SCITUATE ROTARY NEWSLETTER  

AUGUST 20, 2008

We missed the following members and their presence with us:
JANICE, MARYANNE, BILL, ERIC, BEATRICE, MARY, JOE, KAREN, JIM, LOIC, DONNA, BOB P., JUDY, CHRISTINE, DONN, CAROL, DENNIS, and LISA

Our guest, Ray Helmick, also a Jesuit priest, offered the opening Invocation.

Janet gave us a Rotary International “Minute” to enlighten us all about the sweeping scope of Polio Eradication that the RI undertakes with the contributions of all of our RI clubs! It is enormous and we are polio free in the Western Hemisphere, Europe and the Pacific. The push is to the countries in Africa and Asia. We continue to support these efforts locally and have the stimulus of Bill and Melissa Gates with their $200 Million Challenge by 2010!

Then President Bob had the pleasure of Installing Bernie Westerveld as our newest Rotarian. Bernie was sponsored by Bart and Janet and we all know him as our computer expert in the Club as he has helped restore the computers and printer that we donate to Carolina Hill. Bernie’s wife, Beverly runs the Tree Berry Farm on RT. 123 and she contributes her delicious blueberries to our Annual Pancake Breakfast.

We all welcome Bernie to the Rotary Club of Scituate and look forward knowing him better and sharing in the service of others.

Our inspiring speaker, Ray Helmick, a conflict studies scholar from Boston College, gave us an insightful look into his work at the Rotary Peace Center in Bangkok, Thailand in July. 

In his work with peace and conflict representatives from around the world, he notes that we all learn the “light” from each other’s insights and we must respect the differences, so that we can recognize the humanity of both sides. He said that “healing begins when people can accept doubts, even about themselves!”

We look forward to Ray’s continued work at the Center in Bangkok and hope to see his program and John Michalczyk’s films at the International Convention in Birmingham, England in 2009!

Hope to see summer vacationers’ return to join us next week for fellowship on Aug. 27 and Dietrich’s presentation on Kenya.

In Rotary’s service,
Sandra Schipul, Secretary

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AUGUST 13, 2008

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Left: Guest speaker, John Anastasia, who owns and runs JGE Awards and Promotions was introduced by Walter Heller. Right: Bryan O’Brien, and his son, Bryan O’Brian who is a Rotaract student, currently at UMASS.

PRESENT: President Bob, Dietrich, Lew, William, Candace, Walter, Michael, Suzanne, Sandi, Ben, Diane

GUESTS: Bernie Westerveld, Bryan O’Brien, and his son, Bryan O’Brian 

Even though many of our members are away on summer vacations, we enjoyed a nice round of guest. Bernie joined us for the second time and we had a double dose of Bryans- Bryan O’Brien and his son Bryan!

We learned that Bryan Jr. is a Rotaract student, currently at UMASS. He found out about our club and meetings while on a United Airlines flight to Japan to attend his brother’s wedding this summer. They displayed Rotary International video and info via the entertainment media! So they were inspired to come to our Scituate Club meeting- WOW - it must have been some ad!

Dietrich shared with us the good news emailed from Bill and Joyce Coulter that on her latest visit with the doctors, she got to kick off her white surgical stockings and return home with a first class report and great prognosis. We pray for continued successful healing and some fun summer outings! Hope to see you both this fall.

As Ben so aptly reminded us in his invocation, we are in the 41st year of our Club and the 105th year of Rotary International. We have a lot of service to be thankful for and a lot yet to look forward to. With the $100 Million Challenge Grant from Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation, we have the chance to join RI on PolioPlus Eradication program. Each of our 33,000 Rotary clubs is also challenged to raise $1,000 by 2010. So our little “Club that Could” is on its way as we feed the Polio bucket is passed each week and we are looking at $900 left to go! It shouldn’t be hard to make our goal by Dec. 2010. Rotary sponsored immunizations have helped to eradicate Polio from the Western Hemisphere, Western Pacific, and Europe. The emphasis is now on India, Africa and 3rd World Countries, a very worthy goal.

Our speaker was Walter’s business friend, John Anastasia, who owns and runs JGE Awards and Promotions. John has provided our Club with Plaques, Awards and T-shirts with our Rotary Logo and his outstanding service. We were entertained with his quick Italian wit, charming personality and colorful comments on his previous enterprises. We look forward to seeing John’s continued interaction with our club.

