Club Meeting- December 27, 2016

 

Opening and Welcome:  Ken Pascoe opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Jay presser gave the invocation in Yiddish. The club sang “God Bless America”.

 

Members Present:  Gil Ahrens, Jed Dery, Greg DeSantis, Gail Handley, Jon Kozloski, Bob Lowell, Clark and Karen Mason, Paul Pace, Ken Pascoe, Ray Perleoni, Jay Presser, Nancy Viggiano, (13/37   35%) 

 

Guests: Alex Messes from the Bloomfield Rotary

 

 

Ken thanked Karen and Clark Mason for introducing the sand and salt program to the Suffield Rotary.  The group delivered buckets to 33 recipients.  The program was a success and next year we plan to get the information out earlier to the public.  The ringing of the bell for the Salvation Army raised $1,279 which was good considering the weather on Saturday.  Emergency Aid was very pleased with the results.

 

 

Alex Messes from the Bloomfield Rotary spoke about a shelter for battered woman and children located in northern Russia near Norway.The Bloomfield Rotary has been involved with donating to the shelter and they are looking to expand. The cost is $30,000 and they have operating costs covered. Rotary International will match donations. They already have a pledge of $16,000 and they need and additional $7,000 which would be matched Rotary International to bring them to the $30,000 they need. Bloomfield is donating $2,000 so they only need an additional $5,000 which they hope they can get from the other seven clubs in our district.

 

The shelter has many volunteers to care for these women and children until they can get them to a safe place.They usually only stay in the shelter for several days and two weeks at the most. The shelter needs a car to enable them to pick up these women and children. Basic medical supplies to help with injuries when they arrive at the shelter. Computers and phones for better communication to contact these families when help is needed. Ken informed Alex that the request will be presented at our next Board meeting and we will get back to him.

 

 

Blue Ticket Winners: Our guest Alex Messes had the winning blue ticket with a side won by Gail Handley.

 

Queen of Hearts:  Clark Mason had the winning ticket, but did not select the Queen of Hearts. Next week’s drawing $152+.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries/ Adjournment: Gil and Christine Ahrens celebrated their 55^th anniversary and Clark Mason had a birthday on December 14^th. Ken Pascoe made an extra donation to the Rotary so the birthday song would not be sung and Clark seemed fine with it!  The club finished the evening by singing God Bless America.   The meeting adjourned at 7PM.

 

 Minutes recorded by Nancy Viggiano on December 27, 2016.