have Paul Grueter, President of the South Shore Astronomical Society present to us this evening. Paul gave an overview of the society and stressed that everyone was welcome to join. Information on the society can be found under their web site: www.ssastros.org.

The group is committed to sharing their knowledge with the community. As such it works with schools, Scouts and other groups and supports the STEP Foundation (ScienceTechnology Educational Partnership) which is trying to get an observatory built in Plymouth. The group meets weekly, every Wednesday at the Norwell Council of the Aging and its members cherish their telescopes which range from 4 inch scopes to those of 20 inch in diameter.

Most observing of the skies is done during the New Moon phase (always on the nearest Saturday which falls into this phase) as it allows the crispest gazing without the interfering glares of a bright moon.

Paul pointed out that it is actually not the stars which are being observed as they are too far away and no matter how large their telescopes still look like dots in the sky. Of interest are, however, the Moon, the planets such as Saturn with its rings, Mercury and Venus which are easy to make out, Mars and Jupiter which seem to be more of a challenge and poor Pluto (I am sure to Disney's dismay) now demoted from being a planet the most difficult to find.

Of special interest to astronomers to observe are eclipses of the moon and with specialty filters eclipses of the sun. Comets and meteorites spur the interest of astronomers but also deep sky objects such as other solar systems and galaxies or nebula.

The evening ended with everybody having an opportunity to gaze through telescopes having been set up by members of the society to view the Moon (craters and mountain ranges clearly visible), Saturn and Orion. Many thanks to Paul and his members of the South Shore Astronomical Society for spending this evening with us and especially to those members who braved the cold wind to set up the telescope, while the rest of us had a warm meal.

Another superb program arranged by our President Suzanne!

Dietrich

Attendance: President Suzanne, Dietrich, Alden, Bart (acting SAA), Donna, Bob Price, Judy, Robert, Ben and Lew Burridge and three guests.

Dietrich had to leave after the presentation to catch a plane to Germany and to a family funeral. President Suzanne did promise the High School speakers that our Club will support their project "Empty Bowls" which fights hunger and would support the Scituate Food Pantry.

After that we enjoyed "Words of Wisdom", a happening that Bill Coulter introduced to us. Ben presented them this time and he had a long list of observations on aging. One I have written down, as it is so very appropriate for Rotarians:

"WHATEVER WE DO FOR OURSELVES, DIES WITH US. WHATEVER WE DO FOR OTHERS, REMAINS".

Finally our President read a letter of thanks from our dance teachers the Vaka's, who apparently also enjoyed their session with us at our last meeting. As for me, I never had so much fun in a Rotary meeting in my life.

And as an exclamation mark at the end of this meeting President Suzanne showed the Scituate Telephone Book 2007, just out of the box and now on its way to our mailboxes. It looks real pretty in fine colors and the information pages are an enormous improvement to anything I have ever seen in any telephone directories. I give hereby my congratulations to those of us who have built this little Rotary booklet into a thing of quality and beauty.

In Rotary,
Bart Nuboer,
Assistant Newsletter reporter.

In The News
Click Here - To Read Scituate Mariner Article "Nice to Meet You"
Click Here - To Read Boston Globe Article about Female Leadership in Rotary
Click Here - To Read Scituate Mariner Article on the Magical Moon Foundation

Attendance: President Suzanne, Dietrich, Linda Borror, Candace and Peter Cramer, Walter, Joe, Alden and Connie Mitchell, Bart, Bob Price, Robert, Sandy, Janet, Ben, Lisa and David Tompson, Lew Burridge and the dance teachers Roger and Claire Vaka.

Well, didn’t the sudden March gusts blow up just the right mix for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner and the fancy footwork of our guests, Roger and Claire Vaka!

Before Roger and Claire took the floor, Suzanne greeted our guests: Connie Mitchell, Peter Cramer and David Thompson. It was a pleasure to visit with them and share the evening of dance.

Bart had some important information to share with us concerning the upcoming Cambodian Dinner in support of the Angkor Hospital for Children. Bart reminded us that it was our club who initiated the yearly salary for the first Cambodian dentist to be supported by Rotary. So now it behooves us to support this hospital that trains new doctors to serve a country that lost all of these professionals in the purge of Khmer Rouge. The invitation remains open for at least two more club members to fill a table of ten at the Johnson & Wales Hospitality Center in Seekonk.

