SCITUATE ROTARY NEWSLETTER  

ROTARY NEWSLETTER APRIL 30, 2008

Sculptor Susan Luery gave many insights on the life and times of George Washington, as she reviewed  the steps that go into creating a 16 foot bronze monument (pictured above.)

Present for the meeting: President Mike, Bill C., Candace, Walter, Suzanne, Joe, Bart, Bob S., Sandi, Janet, Ben, Lisa and Diane with guests, Susan Luery, Sacha and Irina Porokhniuk.

It was the beginning of a great evening as Captain Mike welcomed our featured speaker, Susan Luery, sculptor. Janet and Bart brought their guests, Sacha and Irina from St. Petersburg and we greeted them with “Privet”, a Russian “Hello”.

We are all invited to The Coolidge Theater in Brookline for a special showing and added ceremonies for “Creating Harmony, the Displaced Persons Orchestra of St Ottilien. Mike, Dietrich, Walter, Suzanne and Lisa plan on going and will receive extra Rotary attendance!

Janet updated us with the news that the School for Girls in Afghanistan, has opened in March. It is the “Dream Made Real”, under the vision of Duxbury Rotary Club member, Razia, herself an Afghan native. It was established as a strictly girls only school and our club has supported it with gifts and used shoes! We will want to continue to support this school, by adopting a student. Janet will keep us posted….

Ben gave us a wonderful presentation of the “Scituate Mariner” article that featured news about our Rotary Club gift to the Scituate Public Schools for their studies with the North and South Rivers Watershed Association. With the grant of $4,500, the NSRWA is able to develop a curriculum for the fifth grade classes and take them on field class outings to study water preservation. This includes a trip to Camp Bournedale in Plymouth.

It was noted that our local schools have received a large measure of gifts and support from our club this year- namely the Irish Immigration Program, two scholarship awards, Camp Bournedale and the Watershed Studies Program!

Joe invited our club members to a National Guard ceremony on June 7th, at Otis Air Force Base. The National Guard will be naming their new technical center on the Cape, in memory of Sergeant Michael J. Kelley. We recognize this special honor and occasion as the highest tribute of “Service above Self”. 

Bill WOW(ed) us with his Words of Wisdom, with the restrictions that a modern Noah would have with building the ark today and all the red tape and neighborhood complaints that would have made his job literally impossible, especially if he tried to capture and transport any endangered species!

Sculptor Susan Luery gave us many insights on the life and times of George Washington, as she showed us the steps that go into creating a 16 foot bronze monument. There is much more than meets the eye, beginning with a wire frame meshed with 1,000 lbs. of clay and waxed to create a mold for the bronze cast. We hope to see the finished statue of the 21 year old Virginia Militia hero before he is transported to Fort Cumberland, MD. Who would have known that our handsome young hero grew into a ladies man, loved to dance and was once considered a “party animal”?

Don’t forget that next Wednesday’s meeting is a BarBQ at the home of Eric and Cheryl Foote at 225 First Parish Rd. We will be on hand to recognize our Rotary Scholarship recipients, Abbey Newkirk and Kimberly Wood. Please bring your food contribution for the meal. Desserts are needed!

Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Schipul, Secretary

APRIL 23, 2008

At the helm, Captain Mike opened our meeting with Lew leading the Pledge and Bob offering the evening invocation. It was nice to greet Connie Mitchell as a guest and we all welcome her supportive presence. Deputy Sheriff of Plymouth County, Liisa Budge-Johnson, was present also as our featured speaker.

Members on deck for the meeting were: Dietrich, Lew, Maryann, Candace, Bill, Walter, Captain Mike, Suzanne, Joe, Karen, Alden, Bart, Bob P. Judy, Christine, Bob S., Sandi, and Diane.

Business at hand was the state of the Scituate Phone Book. It is in print and will be ready for delivery in 4-6 weeks. It was behind schedule this year due to many factors and we all need to be much more proactive next year to begin offering contracts in August to avoid the rush and delays during the busy months of December and January. The cover will be in color for the first time and feature the famous Lawson Tower!

Our club reserved 20 tickets in advance for the Installation of Presidents, district-wide in Providence, RI on Monday June 23, in lieu of our Wed. meeting. There are only 6 remaining seats, so contact the Captain ASAP. The price is $30p/p since the club is graciously paying the other $30 of the $60 fee.