We will be looking forward to seeing everyone back from break at the next meeting for a wonderful presentation by our guest Ray Helmick.

Submitted in the spirit of Rotary,
Sandra Schipul, Secretary

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AUGUST 6, 2008

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Left: Picking blueberries for Heritage Day's Famous Pancake Breakfast
Right - Guest Speaker Thomas Farragher, Boston Globe from the July 30th meeting.

PRESENT: President Bob, Dietrich, William, Candace, Walter, Joe, Bart, Janet, Sandi, Lisa, Ben and Diane

GUESTS: Peter Cramer and Bernie Westerveld

Our guest and newest American citizen (formerly a citizen of Holland until July 4th!) led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. President Bob lifted up the work of the club in his Invocation.

Our new Sergeant at Arms, William, performed his first official duties tonight as we all welcomed him back from his travels to our RI Convention in LA and business travels.

Happy Bucks abounded for the Pancake Breakfast! So far the receipts total over $3,500! Joe thinks that we served over 400 plates- that’s a lot of flipping pancakes!

We shared Sad Bucks for the news of Joyce Coulter’s return to South Shore Hospital, and so sent out a get well card. She should be released tonight and so we give thanks.

Extra Bucks were given by Bart to Joe, for replacing him on the Foundation. Similarly Extra Bucks for William becoming our new Sergeant at Arms.

It was noted that the Shelter Box display at the Pancake Breakfast was a hit and raised $170 as the seed money for the total cost of $1,000. 

Walter walked away with the QUEEN OF HEARTS and it broke the hearts of all of the hopeful ticket holders….

Ben gave a wonderful overview of Rotary, with the example of the local club as the chief cornerstone. We have 33,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide in a total o 200 countries. Its members are 1.2 million with a global network of giving $1.8 billion in outreach programs since 1947! That is amazing and we are partners in Rotary International!

We would like to see Rotary Interact active again and will work at making it happen this fall with follow up connections.

Thank you, all for the help to make the Pancake Breakfast a successful event for our club.

It is being reviewed to include a minimum dinner charge of $15 per month if no meetings are attended that month and also an $8 monthly fee toward a yearly total of $100 for the Rotary Foundation.

Please continue to keep Joyce and Bill Coulter in your thoughts and prayers. Rotary thanks to those who have helped with meals, we will keep you posted on meal needs for next week.

Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Schipul, Secretary 

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JULY 30, 2008

PRESENT: Pres. Bob, Dietrich, Lew, Bill, Candace, Eric, Walter, Beatrice, Michael, Joe, Karen, Bart, Bob P., Janet, Sandi, Ben, and Diane

GUEST: Speaker Thomas Farragher, Boston Globe

It was another perfect summer evening to spend with fellow Rotarians and fill the meeting to the brim with club news and eyewitness news from our speaker.

Bill Coulter stole the evening’s headlines with his Invocation, WOW’s, the great news of Joyce’s remarkable recovery and special guest speaker, his understudy reporter from his family’s newspaper, “The Daily Item”!

There were many HAPPY BUCKS to mark Joyce’s successful surgery and return home tonight. Bill capped it all in his aforesaid WOW’s: “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and leave the rest to God”.

Meeting news consisted of a rally of support for the Pancake Breakfast this Saturday and a short wrap up meeting at 8pm.

To insure the success of our annual Breakfast, each attending member has been given 5 tickets to sell at $5 ea. That allows each of us to have a $25 investment. It isn’t hard to use the tickets for family or friends! If you haven’t been present this month to pick up the tickets, we would ask you to graciously share this commitment with the rest of us in the form of a donation. 

We are now in great shape for Saturday. The berry pickers have already picked 40 lbs. of blueberries! We look forward to donating a portion of the funds to the Maritime Center at Young’s Boatyard. All hands on deck at St. Mary’s!

It was a distinct pleasure for Newsman Bill Coulter to introduce his protégé from his own hometown family publication “The Daily Item’, in Clinton, MA. Guest speaker, Thomas Farragher is now Editor of the Spotlight Team (special investigative unit) of the “Boston Globe”. His team won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the Roman Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis. 

Tom, a long standing member of the Roman Catholic Church and a member of St. Mary’s parish, gave a very poignant recap of his reporting. Needless to say it is with great growing pains that the problems have be brought out so that healing and resolution can begin. We are sobered by his story and yet have faith in the steps begun towards reconciliation with the brave confessions and absolutions of those directly involved. In closing, he shared his vision in his words, “Keep the Faith, Save the Church”. 