Walter asked for volunteers to show up at the Scituate St. Patrick’s Day Parade to sell hot dogs and hot drinks beginning at noon. Sales should net $200-$500 if we have enough help. Please meet us at the Scituate Federal Savings Bank!

Now the fun begins as Roger and Claire, Social Ballroom Dance instructors from Marshfield glided across the floor reminiscent of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers. It was mesmerizing to see them waltz, fox trot, cha cha, tango and swing. The Swing became a Jitter Bug as they kicked up their heels to “Rock Around the Clock”.

To top this off, the dancing duo invited willing and brave members to try some waltz and whirl steps. Before the end of the evening Roger and Claire worked their magic, and we were all dancing like pros.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day and see you all at noon next week-we really need Wednesday luncheon support.

Attendance: President Suzanne, Lew Burridge (SAA), Dietrich, Candace, Walter, Michael, Bart, Bob Price, Judy, Robert, Sandy, Janet, Ben and Lisa.

We have completed our “Service Above Self Day” project under the supervision of Jason Foote, our Eagle Scout son of Eric. Twelve of us showed up to participate. Some worked harder and/or longer than others but the enthusiasm was excellent all around. We were rewarded with some fabulous chili from Eric. The bridge section was worked on long and hard by many others (scouts, youth group members from the churches, and clever carpenters), but the masses were on the path clearing squirrel briars and freeing trees from their strong-hold. I have great slashes across by legs, on my belly and a dozen sticker holes in my butt! And my hands…well, I put in a good day’s work in 2 hours!

Our meeting on Wednesday evening was excellent though not fully attended. We did a good job renewing our membership but I grow concerned about retention. If you have missed someone please consider giving them a call. Let them know they are missed and we need them to do our work. We have been having very interesting speakers and the kitchen is restored so all is well on Wednesdays!

Lance Van Lenten from the First Herring Brook Watershed Initiative spoke to us about the group’s plan and project to protect Scituate’s water supply. Our very busy Lisa is a team member. And our President has participated on Stream Teams. The talk and the project were totally stimulating. It was an attempt to answer the question: “Do you know where your drinking water comes from?”

The FHBWI was formed to provide information to the town. Mapping has been done to show where water is coming from and where things are that are relevant to our water supply. Most towns in Massachusetts do not have the maps that have been created here. They work with NSRWA (North and South River Watershed Association) to have access to state DEP money. Many very talented individuals volunteer their time and expertise to ask and answer questions. Besides learning and educating the project plans for the protection of surface water supply. Using volunteers, grants, state and federal funding, and matching funds this group locates our water sources, devises ways to protect them, and educates the public when we need to be doing something differently or something more to protect our water supply.

After our speaker and a fantastic dinner, fellowship resumed with HBSB and a few announcements. Lew had his own ticket picked after volunteering to be our SAR in Jim’s absence. He won only a lottery ticket with no value. Sorry Lew, and thanks for your efforts.

The announcements include PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) this coming Thurs.-Sat. in Nashua. The AG’s also have training so I will be up there with Bermuda Mike. More relevant to most of you is the Cambodia Evening – the fundraiser for the Ankor hospital for Children where water and literacy are now a monumental need. PLEASE consider supporting this work. It is a really lovely evening (for $70pp). Bart has promised the committee a table from Scituate (we are still looking for 2 more) and we would LOVE to take more than 10 with us!!!! It is so exciting to see that the water filters really make a difference – to us and them. Where the filters have been installed there is NO MORE DIARRHEA. Amazing. Now the locals must learn to care for them (which will involve some literacy issues). Anyway, consider joining us on Saturday the 24th.

Next Sunday is the St. Patrick’s day parade here in Scitutate. A slim few of us have agreed to sell hotdogs again this year. If you are willing to participate by collecting supplies that we need or the selling at the parade, please say so on Wednesday evening. WE NEED HELP!! Thank you, in advance.

Yours in Rotary exhaustion,
Janet