The District Assembly is also on hand for Sat. May 10 at Middletown, RI and runs from 8 am to 1pm with a brunch included, the fee is $25,you can sign up online, at District 7950, all officers are expected to attend!

In response to a request from Linda Tracey-Clifton, our District Governor’s wife, for immediate needs of our veterans, Christine Ryan will offer help through the Plymouth and South Shore Association of Realtors. It is a very generous offer to meet the simple financial needs and requests for health toiletries and basics. Thank you so much, Chris, for bring this to our attention and giving a Rotary lending hand!

Our dynamic speaker, Sheriff Liisa Budge- Johnson, got the undivided attention of our group, even without drawing either of her two waist-belted pistols!!!!! She told us proudly that she was a Rotary Exchange Student. Now as Community Outreach Director for the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Dept. she has a nonstop command of information that we absorbed as we graded the 4-page quiz she gave to each member. Did you know that shoe bomber Richard Block and “ Survivor” show winner, Richard Hatch, both served time in our local Plymouth County Correctional facility? Talented inmates also run a very good and (inexpensive) print shop that is open to the public for pamphlets and posters.

We have chosen recipients of the Jared E. Fitzgerald Memorial Scholarship. They are Scituate High School Seniors: Abbey Newkirk and Kimberly Wood, and will receive $2,500 each. There will be a special presentation at one of our upcoming meetings.

Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Schipul, Secretary 

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April 16, 2008
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Left: Guest and speaker, the film producer, Ron Marsh introduced and discussed his film (co-produced by John Michalczyk), "Creating Harmony: The Displaced Persons' Orchestra of St. Ottilien".

Right: Ray Helmick gave an informed report on his March visit to the Rotary Peace and Conflict Center in Bangkok, Thailand to coordinate the joint Scituate Rotary-Rotary International Bangkok Film Festival held at the Rotary Peace Center there.

The April 16, 2008 Meeting of the Scituate Rotary Club was brought to order by President Mike at 6:30 pm. The following members attended:
Mike, Bob Schipul, Dietrich, Candace, Walter, Lew, Beatrice, Joe, Karen, Alden, Bart, Bob Price, Judy, Janet, Ben, Lisa, and William Clark.

Guests included Connie Mitchell, Brenda Bowen (guest of Beatrice), Ray Helmick (speaker), and Ron Marsh (speaker). Alden led the Club in the Pledge of Allegiance and Bob S. gave the Invocation.

Ben gave an excellent Rotary Foundation report outlining the personal experience of a Rotarian affected by Polio underscoring the final efforts of the Rotary Foundation to eradicate the disease globally. The Club discussed the Gates Foundation $100 Million Matching Grant to the Rotary Foundation for the Polio Plus Campaign to eradicate polio.

Bob S. gave an update on the Phonebook Fundraiser which he reported was now in the proof-reading stage just prior to publication. He also outlined arrangements for the District-wide Club Presidents' Installation Program for June 23rd in Providence, RI and encouraged Club members to sign-up for this important event.

Mike and Lisa announced that excellent Scituate High School senior finalists have been selected for the Scituate Rotary Scholarships and they will be presented to the Scituate Rotary Board next week.

Walter conducted "Happy Bucks/Sad Bucks" during which time the Club delighted in the "Happy" return to health and our Club meeting of our beloved Bart. The Club was concerned about the medical conditions affecting our loyal Secretary Sandi with subsequent hope and prayers for her rapid and full recovery. Mike was very "Happy" about the visit of Beatrice's guest, Brenda Bowen, who he met last year and was impressed by her professional background and motivation to apply it to a service organization such as Rotary.

Ray Helmick gave an informed report on his March visit to the Rotary Peace and Conflict Center in Bangkok, Thailand to coordinate the joint Scituate Rotary-Rotary International Bangkok Film Festival held at the Rotary Peace Center there. The conflict studies films of John Michalczyk on Northern Ireland, South Africa, the Mid-East, and Sicily were presented to the mid-level career conflict professionals studying at the Center with follow-up discussions led by Ray Helmick. Ray mentioned how he was impressed by the high caliber of the students attending.

Mike introduced the evening's special guest and speaker, the film producer, Ron Marsh, who introduced and discussed his film (co-produced by John Michalczyk), "Creating Harmony: The Displaced Persons' Orchestra of St. Ottilien". The film was then screened for the Club which stimulated considerable discussions after the meeting adjournment.

