Newslettr 2 August 25, 2015

**Rotary Notes  August 25, 2015**

 

The meeting was opened by Pres. Rich with the Pledge of Allegiance; Bob Cocks led us in a great rendition of God Bless America; Karen led us in the Blessing.

 

Visitors: Our many guests today included the speakers:

- Serena Williams and her son (A freshman at Suffolk University), from the Fitchburg East Rotary Club. Ted tells us Serena has been a Gift of Life host family before.

-Jean Elrick, from Kindred Health Care.

-Larry Pike, a prospective member from Needham.

-Michael Price, a Past President from Wellesley Rotary, and John Quincy, also a Wellesley Rotarian.

-Carl Good, a Northboro Rotarian who will be addressing the club about Polio Plus on September 8^th.

George Hoffmeister led us in the Welcome song.

Dr. Mary Burke, our guest speaker from the Federal Reserve Bank.

 

-Karen announced that the Bandy-Heffler exchange is still looking for hosts. Contact Karen if you can host. This year it starts Sept. 29.

-VNA High School Jazz night fund raiser on Sept. 25^th at the Needham Golf Club.

 

50/50:  Larry Pike had the winning ticket but not the winning card. Pool stands at $281.00.

 

Presidential Minute: While he wanted to be President, Senator John McCain was our person of interest today. He was born 8-29-36!

 

School  Backpacks for Students from the Congo and Angola: Darrell has approached the Board asking for $1023 to be used to pay for backpacks and new school supplies for children from Angola and the Congo, who are living in Portland Maine. Today, all Happy Dollars are being used to fund this request. In addition, the BOD has okayed a request for the remainder of the funds to come from the club. Happy dollars was alive with contribution s for this great cause!

 

Happy Dollars: For the backpacks:  Bill Paulson, Lois/Ron, Jim, Charles, Roz, Glen, Bob Cocks, George, Louise Condon, Roz, Bill Paulson, Karen, Carl Good, Doug, Rick Davis. Paula Kahr backpacks and welcome to guests;, Michael and John HTBH, Larry Pike, happy to be home in Needham!  Ted for a great family vacation; Rajesh for our great speaker; Tom Savino for near perfect weather on vacation.

 

Speaker:  Our guest speaker, Dr. Mary Burke, works for the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston, as an economist. Mary Burke joined the research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in September, 2005. Prior to joining the Bank she served as an assistant professor of economics at Florida State University and as a visiting professor of economics at Grinnell College.

 

Burke’s research concerns the impact of social influences on individual choices and market outcomes. She has published papers explaining the emergence of social norms in contracting, the influence of prominent surgeons in the diffusion of coronary stents, and the role of social norms in the rise of obesity in the United States. Among other research projects, she is currently working on papers that aim, respectively, to explain disparities in obesity by race and gender, and to measure the influence of peers versus teachers on academic achievement. Her research has been published in several scholarly journals, including American Economic Review, Journal of Monetary Economics, and Economic Inquiry. Burke holds a B.A. in mathematics from Brown University, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Johns Hopkins University.

Mary’s presentation said that the country as a whole has come back from the recession pretty much, and that Mass has done quite well of all of the  New England States.

She also commented that her welcome at the club was ‘the warmest welcome she has ever received!”. And her presentation was easy to understand as well. Thanks Mary!