Next week is Club night, so please be on hand to share ideas, offer speakers, catch up on our projects and projections for the new Rotary Year, MAKE DREAMS REAL! Feel the synergy.

With the spirit of Rotary,
Sandra Schipul, Secretary

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July 23, 2008 

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Left: District Governor Steve Silverman addresses the club.
Right: Board Meeting with District Governor Steve Silverman

President Bob Schipul opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the beautiful Scituate Country Club and introduced our special guests, District Governor,Steve Silverman and his wife, Amy.

Also, in attendance, were members Mike Johnson, Diane Waterfield, Bart Nuboer, Karen Kelley, Joe Kelley, Mary Jenkins, Janet Schmitz, Lew Burridge, Ben Summers, Dietrich Bilger, Walter Heller, Lisa Tompson and her guest, her husband, David Tompson.

Our newest citizen of the United States of America, Bart Nuboer, led us in the Pledge of Allegiance; followed by the Innvocation given by our
president, Rev. Bob Schipul. Dietrich Bilger collected the Happy/Sad Bucks. Mike Johnson announced some of the upcoming programs including a barbecue at Eric Foote's house on September 17. Bob read a lovely thank you note from one of our two scholarship winners this year, Abbey Newkirk. Bob also told us that some of the budget items for the upcoming year are still being put together. The phone book was also discussed; members felt it was 30% better this year and our goal is to make it even better next year, including establishing an Internet link.

Maureen served us a delicious dinner, which was followed by an inspiring and rousing talk by District Governor Steve Silverman. He told us about
some of his hopes and dreams for his year as DG, including an upcoming Family Day to be held in Barnstable on August 9. He wants Rotarians to share their ideas with him, especially on how to get more people involved in Rotary.

Steve talked about the incredible polio program run by Rotary International. Finally, he gave us details of next year's District Conference to be held at the Thayer Hotel at West Point, New York from May 15-17, and the Foundation Seminar and Dinner on October 25 at White's of Westport, MA.

After Steve answered questions, the members discussed the upcoming annual Pancake Breakfast to be held on Saturday, August 2 at St. Mary's Parish Hall, and the blueberry picking on Thursday morning, July 31.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. with many thanks to our new District Governor, Steve Silverman.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Tompson

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 JULY 16, 2008

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1. Raymond G. Helmick, S.J. Professor for Conflict Resolution, Boston College presenting on RI Conflict Resolution Seminar in Bangkok

2.President Robert Schipul - Past President Dr. Michael Johnson discussing the meeting till late in the evening

PRESENT: Pres. Bob, Dietrich, Lew, Candace, Walter, Mary, Michael, Bart, Janet, Sandi, Ben and Diane

GUESTS: Ray Helmick, speaker, Liz Roberts visiting Rotarian from Dedham Club

After Dietrich led the Pledge and Ben gave our Invocation, the meeting was called to order by President Bob, and so the leadership is passed on from awesome leaders. Special thanks and gratitude to Captain Mike for the great programs and new venues he gave us in 2007-2008. We will work on continuity and remember our commitments to community and outreach.

Mike gave a presentation on his wonderful experience at the Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles last month, particularly focused on the highly motivated Rotarians from around the world that he encountered. He was delighted to informally talk with the Director of the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies (RPCS) Program in Bangkok, Thailand who he met at the RPCS Booth at the "House of Friendship". They discussed Ray Helmick's new teaching position in that Program utilizing the conflict films of John Michalczyk. He also mentioned his attendance at a microfinance presentation and at a conference of Rotary Peace Scholars. He encouraged the members to consider attending the next Rotary International Convention to be held in June, 2009 in Birmingham, England.

Mike then introduced Ray Helmick, the conflict studies scholar from Boston College and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., who the Scituate Rotary Club co-sponsored to screen the conflict studies films of John Michalczyk in March at the RPCS Program Center in Bangkok. Ray discussed his experience in March and his plans for teaching there once again later this month for the summer session. He then gave an extraordinary analytic presentation on conflict resolution citing examples in Northern Ireland, the Mid-East, and South Africa that was greatly appreciated by the members. The discussions continued long after the meeting officially concluded


We missed the WOW’S from Bill Coulter and understand that he requested a leave of absence as Joyce will be undergoing bypass surgery. The Club offers heartfelt wishes for a successful operation and quick recovery. We all want to support you both with help for meals or visits, as we are just a call or email away! 

