January 17 TRI-GEAR REPORT

Invocation: Bob Balentine 

Members Present: M. Albergo, B. Balentine, D.Beattie, B. Bustard, M. Cappitella, I. Chazotte, B. Cohen, P. DiRosa, J. Doornbosch, S. Fox, S. Gold, S. Hopper, P. Little, F. Logan, K. O’Donnell, H. Paul, C. Rose, G. Sherman, N. Swales, Phil Wells.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests: June Bertini (Guest of S. Hopper); Michael DePasquale (Guest of M. Albergo).

Member Make-Ups: S. Fox (Paramus Rotary Meet & Greet); B. Balentine (District Foundation Meeting); G. Sherman (Distribution of Dictionaries to OLM); J. Doornbosch (Painting Project – Pascack Mental Health)

Birthdays and Anniversaries: P. Little (Jan. 1)

Sunshine: N. Swales’ son is back home and doing well.

Happiness:

B. Balentine was happy for our former member, Pastor Paul Janssen, who has accepted a new assignment in Somerset County.

M. Cappitella was happy that his treatment is going well.

M. Albergo was happy to have Michael visiting with us today and for the upcoming District 7490 Food Packaging event  Monday.

M. DePasquale was happy for all of Michelle’s help in caring for his mother.

S. Hopper was happy for his father’s upcoming birthday and to have June Bertini here as a guest today.

P. Wells was happy for the marriage this weekend of Ryan’s brother.

J. Bertini was happy to be at the meeting today and looks forward to becoming a member.

S. Gold was happy for the wonderful club dinner meeting at Domani last Thursday and for his grandson’s 3rd place medal in Bergen County’s high school shot-put competition.

D. Beattie was happy to have his family in town to see The Lion King. He was also thrilled to have the painting completed at the Mental Health Center with the help of several Rotarians.

P. DiRosa was happy to be welcoming several friends to her shore house this weekend.

C. Rose was happy for the good dinner at Domani and to have been able to get here on time today.

P. Little was happy to pay for not having a pin today and for his boss’s successful heart surgery.

K. O’Donnell was happy to have been able to get to the meeting today.

S. Fox was happy for his daughter’s participation in a national cheerleading competition.

F. Logan was happy for his wife’s new car.

Pres. Bob was happy for the wonderful time at Domani last Thursday.

Announcements:

The Gift of Life Celebration Dinner, one of the highlights of the Rotary year, is only a month away.   This year the dinner will be held on Friday, February 7, 2014 at the Venetian on River Road in Garfield.   The cocktail hour (and we all know how great the cocktail hour is) starts at 6:30 and dinner begins at 7:30 pm.  The cost is $95.00 per person and includes the cocktail hour, dinner, an open bar all evening and don't forget the desserts.   In order to make things a bit easier, we encourage people to register by club and have your club treasurer send a check along with a list of names no later than January 24, 2014 to: 
 The Gift of Life Foundation
c/o Graceffo, Hough and Weintraub                                             
55 Harristown Rd., Suite 306                                               
Glen Rock, NJ 07452 

Walter D Head Foundations seeks applicants for scholarships.  The Rotary District 7490’s Walter D Head Foundation is providing a scholarship up to $10,000 for a person pursuing a graduate degree or to any junior or senior in college studying  journalism, assistance to people with disabilities or environmental studies. Only residents from within Rotary District 7490, encompassing Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties in New Jersey, including Rotarians and their family members, are eligible to apply. Completed scholarship applications are due Feb. 28, 2014.  Applicants must also be available for interviews in April.   Students wishing to apply for a scholarship can call their local Rotary club president or contact Walter D Head Foundation Trustee Judy Messineo at 60 Passaic St. Garfield, NJ 07026 or e-mail  bergentravel@optonline.net.Applicants can also download an application from  www.rotarydistrict7490.org , but must first have the endorsement of their local Rotary Club before they apply.

This year’s Mid-Winter Retreat will be held at the Ridgewood Country Club (next door to Bergen Community College) on Saturday, January 25, beginning with registration at 8:30 am and running through about 2 pm. This date will also serve as Pre-PETS, so all incoming Club Presidents MUST plan to attend.  In addition to learning all about Rotary, you will enjoy a deluxe breakfast and buffet lunch. Although the conference is specifically designed for all incoming and returning presidents to prepare them for their year as Leader of their Rotary Club (as it is the first part in their training, with PETS to follow in March), ALL Rotarians on the district staff and those interested in learning more about Rotary are welcome to attend..  The topics covered here will NOT be covered at PETS. Assistant Governors and all District Staff and club members who want to be re-energized in Rotary are encouraged to attend. Please contact Sharon Smith to register at: scs1950@aol.com . Cost is $25, payable at the door to Rotary District 7490.

Mark Your Calendar with these UPCOMING EVENTS:

Mon., 1/20 – Hunger Hurts – Registration is closed for the food packaging event, but you can still donate by going to http://www.endhungerne.org/donate

Tues., 1/21 – Board Meeting – Pascack Historical Society, 19 Ridge Ave., Park Ridge – 6:00 Dinner; 6:30 Meeting

Th., 1/23 – Cocktail Hour at The Cornerstone, Broadway, Hillsdale – 5:30-6:30

Sat., 1/25- District 7490 Mid-Winter Workshop – Ridgewood Country Club – 96 W. Midland Ave., Paramus, NJ – 8:30-2:00 - $25.00.

Fri., 2/7 – District 7490 Gift of Life Dinner – Venetian Restaurant – 546 River Drive, Garfield - $95 p/p – Cocktail Hour begins at 6:30; Dinner at 7:30.

Program:

In the absence of our scheduled speaker, Bernie and Steve gave members an inside look into their thoughts about the U.S. economy in 2014.

Bernie started by saying that financial advice is largely dependent on whom you ask. His own sense is that the economy will continue to do well in the coming year with the auto and aircraft industries leading the way. He sees housing as continuing to improve, but feels that the health field will be marked by great uncertainty as the ACA is implemented. He is also of the opinion that interest rates will remain quite low throughout the year.

Steve was generally in agreement with Bernie’s assessment, though he thinks that well established technology stocks will do well too. He cautioned against trying to time the market and recommended that any investments should be widely diversified.

Both agreed that Janet Yellin, new Chairperson of the Federal Reserve will probably continue with the policies of Ben Bernanke.

On the question of how best to protect one’s financial well-being, the practice of laddering CD’s or corporate bonds of various lengths was suggested as was the notion of possibly purchasing an annuity so as to create a personal pension from one’s accumulated assets.

1/3;1/3;1/3 – Won by B. Balentine. The Joker still remains with fewer than a dozen cards left to be drawn.