March 1 TRI-GEAR REPORT

Flag Salute: President Joeen Ciannella

Invocation: Peter Wells

Members Present:  Bob Balentine, Irma Chazotte, Joeen Ciannella, Bernie Cohen, Pat DiRosa, Jan Doornbosch, Steve Fox, Stuart Gold, Pat Little, Ralph Padovano, Helen Paul, Lisa Peck, Cindy Rose, George Sherman, Nancy Swales, Peter Wells, and Brittany Vozza.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests: AG Mukesh Malkan (Paramus Sunrise); Prospective Member Kelly O'Donnell; Speakers John Boswick, Mary Kim and Kate Surgent.

Make Ups: Earning a make-up at the February 19 Board Meeting was Jan Doornbosch. Stuart Gold received a make-up for attending District Leadership Training Seminar.

(Please be sure to report your make-ups for our records and to improve our percentage of attendance!)

Late Fines: Paid by Jan, Ralph, Irma and Cindy.

Pin Fines: Peter Wells (of all people!), Jan Doornbosch.

Photo Fines: Fay Logan (In absentia).

Birthdays and Anniversaries: Jan Doornbosch on Rotary Day - February 23.

Sunshine: - Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who are currently contending with adversity of one type or another.

Happiness:
by George Sherman

AG Mukesh Malkan was happy to visit the club and meet with today's speakers.

Pat Little was happy for our new members, for the opportunity to go fishing this weekend and for having been cast for a play at William Paterson College in the spring.

Kelly O'Donnell was happy to be at today's meeting and to be joining the club.

Stuart Gold was happy for Kelly and for our speakers.

Nancy Swales was happy for her son's progress and for her grand-daughter's successful operation.

Helen Paul was happy to be back with the club.

Jan Doornbosch was happy to be going to Holland to be with his grand-daughter as she undergoes surgery.

Irma was happy for the number of L&T shopping passes that had been sold thus far.

Ralph Padovano was happy to have been late again after several on-time appearances.

Steve Fox was happy for the upcoming Taste of the Pascack Valley being sponsored by the Montvale Chamber of Commerce at The Courtyard on April 24.

Bob Balentine was happy to have former student Kelly O'Donnell as a member of our club.

Pat DiRosa was happy to be going to Arizona and Las Vegas soon.

Your editor was happy to be on his way to Virginia.

President Joeen was happy for Kelly, for our speakers, for L&T ticket sales, and to have Helen Paul and Lisa Peck back with us.

Announcements:
by George Sherman

At the Feb. 19 Board meeting, Michelle Albergo announced that personal issues are forcing her to remove herself from the rotation of chairs. Bob Bustard has agreed to step in as Club President 2013-14. Completing the slate of officers will be Patrick Little – President Elect; Vlad Zherenovsky – Vice President; Philip Wells – Secretary; Pat DiRosa – Treasurer.

Irma Chazotte and Lisa Peck are again selling sales passes to Lord and Taylor’s sale which will take place Thursday, April 4 at the Ridgewood store in the Fashion Center. The club keeps all proceeds from the sales of tickets plus gets a percentage of the sales of merchandise. Members who sell at least $50.00 worth of savings passes will be entered into a drawing for a nice gift basket from L&T. WE URGE ALL MEMBERS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING AT LEAST 5 SALES PASSES. This would allow the club to raise at least $1000.00 with a minimum of effort.

So far 20 Rotarians have responded to the e-mail invitation to the March 15 Beefsteak Dinner at the Westwood Elks Club. You will be receiving another before the end of next week. Please respond. Remember that paying early will give you a $5.00 discount on each adult registration. To date we have only 31 registrants. Introduce your friends to Rotary. Last year's event was a great time and this year's promises to be equally fun.

After reading in the Bergen Record of the plight of Paterson’s North Main Street branch of their library, Dick Beattie and George Sherman decided to participate in the “Big Book Drive” campaign being conducted by The Record and the libraries of Ridgewood and Fair Lawn on behalf of the children of Paterson. The goal of the drive is to provide as many Paterson children as possible with a book of their own to take home. Between now and March 15, Dick and George will be collecting any new or gently used children’s book you may see fit to donate and will deliver them to the Ridgewood library for distribution to Paterson’s children during the April opening of the new temporary home of the Paterson branch. To learn more of this project, visit http://www.northjersey.com/news/book_drive_north_jersey_donations_paterson.html

Registration brochure for this year's District Conference in Mystic, Connecticut is now available. Download the brochure from our website or contact Judy Messineo at bergentravel@optonline.net for more information on the availability of bus transportation or on the conference itself.

President Joeen asked Peter Wells to speak about our 2013 CASH RAFFLE. Peter reminded us that this is our biggest fund-raiser of the year and something that we ALL must get behind. Potentially, we can raise $7500.00! Tickets are only $50.00 apiece and only 300 will be sold, so your chances of winning are quite good. The drawing will take place at our June 14 luncheon meeting at The Courtyard. By starting early, we hope to have them all sold by June 1.

AG Mukesh Malkan spoke of upcoming events at the District level. He paid special tribute to Peter Wells and all the work that he did as Chairman of the District Disaster Relief Committee in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Collectively Rotarians in the 6 Districts most affected were able to raise nearly $600,000.00 for the benefit of Sandy's victims. To learn more about the status of ongoing relief efforts, visit  http://nynjrotary.org/disaster-relief

Mark Your Calendar with these UPCOMING EVENTS:
by George Sherman

Fri., 3/1 - Paterson Rotary Club 100th Anniversary Dinner - Westmount Country Club, 728 Riffle Camp Rd., Woodland Park, NJ - 7:00 PM - 12:00 PM - $120.00 per person.

Mon., 3/4 – District Staff Meeting – Holiday Inn, Hasbrouck Heights – Cocktails at 5:30; Dinner at 6:00 - $25.00.

Fri., 3/8 – Club Meeting at The Courtyard – 12:15 – Guest Speaker: Karen E. Amy from the Dackks Group for Supportive Housing Development.

Fri., 3/15 - St. Paddy's Day Beefsteak - Fish/Shrimp& Chips Dinner - Westwood Elks Club, 523 Kinderkamack Rd., 7:00-11:00. Music by Moxie Light. THERE WILL BE NO THURSDAY NIGHT MEETING THIS MONTH.

Thurs., 4/4 – Lord and Taylor Sale – Fashion Center, Ridgewood

Fri., 4/19 – 2013 CLUB PICTURE

Thurs.,4/25 – President’s Ball – Season’s

Thurs., 5/16- Sun., 5/19 - 56th Annual District Conference - Mystic, Connecticut.

Sun., 5/19 - Fri., 5/24 - 2013 RYLA

Sat., 6/22 - Clearwater Sail - Alpine Boat Basin