Attendance: Bilger, Borror (and Linda), Heller, Meston, Nuboer, Schmitz, Rego, Summers (Renee), Sladen (Carol), Hurwitch, Mitchell (Connie), Art Kern and Francine, our friend Michael Johnson and our speaker Jack Christiansen.

Rotary news:

Your secretary submitted our attendance for July but they did not like the number (120%). It is therefore not published in the District Newsletter. A copy of the District Newsletter will be given out at the next meeting. Our attendance for August was submitted as 55%. I hope they like that better. The calculation, as I understand it, is based on the number of reported active members – this was 17 on June 30^th but is now 16 with Walter Driscoll becoming an Honorary member. The calculation is affected by removing those taking advantage of the “Rule of 85” (those who’s years of service in Rotary is greater than 10 and whose age plus years of service is greater than 85). It is also affected by removing those who the Board of Directors approves for a leave of absence – right now that is Suzanne. Loic and Dietrich have been available to participate in our meetings so have been removed from the LOA category. (We look forward to seeing you two often as you are in the calculated attendance now). Note that the rule of 85ers pay dues as active members do but are not held to attendance as are regular active members. Our 85ers include: Bill Coulter, Joe Goodrow, Roger Jacobs, Alden Mitchell, Donn Sladen, and Pat Rega. Our July attendance was higher as I calculated the Board of Director meeting as extra attendance. I suspect there is some other way to do the calculation and will be working on finding that information.

Meeting news/business:

Beatrice won the draw for queen of hearts for the second time in a row but also was unable to find the elusive queen again…third time lucky?

The turn out for our meeting was great! I doubt that it was just to welcome Bart and I back but it really was fun to see so many friends in one go! The family of Rotary was very well represented especially seeing Art and Francine Kern.

It was also nice to be back in Pier 44 – I am surprised to admit. The salad alone was a treat! Having the Kern’s with us made me consider the inaccessibility of our Barker setting. (I did consider it with Carol Sladen but decided it was good PT for her – sorry, Carol, I am a rehab nurse). I am also concerned with its inability to accommodate a growing club (assuming we are such a thing). Do we need to reconsider and re-negotiate?

Thank you everyone for your efforts with the phonebook. We are ready to turn it over to Ed Fox now and are in the neighborhood if not the backyard of last years efforts.

 Meeting Highlights:

Our guest was a man who has done it all – or most of it! A man who loves projects and using his hands and every resource available.

Jack Christiansen spent 15 years building a 50 foot, gaff-rigged yacht that he never sailed before giving it away. He told us how the ship was built, how it was upended, how he made the sails and how he chose to give it away. Subsequently he has been able to sail with her new captain. She does float with her 14+ tons of concrete ballast. I’m impressed.

This is a man that needs Rotary in his life! Can you imagine what we could do with Jack needing projects and seeming endless amounts of energy to complete them? This is a man Rotary needs. It’s a match then… Jack Borror, have you invited this man to join us?

Committee news:

I will fill this space after the Board meeting.

Personal comments/Spouse news:

Do you have something you are willing or want to share with the club?

Janet and Bart just returned from their grand summer European tour. Now, sitting in Scituate (even the Irish Riviera that it is), this may sound very grand indeed. But, in reality, it is just our life…It is not glamorous. We are just blessed in Holland as we are here in Scituate with good friends and a rather colorful family. Not to mention, Janet is married to a Dutchman – a foreign national, a green-card holder, a taxpayer and non-voter. Now isn’t that special! It is special and has its good news/badnews most days. But it is responsible for our lifestyle.

The highlights of our trip included 5 days on the edge of Tuscany . We were well up in the mountains (on the edge) with Bart’s school-mates eating and drink-driving like the Italians. Very delicious and very scary. Then on to England to see a few old friends and neighbors and Bart’s eldest and her family. We were blessed to be able to spend 3 days with our 2 and 4-year old grandkids in Oxford . Ilana, the 4 year-old, explained that she has ‘strawberry blonde hair, you know’; and the 2 year old speaks in sentences. It was awesome.

Then we drove on to Hungary to leave our car with Carolina , Bart’s youngest. She is there for a year with Connor, our 4 year old with Cerebral Palsy who is having Conductive Education at the Petö Institute in Budapest this year. He started mid July and already shows progress toward walking and speaking. We are delighted and hopeful.

Except for losing my wallet and a sweater it was a good trip. We are both happy to be back though Bart really was not finished his visiting. We neglected very many friends this year. ‘Sorry about that. There is only so much a man (and woman) can do.

We have a great District Governor this year who promises to Captain our ship well. In exchange he expects us to hand in reports and money on time and create a good newsletter for our clubs. Please offer feedback or news item to share. This could be fun.

Yours in Rotary, 

Janet Schmitz  

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