Opening and Welcome: President Richard Kisiel opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test and Scott Seabury led the club in “God Bless America”.
Members Present: Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Frank DiGennaro, Natalie Donais, Jackie Guzie, Gail Handley, Greg Heineman, Richard Kisiel, Jonathan Kozloski, Robert Lowell, Clark Mason, Karen Mason, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Ken Pascoe, Roger Pratt, Charles Roumas, Gordon Stagg and Nancy Viggiano. Attendance: 59% 20/34
Guests: Larry Depo – perspective member, guest of Ken Pascoe and our speaker Mike Bosworth.
Announcements/Program: President Dick Kisiel opened the meeting with a welcome to our guests: our speaker Mike Bosworth and Larry Depo a guest of Ken Pascoe and a perspective member. Dick announced the October 10 meeting would be our Lobster Fest and an attendance signup for this event was passed. Ken provided a wrap up of the SOTG BBQ, thanks all who assisted and is targeting next week for the take down of the remaining buildings on the Green.
Salt & Sand for Seniors project: Ken noted the distribution date for these buckets of salt & sand would be Dec 2. More information on this project will be shared closed to that date.
Rotary Student of the Month: The September student will be presented sometime in October.
Luis Lee: Dick noted that Luis has just had knee replacement surgery at Baystate Medical Center. We all wish Luis a speedy recovery!
Mike Bosworth’s presentation: As high school athletic director, Mike identifies the need for replacement equipment and seeks funding for the identified items. He noted there are new tennis courts and basketball courts now available which receive quite a lot of use. His presentation focused upon a funding request for two High School scoreboards, with the intent of replacing the broken the Middle School scoreboard with the existing High School unit. In addition to the score, the new High School scoreboards would display the team name (Home of the Wildcats) and additional data, such as player number and statistics. The cost for the two scoreboards is $17,500; fundraisers and donations to date have raised $12,660, leaving a total of about $5000 needed. Mike is asking the Rotary to provide that total. (The cost of mounting the old High School scoreboard in the Middle School has yet to be determined). The order would take about four weeks to process and the target date for their installation would be end of November, just prior to basketball start.
The request is above the $2,500 threshold and will be submitted to the Giving Committee for consideration.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: No birthdays this week.
Blue Ticket Winners: Guest Larry Dapo had the winning blue ticket, with a sides won by Jon Kozlowski and Bob Lowell.
Queen of Hearts: Bob Lowell had the winning ticket, but did not select the queen. Next week’s drawing $570+.
Adjournment: Dick Kisiel adjourned the meeting and Scott led a closing song.
Program scheduled for our next meeting – Sep 26: Brian Hendrickson, Asst. Superintendent Re: Suffield Schools Curriculum & Activities