February 22nd, 2012: Dietrich Bilger - Update on Peace Initiatives, Abroad and Locally
Corrected News Flash: Next week's meeting, February 29th, will be at
Masonic Lodge in Scituate:
Country Way,
Scituate, MA 02066
Scituate Rotary Members present at the February 22 meeting were Dietrich Bilger, Lambert Brandes, Lois Brandes, William Clark, Walter Heller, Suzanne Kavanagh, John Miller, Joan Powers, Judy Price, Robert Price, Ben Summers, Howard Tufts, and Bernie Westerveld.
We were delighted that our esteemed honorary member, Connie Mitchell, was able to be with us.
The weekly meeting of Scituate Rotary was convened at The Scituate Country Club at 6:30 P.M. with Sergeant of Arms, Walter Heller, presiding.
Bernie Westerveld led The Pledge to The American Flag.
Ben Summers offered the Invocation.
Walter Heller led the speaking of The Four Way Test.
Walter highlighted the need for us to be active participants at the District Conference coming up in Newport on April 20-22. As of the moment, we are planning for John Michalzyk to lead a break-out session, but this needs to be confirmed immediately. As yet, no one from our club is registered, but it is important that some of our members take part.
Suzanne spoke for the committee planning Dietrich's Installation in 2013. They met Tuesday night, the 21st, and considered options for additional fundraisers, besides our dinner nights at other locations than The Scituate Country Club. We will need to raise about $14,000 thousand dollars. We have already raised $400 dollars, so we are on our way. It is traditional for the home club to sponsor the new District Rotary Governor's Installation Event. Thank you, Suzanne, and your committee, for your efforts in planning this stellar event.
We will be holding a fundraiser dinner this Wednesday, February 29th, at Maureen's house Masonic Lodge in Scituate. Thank you, Maureen. You're awesome!!!! We are looking forward to a great time.
We will need a location for another fundraiser dinner, the following Wednesday, on March 7th.
Please consider hosting coming fundraiser dinners.
After a delicious dinner of chicken parm, bowtie pasta, caesar salad, and chocolate mouse, Howard Tufts had the winning number, but alas, he did not draw the queen.
Walter turned the meeting over to Dietrich, who brought us up to date on some pertinent Rotary Events and Activities. Thank you, Dietrich, for sharing your expertise with us.
Please mark the date: MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2012. (Two weeks from Monday) Cohasset Rotary is hosting an event at which Patrick O'Malley will be speaking at the LightKeepers Inn in Cohasset. Patrick O'Malley's Peace Initiatives abroad are also one of Scituate Rotary's Concerns. Patrick O'Malley, a Professor at The University of Massachusetts, works with divided, conflict cities, here and abroad. Governor Vangel will be attending, and we will want to be a part of this great evening. President Jamie will be sending more information shortly.
SATURDAY, MARCH 24th, Rotary Leadership Institute. Would you like to attend? Please see Jamie.
Rotary has Academic Peace Centers around the world: Australia, England, Japan. Ray Helmich and John Michalzyk are on the faculty in Bangkok, where there is a Practical Peace Solutions Center. Academic and Practical Solutions Programs are being set up in conjunction with Boston College and the help of Dan Schmelzer and Ignatius in Kenya, Africa.
Local peace initiatives are being studied at Cape Cod Community College and Boston University. Nantucket/Hull Rotary and Finbarr Curr of Yarmouth Rotary are working on local peace issues.
A Scituate Rotarian, for example, could work with another local Rotary Club on a particular issue, and still receive attendance credit in one's own club, Scituate Rotary.
File cards were passed out for all members to recommend a potential Scituate Rotary Club Member. Let's all be mindful and sponsor a worthy, future Rotarian.
NEXT WEEK'S MEETING, FEBRUARY 29TH, WILL BE AT MAUREEN GILL'S HOUSE, 45 JAMES WAY, SCITUATE. James Way is off of Beaver Dam Road. Keep left, and her house is on the left. PLEASE SEE THE EMAIL ABOUT THIS, AND RESPOND WITH THE FOOD ITEM YOU'LL BRING. THIS IS THE SECOND OF OUR FUN RAISERS (intentional misspelling) FOR OUR AWESOME EVENT.
Any questions? Call Lois. 781.718.2819.
Walter Heller closed with Happy Bucks!
The meeting was adjourned promptly at 8:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lois Brandes
