Club Meeting Aug 16, 2016

 

Opening and Welcome:  President Jackie Guzie opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Scott Seabury gave the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America”.

 

Members Present: Jerry Crane, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Frank DiGennaro, Jackie Guzie, Gail Handley, Greg Heineman, Richard Kisiel, Luis Lee, Clark Mason, Karen Mason, Jack Muska, Paul Pace, Ken Pascoe, Jay Presser, Charles Roumas, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg, Thomas Sullivan, Nancy Viggiano and Tami Zawistowski.   21/35   60%

 

Guests: Catherine Morrow (“Cat”)-guest of Tami Zawistowski and prospective new member.

 

 

President Jackie Guzie had several announcements:

- She formally thanked both Paul Pace and Ken Pascoe, respectively, for their leadership on the Packard Golf Tourney and the Rotary National Night Out event.

- She also announced club resignation letters received from two mature members with many years of Rotary service- Jim Wood and Tom Modzelesky, and recognized the club’s appreciation of their past service.

- Lastly, she mentioned the Board had received three funding requests. The Board will be recommending the inclusion of $1500 in the upcoming budget towards the high school’s purchase of a new Synchro timing device to be used by 80+ students. The second request is to fund about 33% (approx. $2000) of the Middle School’s new Softball Team, which the Board of Ed budgeted for in future years but not the start-up year. Jen Bombard will speak to our membership about this in person in early September. The third request is from the Basketball program, which was discussed at an earlier meeting. Ken Pascoe discovered this request is much smaller (only $4-500) than originally thought. The club will also invite a Basketball rep to chat briefly with members before a decision to include in our upcoming budget.

 

As next announcer, Paul Pace was very pleased to report the Glenn T. Packard Golf Tourney successfully raised over $30,000 net income to the local Rotary Club and the Foundation. He credited great work by the Tournament Committee and all volunteers. Paul also conveyed this was his last tourney as Committee Chair/Tournament Director, and he was seeking a current member to volunteer to plan the 2017 event. The club is very grateful for his years of leadership on this important fund-raiser.

 

Ken Pascoe again recapped the Aug 2 National Night Out held at The Spaulding School. Our Rotary stand crew had cooked and served 500 burgers and 350 hot dogs to attending families. Importantly, all leftover water was donated to Loaves & Fishes Charity in Enfield, and a collection box at the front of the stand raised $503 for Suffield Police and Ambulance Explorers’ groups. Ken also asked members to think about offering their assistance for set-up for the upcoming Chicken BBQ at Suffield on the Green.

 

Greg Heineman reported the status of the Zero Turn Lawn Mower raffle. He has secured the permits and will have 1000 tickets printed at VistaPrint. Tickets will be sold at Suffield Hardware and at the Chicken BBQ. Ticket prices will be $25 each or 5 for $100. The drawing date will be six months out. He asked members to strategize about substantive prizes for second and third places drawn.

 

Program:  Gayle Demko, our newest Rotary Inductee, provided an enthusiastic biography on her life journey to Suffield. Members were treated to an interesting life history involving DAR descendants in Massachusetts and Jackson Mississippi military roots. She and husband Chet started Heritage Funeral Home in Suffield 40 years ago. Gayle has a long record in Town of community service, and shared her favorite mantra-- that one should not think about rewards nor punishment in their actions, just the consequences/results.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries: None

 

Blue Ticket Winners:  Jerry Crane had the winning blue ticket, with sides won by Jay Presser and guest Cat Morrow.

 

Queen of Hearts:  Karen Mason had the winning ticket, but did not select the queen. Next week’s drawing $522+.

 

Adjournment: Jackie Guzie adjourned the meeting and Scott Seabury led “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” as the closing song.

 

Minutes recorded by Charles Roumas, Secretary on August 16, 2016.