Respectfully submitted,
Mike

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Von Trapp Concert, April 6th

L. President Michael Johnson welcomes the audience
C. President Elect Bob Schipul introduces Elizabeth Von Trapp
R. The concert Begins

Rotary Service Day of the Driftway Clean-up on Saturday, March 29

April 9th Meeting
 Joan informed us about Meals on Wheels and how it works locally.

April 4th Meeting
L. Ben read from an article in the March issue of the Rotarian on post-polio syndrome
C. Bill gave an entertaining and informative WOW
R. Bill then gave his presentation on the Battle of Gettysburg

April 9, 2008 Meeting 

The April 9, 2008 meeting of the Scituate Rotary Club was called to
order by President-Elect Bob Schipul at the Scituate Country Club at 6:30 p.m. The following were in attendance: Dietrich, Lew, William, Maryann, Bill, Candace, Walter, Joe, Karen, Bob Price, Christine, Bob Schipul, Janet, Ben, Lisa, Diane, Alden and Connie, and Beatrice and her special guest, Joan Powers. Will Mehring from the Hingham and Hull Rotary Club was also in attendance and welcomed by all. Karen led the Pledge of Allegiance and William gave the Invocation.

The Von Trapp concert on Sunday, April 6th was reportedly attended by the following members: Dietrich, Lew, Maryan and her son, Candace, Walter, Mike, Joe and Karen, Connie, Judy, Bob and Sandi, Janet, Donn and Carol, Dennis, Ben and Renee, and Lisa and David.

Janet reported on the money collected from ticket sales for the
concert; she brought home $1,046.00 from the concert itself and has since collected a few further checks. Some money from ticket sales may still be held at other locations that were selling tickets, i.e. the library, bookstore and Village Market.

A special thank you was given to the Kelleys for generously hosting
Elisabeth and her husband.

Discussion about the concert took place. Bob Schipul made the
suggestion of perhaps holding it the next time at Glastonbury Abbey and co-hosting it with Hingham and Hull and Cohasset Rotary Clubs; Dietrich thought it would be good to fix a date, e.g. make it an annual Christmas tradition.

Janet and Chris reported that proofing of the phone book is on-going;
Janet also reported that Janice Brown is doing well after the operation
on her foot.

Candace told us about the current exhibition at the South Shore Art
Center in Cohasset called Reflections in Exile - Five Contemporary African Artists Respond to Social Injustice, which runs through May 11. She also handed out some beautiful catalogues from the exhibition and informed us about a discussion on the art to be held on Sunday, April 13.

Bob Schipul thanked Walter for introducing him to local movers who did a good job moving Bob and Sandi to their new home in Cohasset.

Then Walter collected Happy Bucks. Ben Summers told his story of
tripping at the Transfer Station; he was injured, but is thankfully doing
well. Dietrich reported that his son, Christian, had suffered a medical
emergency at college earlier in the day, but Dietrich had since spoken to Christian and reported that he is doing better. We all gave Ben and
Dietrich our best wishes for Ben's, and Dietrich's son's, speedy
recovery.

Maureen served a delicious meal, which was followed by Beatrice
introducing her guest, Joan Powers, who is involved in many organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, Life Care Center, DAR and St. Francis.

Joan informed us about Meals on Wheels and how it works locally.
Drivers are desperately needed for back up. If anyone is able to give some time, please call Jody at the Braintree Headquarters on 781-848-3910, ext. 430. A member asked Joan how people come to the attention of Meals on Wheels: it could be through Visiting Nurses; the Senior Center; hospitals. They also serve people on a temporary basis.

Joan explained that the Senior Center has a new acting coordinator
named Florence Choate. She also needs drivers to run their own car to take people to Boston for medical appointments (they will be covered by insurance and reimbursed for fuel); volunteers are also needed to accompany people on vans to take seniors to Shaws and WalMart and help with their packages; there are several other volunteer opportunities at the Senior Center. Please call Florence on 781-545-8722, if you can help.

Janet talked about Rotary's commitment to polio eradication; Bill Gates has given Rotary $100 million and expects Rotary members to match it. Therefore, we're going to start "Loose Change in the Bucket" each week towards this goal.

