Rotary Weekly Update - September 1, 2016

 
Summary of Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Breakfast Meeting – September 1, 2016
 
Opening Prayer: Chris Stout
 
This day in History: Barbara Sacks – 1666 - The great fire of London destroyed the homes of at least 70,000 people and 80 percent of workshops, warehouses, and port facilities. 1975 – NYC transit fares rise from 35 cents to 50 cents.
 
Guests:
  • Scott Johnson – Visiting the club again and considering membership
 
Happy Dollars:
  • Barb – sad dollar for the passing of Gene Wilder
  • Lisa – successful moved of youngest daughter into NYU dorm in NYC
  • John – Enjoyed minor-league baseball game
  • Elise – Gong show program announcement
  • Andy – just came back from Haiti setting up two containers, returning shortly. Thankfully left Haiti just before demonstration closed airport
  • Rob – calendar announcement, distributing packets, and getting advertisement commitments
  • Betty – Ballgame and picking 52 pounds of berries
  • Ken – thank God for September and cooler days
  • Vernon – Long Island Sound visit and Happy Birthday
Announcements – Vernon and others
  • Neal - Volunteers required on Thursday September 16 to help build playground for special needs children. Four people committed todate
Guest Speaker – Rotary District Governor Stephen Jarahian with Nikki Mederos (District Secretary)
  • Joined Rotary in 1975. Local club had 54 members then, shrinking to 11 members through the years. Went to library, pulled down directory of businesses, and sent invitations for two meet-greets. Local membership increased from 11 to 20 members.
  • Goal to increase membership by 10-15%, and offering to share meet-greet methodology with local club
  • Walter D Head scholarship – can be given to a person related to a Rotary member and can study local. Different that Rotary International scholarship where person must not be related to a Rotary member and must study internationally
  • Gift of Life – need host family for person coming from Nigeria in mid-September
  • Military Family Assistance Center overview and services for veterans
  • Help needed for Italy earthquake victims – overview of shelter box program found here https://www.shelterbox.org/.
50-50 Winner – Betty Wiest
4-Way Test Leader – Vernon Reed
Number of club members (including honorary): 45
Number of club members with update photos on Rotary Web site: 7