Board Meeting March 12, 2009
Upcoming Speakers
3 / 4 Chris Van Hemelrijck - Cambodia Water Project
3 / 11 Marion Gold - URI-Renewable Energy
3 / 18 Gail Savoie - Plan USA_ update on the Tsunami relief effort & clean water.
SERVE.SERVE.SERVE
If you showed up for SERVE last Saturday morning at 7:00 am you were pleasantly surprised to find you were a week early. Wil Yoder admitted to the club that his blackberry, I-phone, Franklin Planner, daily planner and memory had suffered a communal collapse, resulting in the wrong date. Those who showed up last Saturday good naturedly beat Yoder to a pulp and then went out to breakfast together.
Yoder swears that SERVE IS ACTUALLY SCHEDULED FOR THIS SATURDAY AT 7:00 AM. AT CHRISTCHURCH AT THE CORNER OF MAIN AND CEDAR.
He's just like Obama. "I listened to you", said President Don, "and in respect of your wishes, the Post Office Café is our new home." Anderson said he and his wife had used a small portion of the Rotary budget to visit 23 East Greenwich restaurants, looking for a place for the club to meet. The Andersons found that at many the steaks just weren't up to what they had hoped for and the wine lists left much to be desired. They just weren't Rotary quality, Anderson told the club.
In addition to firming up a permanent location, Anderson pointed out that the serving line had been moved to a more convenient area, allowing a double line. "You spoke, I responded," he said.
At that point Dr. Bob Miller arrived at the meeting and Anderson grudgingly admitted that some of the credit went to him.
The crowd yelled Looooooo, as Lou Lepry pulled his name from the hat, becoming the latest Paul Harris Fellow. George Popella welcomed Looooooo to the 108 members who have donated $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation over the years. Ninety five of those are multiple recipients. Popella searched his records and found that Kevin Inkley, now a member in New Bedford, was actually the 200th recipient of a Paul Harris Award. Inkley, who fulfilled a pledge made at this club, received the honor from a group of our members who traveled to New Bedford to make the presentation.
Local Baptists, thrilled when Don Anderson moved on, will install Rev. Jonathan Malone as their new minister at 3:00 pm on March 8th. The ceremony is open to all who will swear not to reveal details of the secret ritual. Anderson once let it slip that he had a fair amount of discomfort wearing long underwear all summer for the first year after his installation. Church members still chuckle about getting him to believe that was actually part of the ritual.
Mike Gemma says we will have space on a new East Greenwich website which will make its debut early in March. My02818.com will carry information about local groups and is looking for stories from our club. There will also be a link to our site. Also in the world of techie stuff, we apparently will be getting a different web site, part of a big coming together promoted by the invisible people who live at the "District".
In addition to the fund allocations of the Board reported in the last newsletter, President Don reported $500 for Rocky Hill to help their student work trip to Hattiesburg, Mississippi and $2,000 for this year's Scott Carlson memorial road race.
Pres. Don reported the first ever wine-tasting fund raiser is taking shape. So far the committee has decided to hold it and has decided to serve wine. They are also planning to invite several members who constantly "whine", to complete the theme.
And finally, the grand high poo bahs of the BaptistChurch in the USA have decided to present the Like Maurey Award to our President, Rev. Dr. Donald Anderson. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed to ecumenism. Anderson, after looking up the meaning of ecumenism, accepted the award and said he would attend the ceremonies this June in Pasadena. He says he is looking forward to attending the Rose Bowl. No one has had the nerve to tell him the game took place in January. June is near the end of Anderson's term as leader of our club and the Board is hopeful the change of power can take place while he is in Pasadena to avoid buying him a parting gift.
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