It's the first day of summer but it feels like a rainy fall day! We gathered at the Redwood and Sue greeted 25 Rotarians and seven Naples Boy Scouts. We welcomed Patrice and Bo home from their RV adventure on Route 66 and John (and Sherry) home from Florida after an unexpectedly long stay. It's great to have you all back with us!

 

Jack rang the bell and led the Pledge. We sang You're a Grand Old Flag to prepare for joining the Canandaigua Rotary at the July 4th USA 250th Celebration. Jack's last inspiration as President was a listing of all the Naples Rotary Presidents since 1939 - an amazing testament of "Service Above Self" in our community!

 

Sue introduced our Scouting guests today, leaders and Scouts of Pack 40 and Troop 40: Colin, TJ, Jake, Aaron, Julian, Zach and Rebecca.

 

Announcements: DUES are DUE. We aim to receive all dues for July to December by the end of June. It's $75 for 6 months or $150 for the year. Thanks to all who are caught up! * Our Gavel/ Crossover dinner is next Monday at 5:30pm at Reservoir Creek Pavilion. * New Presidents Carrie and Judy have posted online and a paper survey to guide them as they start their Rotary year. Please return any paper forms to Carrie. *

We received Thank You notes for our donations from Operation Santa and Finger Lakes Nurse Honor Guard. We also received letters from Naples Secondary School Principal, Kaitlin LaFave, for our scholarships to graduating seniors: Tony Long Award to Annabella Leach, Duane Schultz Award to Bailey Rouse, Bruce Clawson "Service Above Self" Award to Carleen Waltman and Brad Clawson Award to Robert Cowell. Each award was $500. Congratulations to them all! * John (and Sherry) shared their thanks for all the support they felt while Sherry was in the hospital in Florida. They arrived home Friday afternoon. Sherry will continue rehab for some time and be back with us as soon as she is able. * This is Rotary Fellowship Month. Bo told of their RV trip for the 100th anniversary of Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica CA. They started with 7 other rigs in Chicago and met up with 10 others in Tulsa OK before heading home.

 

Our speakers today are from Naples Pack 40 and Troop 40 of Boy Scouts of America. Colin Rogers, leader of Cub Scouts started off with info on the events enjoyed by the Cubs. They have an Easter Egg hunt in March, have camped on the field after a Red Wings game, ran a Pinewood Derby and attended Camp Cutler here in Naples. They also participate in local events - making S'mores at Vintage Vines and sharing glow sticks and cookies for Light Up Naples. Scouting includes ages kindergarten to age 18. K-5th grade are Cubs and Webelos and the Scout Troop starts with 6th up to 12th grade. Scouts are self directed with leaders providing support. The Naples Troop has had 4 Eagle Scouts in the last 6 months with two more in progress! Julian described his project in progress this month. He is leading the installation of a bike repair station at the Community Park in the Makepeace Pump Track. This will support riders, encourage bike safety and provide a meeting place for cyclists in the park. Aaron's project was restoring the flagpole at the VFW, making it accessible for the Veterans with a new staircase. He thanked us for our contribution and highlighted the help he received from Al Voss for the construction design. Other Troop Eagle projects include fencing and benches for Naples Youth Corp and stone cleaning at Coye cemetery in South Bristol. Massawepie summer camp is a great experience but cost limits it to every other year.

Currently there are 10 boys in Cubs and 10 in the Troop. They always need more leaders and happily accept donations for Eagle projects. There are no girls in the group currently but there is now an active Girl Scout program in Naples.

 

The Ace of Hearts was $193 tonight. Bill Stopka was lucky again with #0383 but his pick was the 9 of Clubs. 

Happy Bills were many for the Scouts and all they do! We are happy for the Lysells and John and Sherry returning home! Lysells have a new granddaughter -#5! Their family will visit here from Israel in August. We appreciate the dedication of Scout leaders and the great young people in Scouts. We thank Jack for his dedicated leadership over the last 19 months! Chloe is excited to be hired by Naples Central School as the occupational therapist. If anyone has friends or family who could help at Naples Grape Fest, let Jo Anne know. 

 

Jack's Rotary Moment was an update from Nancy. She has been moved to Ewing Continuing Care at FFTH. Karen spoke to her and she is doing well.

 

We recited the Four Way Test and Jack adjourned us at 7:02pm. See you at the Gavel next Monday!