A note of thanks for all who offered their supportive help with the Annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday August 2 at St. Mary’s Parish. We still need much help and will be sending requests to fill those slots. The greater the efforts, the more successful our fundraiser will be! Berry picking is scheduled for Thursday morning July 31st at the Tree Berry Farm at 7 am.

Be onboard next week for a special visit from District President Steve Silverman and his vision for MAKE DREAMS REAL.

In the Spirit of Rotary,
Sandra Schipul, Secretary

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JULY 9, 2008

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Left: The first board meeting of Rotary 2008, with president Robert Schipul presiding.
Right: Our guests on June 19th, Robert Jenks, visiting Rotarian from NC,  Julie Keanneally, prospective Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar,  Connie Mitchell and Joyce Coulter. (See 6/19 meeting following for more details.)

GUESTS: Peter Cramer, Connie Mitchell, Joe Cerra, Linda and Jack Borror, Kirsten Borror-Chappell, Debi Johnson, Dr. Jane Hale, Dr. Bill Bicknell, Dr.Titi Mohapi 
                              
MEMBERS: President Bob, Lew, Bill, Candace, Walter, Beatrice, Mary, Joe, Karen, Bart, Bob P. Sandi, Ben and Diane

Tonight’s meeting was the first one marking the official 2008-2009 Rotary year for our President Bob Schipul. The Installation on June 23 at Providence, RI was a wonderful representation of District 7950 and about 60 new Rotary Club Presidents that were inducted there. Rotary International President, Dr. Dong Kern Lee performed the services to a full house and shared his support and enthusiasm all the way from his home club in Seoul, Korea. We thank the following members for their presence: Dietrich, Walter, Janet, Bart, Lew, Karen, Joe, Lisa and Sandi.

It was wonderful to have 10 (!) guests tonight. All were welcomed and we took note of Jack and Linda Borror who brought daughter Kirsten, and her friend Debi Johnson. Dr. Bill Bicknell and his wife Dr. Jane Hale, also guests of the Borrors, are participating in PARTNERS IN HEALTH, a resident training program at Boston Univ. Accompanying them was Dr. Titi Mohapi, a native surgeon from Lesotho, South Africa, who is involving her country in this program.

Bart gave our opening Invocation that was also given at the President’s Installation, titled “The Call Within” - to call us away from self- into service lest we miss our mark in life

DATES TO MARK:
• PANCAKE BREAKFAST ON SAT. AUG. 2 at St. Mary’s Parish Center 
• PAW SOX BASEBALL GAME TUES. JULY 29 in Brocton
• ROTARY FAMILY DAY SAT. AUG. 9 in Barnstable

Mary Jenkins informed us that the Scituate Waterways, Town Recreation Dept. and Historical Society are working together to make a public Maritime Center at Young’s Boatyard. They need assistance in raising funds to make this waterfront accessible. She asked if our Club would consider allocating some of the proceeds from our Pancake Breakfast to show Rotary Support of this project.

Our Club Night received a bonus program via the impromptu guest visit of Dr. Titi Mohapi. She is a surgeon at Queen Elizabeth 11 Hospital in Lesotho, S. Africa.

Her country is a mountainous democratic monarchy and is the size of Belgium, with a population of 1.8 million people. Lesotho is a very poor country and has the misfortune of ranking 4th highest in the number of HIV/AIDS cases, with 29% of its population affected. She said her country is ravaged by illness, and to compound the misery, the doctors and nurses that have to be educated outside of the country, never return to serve their own people. 

Dr. Mohapi is hopeful that her visit to BU will raise awareness for a teaching hospital and a successful program to retain native doctors, nurses and health staff. We viewed a movie “Mountains of Hope” and are hopeful that a way will be found.

Yours in Rotary,
Sandra Schipul, Secretary

Click Here to view archived newsletters.

Aug 20 Ray Helmick: Report on his Seminars at the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program Center Bangkok, Thailand 

Aug 27 Dietrich Bilger: Conflict Transformation in Kenya 

Sept 3 Club Night 

Sept 10 Willemijn Nuboer-Haverkorn van Rijsewijk (Introduced by Bart Nuboer): Perspective on Russia 

Sept 17 BBQ With Scituate High School Service Learning Course Students at Eric Foote's House 

Sept 24 Dan Schmelzer: Update on Club Programs in Kenya 

Rev. Robert Schipul
President of the Scituate
Rotary Club 2008.