It's November today! How did that happen? It's been a very colorful autumn and it was a very nice first Monday! Thanks Sue for greeting 23 Rotarians today.

 

President Judy led the Pledge and shared an inspiration: "None of us is as smart as all of us." Ken Blanchard.

As Rotarians, we are definitely better together.

 

Judy reviewed the projects currently in progress. Leslie is working on preparations for our US flag project that will begin in the spring. Brittany is taking on the plan for a Naples Rotary Companion Club. It will provide a way for busy people to participate in fewer meetings with a focus on service projects.

 

Birthdays this month are Nancy, Sue, Mike and Brittany. Cindy and Tom have an anniversary. We sang congrats to all! Rotary anniversaries are Chloe (1 yr), Kris (2), Jo Anne and Albie (5), Jill and Marty (8) and Bill G. (19!).

 

We received thank you notes for donations to Friends of Naples Library and Budding Readers. * Sharon is in the hospital today awaiting a pacemaker this afternoon. Jack's note hopes we will eat heartily in her honor. We are keeping them in our thoughts. * The District Touchdown fundraiser is based on $5 per Bills touchdowns in November. A sign up sheet was passed. * Naples Interact Club is having a coat and boot drive. Gently used items will be donated to Thrift and Thrive. Collection boxes are in the atrium of both schools. Or drop off at Thrift and Thrive, 24 Mill Street. *

Perry Rotary is putting on a show on Nov. 9 and 10 at Perry HS. Judy and Skip have enjoyed this great event in the past. * Registration for the 2027 District Conference is available online.

 

Our speaker today was Tom Hawks II. He is a past member and president and is now an Honorary member. He is a long term cancer survivor who has founded Grandpa-T CONNECT, a support service for others who face similar situations. Tom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2010 - the same year his first grandchild was born. He had surgery then and again in 2013 and has had many procedures and treatments since. They have left many side effects but Tom focuses on living for now. A doctor at Roswell in Buffalo had a great effect on him when she sat down and held his hand when delivering bad news. He has been in palliative care for years but his goal is to live 12 more years until he is 80! He has written a book called "I'm Not Dead Yet". His sister Katie bought 5 copies for her grandchildren.

Tom's five pillars of living connected are connecting with self, others, purpose, nature and spirituality. To accomplish these: take 5 minutes in your car, say NO once, take a walk, go for a drive, call a friend and tell the truth when someone asks how you are doing. Rotarians are all givers but we need to give ourselves time to get some water and recharge our batteries like the automated vacuum video he showed. His closing recommendation is to "come home to yourself - he is rooting for you!" His website is Grandpa-T.com.  He hosts seminars in his home and will speak at the Camp Onseyawa dinner this Friday in Geneva. Tom was sponsored in 1988 by Judy's dad Bruce Clawson and later by Skip about 10 years ago.

 

Judy shared the mystery questions for us to guess who said it: What unusual food did you try and actually like? What song would be your personal theme song? Many unusual answers got us thinking and there were a lot of wrong guesses! It's fun to learn more about our friends.

 

The Ace of Hearts was $253 today. Jo Anne had ticket #8776 and chose the Jack of Hearts. Only a handful of cards are still in the deck for next week! 

 

Happy Bills were many for Tom's presentation, his truth sharing, initiative and inspiration. We can't take care of others if we don't care for ourselves. * Welcome back to Blanche! * Cindy missed last Monday celebrating a great weekend at her son Jason's wedding to Emily in Virginia. * Alan and Kristie will be away at a Rotary RV gathering in Memphis. * Kevin and Denise moved here 2 years ago - we are all glad they are here! * Kevin S. was sponsored by Tom about 6 years ago. * Jo and Albie's grandson Alliet and family have returned from CA with plans for new treatments. * Patrice and Karen appreciated Tom's program. 

 

The Rotary Moment was a slide of the Gaga Ball Pit at the Elementary School. Cindy attended a tournament last week and explained the game. The kids love it!

We were able to help purchase it with a District Grant.

 

We recited the Four Way Test and adjourned.