Beamer 10.30.13

BEAMER 10.23.13

THE NEXT MEETING IS AT WELSHFIELD.

THE NEWSOME SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER IS NOVEMBER 2ND STARTING AT 6 PM AT ST. EDWARD'S IN PARKMAN.
 
AN OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATING JOHN GANDER'S 100th BIRTHDAY WILL BE THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd FROM 1:00-4:00 PM AT THE BOND BUILDING AT CENTURY VILLAGE.  No gifts although cards are welcome.  ALL ARE INVITED.

Guests:  Brad Wadsworth and Bev McClelland.

Potential New Member (First Posting):  Brad Wadsworth.

Heads and Tails winner:  Bev McClelland.

Rich Newsome continues to do very well and is now home!

Jim Dvorak announced that we will be distributing dictionaries on November 21st.  More details to come later.

The Rotary Club of Aurora is having their Crepes and Wine Spectacular at Doogan's restaurant in Aurora on Sunday, November 3rd, from 1-3:30 PM.  The price is $35 for adults and $20 for those under 21 years of age.  

The County Home Christmas Party will be December 18th.

As a reminder, all BMR Board meetings are scheduled for the third Wednesday of the month after the regular meeting.  This is a great way for members to get attendance credit for two meetings (the regular meeting and then the Board meeting following the regular meeting).

PROGRAM:  Geauga County Board of Elections.  Roberta Halfords, Director.

Roberta started with the Board of Elections in 1988 and in 2012 became the Director.  The Board of Elections consists of 4 people, 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats.  They do their best to stay as bipartisan as possible, even among the employees working in the office.  When she started, there were 96 precincts consisting of 500 people each.  Now there are 78 precincts consisting of 1400 people each.  Less precincts are easier for the Board of Elections to handle so this is a good thing.  Roberta said that the odd year elections like the one coming up this November are extremely important and often have more impact on the taxes you pay then the larger even year elections.  She reiterated the fact that every vote counts noting a recent election in Parkman that was decided by a coin flip to break a tie.  Interestingly, although the tax payers bear the cost to fund our election process, some of these costs are charged back to the entities who participated in the election.  She talked about the issue of polling locations as some residents don't like where their precinct votes.  She said there are limited options as to where people can vote due to parking and space limitations.  Also, if a facility does not meet the American Disability Act standards and the Board of Elections wants to have a precinct vote there, the Board of Elections has to pay the full cost to bring that facility up to American Disability Act standards.