Newton Rotary Meeting Tuesday Nov 12, 2013

Bert Martinson led us in the pledge of allegiance

Mary Kern gave us an invocation

Chris Chu led us in the song My Country Tis of Thee

Stella Pang, our Sergeant of Arms introduced our guests:

Maureen Gagnon, Director of Newton at Home
Jeff's friend Chip
Kelsi Fox (student of the month)
Julia & Dan Fox (Kelsi's parents)

ANNOUCEMENTS:

Paul:  Football luncheon.  Tom will be the MC again this year.  They will Raffle off a 2-3some of Golf with Tom. Steve Burton, lead sportscaster for WBZ who challenged Coach Belichick in the past , is speaking at the Thanksgiving day luncheon this year.  Paul Sullivan was able to get Dan Shawnnessy for next years luncheon already.  

Paul is putting together flags from Rotarians who have visited us from other parts of the country and sewing them together to hang at our entrance each week.  If you have any, please give them to him to add.  

Tony: Gave us a history of Newton HS Football.  65 years ago was the start of middle school football.  Class of 54 won state championship.

Tues Dec 17th at Gregorian Rugs is our holiday party as we have had it in the past.  Susanne will let us know what time and more specifics.

Nov 19th board meeting at 11AM.  This might get changed because not a lot of board members can attend this rescheduled time.  Stay tuned.

Ed Casavant introduced our student of the month.  Kelsi Fox.

Jennifer Price, spoke and again thanked us for continuing the tradition.  She spoke highly of Kelsi and introduced her. She has great skills at improv and theatre.  She does well in school.  She is a passionate and caring person.  She has done a great job handling the situation with the suicide in the high school.  Newton Public schools going through a tough time right now.  She's on a committee creating a day to talk about body image at NNHS.  How to give the tools kids need to deal with body image.  

Kelsi wrote a children's story and read it to us at the meeting.  

Indira:  one for Kelsi, she got her flu shot at CVS

Mark:  ran 1/2 marathon and improved on his time

Jeff:  for Chip, and for Kelsi

Tony:  one for Kelsi and one for speaker

Tom:  for speaker whose brother he went to college

Stella:  beautiful story, son turns 15 today

Paul:  Kelsi

Chris:  Kelsi

Paul:  Kelsi

Amanda:  Kelsi who wants the poem published

Marie:  Kelsi and her parents

Paul Stone:  For Veterans Day, he sang "When Johnny comes marching home"

Peggy:  Kelsi and for NNHS (her grandchildren went to NNHS)

Bert:  Kelsi, for his son John because he is with Doctors without Borders and he's going back to Asia

Sue:  Kelsi and her father who was a Rotarian, was in Pasadena, CA symposium talking about public time

Ed, Kelsi, Jennifer Price, and for Stella because her jokes are getting better

Mary:  Kelsi, and also for her parents

Speaker:  Maureen Gragnon, Newton at Home

Village to Village Movement started 12 months ago on Beacon Hill.  People wanted to stay in their home.  Grass Roots, Beacon Hill Village.  Now they're starting across the world including Japan.  Keeps healthcare costs lower.  President lives July Willet in Newton.

April 2011, 60 members, now have 185 members.    Over 60 and want to stay at home.  No physical care but other services.  Creating a caring community of neighbors helping neighbors.  Services include:  drivers, rides to hospitals, rides to pick up prescriptions. Volunteers to teach about the technology.  Pick up groceries, prescriptions. Feed pets.  Handyman will go in and fix locks on doors, etc.

They keep a Vendors 'Angie's list' like list that they approve:  

Social isolation, limited in movement.  formed affinity groups (dining club - lunch in Needham), west newton cinema, discount theatre tickets, book clubs, Vern Vance is a play-writer (he organizes a play reading group).  over 100 volunteers.  kids to retirees.

special projects:  winter buddies

intergenerational projects:  seasonal yard cleanups.  Schwartz donates rakes and bags

If storm, call members and give reminders.

6 mos trial (individual or household), breakaway membership, annual (individuals and households). Reduced fee memberships. $660-$780/year.

2 FTE Maureen and 2 1/2 time folks.  in Scandinavian living center. 

We watch a nice video giving examples.