Diane gave us information on Crystal Cathedral and 750,000 wheelchairs in Europe and Africa; in addition, there will be 5,000 new wheelchairs provided at the upcoming Olympics in China.

Upcoming dates were discussed including the Presidents-Elect
Installation in Providence on Monday, June 23. We are taking a table for 20 and so far have Lisa, Candace, Janet, Bart, Karen, Joe, Dietrich, Walter, Lew, Bill, Beatrice, Maryan, Bob and Sandi committing to attend (Bob will be installed as President of Scituate's club).

May 2 - 4 is the District Conference in Westford including Mike's
program on Saturday of that weekend; May 10 is the District Assembly in Middletown, RI.

The meeting was adjourned just after 8:00 p.m. with thanks to Joan
Powers for attending and speaking to us about so many important issues facing seniors and volunteer opportunities to help in our community.

Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Tompson

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Meeting Minutes - April 2, 2008

The April 2 meeting of the Scituate Rotary Club was well attended by the following members: Dietrich Bilger, Lew Burridge, William Clark, Maryann Cohan, Bill Coulter, Walter Heller, Beatrice Hurwitch, Michael Johnson, Joe Kelley, Alden Mitchell and his beautiful wife, Connie, Bob Schipul, Ben Summers, Lisa Tompson and Diane Waterfield. 

Dietrich also received two extra credits for his recent visit to the Cohasset Rotary Club as well as his participation in the Rotary Service Day of the Driftway Clean-up on Saturday, March 29. Maryann, Joe and Karen Kelley, Bob Schipul, Janet Schmitz and Lisa also get one extra credit for the Service Day. 

The club sincerely wishes both Janet and Bart well in their speedy and complete recovery from the flu, which sadly resulted in the cancellation of the Bingo night, which they had generously arranged to be held at their home. However, the Scituate Country Club graciously allowed us to hold our meeting, without dinner as Maureen was away, at the usual time of 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at their beautiful facility on the North River. 

Mike opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. with the Pledge and Prayer. Mike also reported that we have two fine SHS applicants for our annual Jared E. Fitzgerald Memorial Scholarship. 

Happy Bucks were collected by Walter. Lisa reported that the Service Day was fun and successful in that along with several golf balls, $10.00 was found, half of which was donated to Happy Bucks, and eight black bags were filled with trash collected from the area in and around Driftway Conservation Park, which the Scituate Highway Department has since retrieved. 

Bob reported on the Elisabeth Von Trapp concert, which takes place Sunday, April 6 at 3:00 p.m. The Scituate Mariner has run articles on the concert; tickets are available at various locations around town; a sign will be placed in front of St. Mary's, and all are welcome. As Bob and Sandi Schipul are in the throes of moving house, Joe and Karen Kelley have graciously stepped up to the plate and offered their home to Elisabeth, her husband, and Eric, her accompanist, to stay over the weekend. Many thanks are given to the Kelleys for their help in hosting the Von Trapps. 

Bill gave an entertaining and informative WOW, which instructed us all on how O'Hare airport got its name (named for Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Butch O'Hare). 

Ben read from an article in the March issue of the Rotarian on post-polio syndrome. 

Bill then gave his presentation on the Battle of Gettysburg, which took place in July 1863, with an excellent map from which he explained the positions of the Union and Confederate forces. Bill discussed the battle in detail, telling us about the decisions made by the various commanders for both the North and the South (and giving us fascinating tid-bits of information on their personalities and backgrounds), which resulted in the battle becoming the turning point in the Civil War, despite the enormous loss of life on both sides. Bill also read from a letter that his great-grandfather, a participant in and survivor of the battle, had written to his family back home in Massachusetts describing his experience. It was an outstanding presentation and a terrific history lesson. 

The Scituate Country Club kindly provided coffee, tea and dessert. 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. with special thanks to Bill Coulter for all his efforts, not only in reminding us on the importance of the name of O'Hare airport, but also in teaching us about the great Battle of Gettysburg and his own family's involvement in it. 

Respectfully submitted, 
Lisa Tompson 

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May 7th Meeting

Bart

Chris Ryan writes:

I am attaching photos I just took of the daffodils in bloom at the Michael J. Kelley Path.  I want to thank all who participated in this project and encourage the members and friends to stop by to walk the path and enjoy the "fruits of their labor" planted in tribute to this brave young man. The ducks my Mom donated look happy in their new home along the path.