December 20, 2013
The meeting was called to order by President Mika Hon. Al Peskoe led the Pledge of Allegiance and Paul Peacock delivered the Invocation. President Mika welcomed our guests and our speakers, Kate Stevens and Meghan from Ocean Place Resort & Spa.
President Mika made the following announcements:
- District Governor Sheila has asked for nominations for District Governor 2016-2017. Deadline to receive the nominations need to be in by January 15th.
- We are trying to lock in a date for our annual installation dinner President-Elect Brian Berry will become the next President of the Club. The dinner will be held at McLoone’s at Pier Village and we are targeting June 19th.
- March 6th is the Lombardi Awards Dinner where local high school football players will be recognized. We will be raising money by selling 50/50’s and there are sponsorships available. President Mika asked for participation from the Club.
- A report was provided on the two food drives held recently by the Club. President Mika told the group that about 600 families were provided with baskets of food over the course of the Thanksgiving and December Holiday food drives.
- President Mika presented a check of $4400 to the Karen Hansen Memorial Scholarship Fund. Karen’s daughter, Joyce Dejohn, accepted the check and thanked the Club for all their efforts. The money was raised at the Rotary Art Show held last spring. Joyce said, the Fund “will create a legacy to help other passionate special education teachers” The Fund was established through Monmouth University.
- President Mika also presented a check to Kick Cancer Overboard. Long Branch Rotarian, Ted Friedli accepted the check of $500 for the organization. Ted thanked the Club for their efforts and announced that “100% of the contributions go to the people who have been affected by cancer”. To date, the organization has given away 83 cruises to individuals and their families afflicted by cancer.
- President Mika announced there will be no meeting held next Friday, December 27th.
- Lex Tucci announced that there will be an Intercity Rotary Brunch Meeting held on March 1st at 10:00am at the Eatontown Sheraton. The meeting will feature a speaker, Joseph Tordella, who is a graduate of Shore Regional High School who went on to hold post throughout the Middle East and Asia with the State Department. The Intercity meeting will include the Rotary Clubs of Long Branch, Red Bank, and Asbury Park.
Kate Stevens, Sales Manager & Megan Keefe, Executive Meeting Manager of Ocean Place Resort & Spa
Speaker
President Mika introduced our guest speakers, Kate Stevens and Meghan from the Ocean Place Resort & Spa. Kate has been at the Ocean Place for 1 ½ years with her main responsibilities being sales and promoting the Ocean Place with Associations and non-profit organizations. Meghan has focused her efforts on the local and regional, corporation and business world. The two spoke about the role the Ocean Place played in housing many of the displaced residents in the area as well as the renovations Ocean Place has undertaken in the last year. As you may have noticed the Ocean Place has taken advantage of its location on the ocean to have a more “coastal” feel. Renovations are underway as they redesign the rooms and they plan to be completed by April, 2014. Additionally, the Ocean Place has begun work December 1st on a second phase of renovations that will include changes to the lobby, dining area, indoor/outdoor pool that will lead out to the Tiki Bar.