Unlike last week, today was more like a typical November day…bleak and bleary, yet good cheer was among us as we gathered for our Noon Meeting. There were 24 of us united for our In-Person Meeting today, along with guests Sharon, wife of Jack, and our guest speaker, Bill Cook. Joining us on-line were Jill, Liz, Brenda, and Susan, along with Alan Wixom and Mary Makepeace.
President Matt opened today’s meeting, as he invited us to stand for The Pledge to the Flag. Alex gave The Blessing, thanking the Good Lord for keeping us healthy and safe during this time of uncertainty. Today’s Program was brought to us by Bill Cook, founder of the Bill Cook Foundation.
Matt focused on the aspect of Member Health. It was decided at this morning’s Board Meeting that we would meet virtually, via Zoom, from 11/23/2020 until 1/11/2021. We are airing on the side of caution, and we are being wise in light of recent Covid 19 statistics. The health and safety of our membership is foremost. We hope to resume In-Person Meetings on 1/18/2021. Matt said that he will pass along Zoom Links for those in need. The meetings will all take place at noon.
According to Skip, the dictionaries and thesauruses will be delivered to the third and sixth graders this Friday, 11/20. Skip, Judy, Carrie, and Matt will be helping to distribute these helpful tools to the children. Skip also gave kudos to Tom, Nancy, Laurie, Shanna, and Bruce for how they have helped the In-Person Meetings to run so smoothly. We were certainly all in agreement!
Patrice gave a short report on the Ornament Sale for Light Up Naples. The sale began this past weekend, and it will run through November 30th. The two sale locations are Caruso’s Café and Rennoldson’s Market. The baubles are $5.00 each, and they can be decorated and returned by Dec. 5th to Perriello Park where the Rotary Tree will stand. One can sign up to help sell the ornaments on-line. There was also a hard copy of the Sign-Up Sheet available, as well, for those who wished to sign up in this way. Thus far, we have made over $200! The Light Up Naples Celebration will be from Dec. 5th until Jan. 2nd. Rose noted that area businesses are refurbishing their snowmen, and the LUN Committee is sprucing up some snowmen also. These will be returned soon to be strewn along Main Street to add to the Holiday Spirit in the Naples Community.
A summary of this morning’s Board Meeting was given by Patrice. Susan announced that she is retiring as Treasurer, effective June 30th. Laurie, who is being trained by Susan, will replace Susan as Treasurer. Many thanks from the Membership to Susan, for all that she has done to make our budget work effectively, and welcome to Laurie, as she will take on her new role! Laurie has been making the deposits, and she will begin the accounting part of the position on Jan. 1st. Susan gave thanks to Jane for all her diligent work as our Auditor. When Laurie takes over as Treasurer, each audit will be done on a quarterly basis. Skip will check with Bill G. about talking to Gary to ensure that the Trout Derby is in place for next year. Both the Virtual Foundation Event, (11/24 from 7-8 PM), and the Eastern Cities Dinner, (12/8 at noon), are Zoom Events, and all are welcome to join in. We have decided to table any ideas for District Simplified Grants at this time. As mentioned earlier in this report, our meetings will now be on-line, via Zoom, from 11/23/2020 until 1/11/2021, so that the membership can remain safe and healthy. We hope to return to having In-Person Meetings by 1/18/2021. As noted earlier, the Zoom Meetings will take place at noon. Some ideas were shared as to how we can “keep in touch” over the Holidays. We could do a Christmas Card Exchange, of course, and we could do a small Gift Exchange by way of drawing names. Now, that might be fun! In keeping with safety measures, the Christmas Books for the Elementary Kids will be wrapped and delivered to the Elementary School for the teachers to distribute. In looking ahead at our Annual Goals, we will keep in mind that membership stability is of great importance. In terms of Membership, this is a reminder that dues are due. Matt will give an update on dues.
“The fourth time is a charm!” exclaimed President Matt, as he introduced today’s speaker, Dr. Bill Cook. Having made three previous attempts at having him visit us, today we “hit the jackpot”, as we were fortunate to have him join us at last! His program entitled “From Suburbs to Slums” carried us through a life filled with empathy, compassion, and genuine love for others. Dr. Cook, who was a mentor and colleague of Pres. Matt, and an impactful teacher, has been connected with our friend, Sebastian, who visits us annually to talk about the good Naples Rotary is doing in South Sudan. Dr. Cook reflected upon retirement…is it a time to play golf, or dote on the grandkids? Well, yes, of course, but one’s entire working career can act as a prelude for what one can do in those years to follow! Bill grew up in a suburb of Indianapolis. He did his graduate work at Cornell, and he became a professor of Humanities at SUNY Geneseo, thus becoming a “Western New Yorker”. “You learn something every time you teach a book!" noted Bill, “and you learn what it means to live in a democracy, and to be a citizen.” His special interest centers around Medieval History. He showed us a picture of St, Francis of Assisi embracing a leper, and it was from this image that we learned how it became a part of who he is…
Dr. Cook told us about a time when he was teaching in Italy, which was but a part of the extensive traveling he has done throughout his life. He came upon a boy begging on the street who was a gypsy from Slovakia. He took him, (Bill), to meet his sister, who also was a beggar, and who was handicapped. Bill was prompted to help those who were considered “unworthy.” He gave talks all over the world, and because of his lectures, he came to know influential people who could help him monetarily. He met with the Franciscan Fathers, who took him to the slums to visit the poor. It was at this juncture that he started The Bill Cook Foundation to help kids to receive an education, and to turn their lives around. Bill talked about another time when he had been to the country formerly known as Burma, and he had visited an orphanage. As a result of his efforts, a library was established, a full-time English teacher was hired, and a trip to the seaside was given the children to provide them with a pleasant experience.
Other pictures Bill shared with us were of a young boy coloring a picture of a parasite (for health education), and some of Downs Syndrome children who were unable to be taught. A team was created, called “Exceptional Hearts” that made it possible for these special children to be taught, and good changes for their families were brought about as well. Bill says that the use of funds gleaned from friends and others has helped him to make more of a humane world. He has never forgotten those two beggars that convinced him to help others, and he adds that “a lot comes from reading books!” He reflects on the Biblical Story of the Good Samaritan, and he thinks of all whom he helps as his Neighbor. We are all brothers and sisters,” he concluded, “and now you know what you can do with your retirement!” PP Tom added that “the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” You see, Dr. Cook was Pres. Matt’s mentor and colleague at Geneseo! Thanks so very much to Dr. Bill Cook for spending time with us today! Your inspiring program was well worth the wait!
There were plenty of Happy Bills that came forth in praise of, and in appreciation for the work that Dr. Cook is doing. We can see that he is one who truly “lives his faith!” John F. was a bit relieved to be “off the hook” as far as a Rotary Moment was concerned, but he did refer to the group of members who helped move “a bunch of stuff” from the Town Hall to Mike J.’s basement last Saturday!
With Jodi’s permission, I am prompted to share a little quote that I spotted at Caruso’s yesterday. I believe it fits so well with Dr. Cook’s talk, and the upcoming season of thanks. “Be the good that you want to see in the world!” Have a great week, everyone. We’ll gather virtually and safely at Monday’s Zoom Meeting!
