Rotary 8/13/13.  Editor is Marie Presti

Mary Kern rang the bell at 12:30 PM.

Pledge:  Bill Lowry
Song:  Susanne McInerney "God Bless America"
Invocation:  Paul Kerrissey.  He spoke about thanking us for our service

Announcements
Mary:  District Governor Douglas Detweiler, will be at next week's meeting on Tuesday Aug 27th to talk to us.  Mary will be here even though she is on vacation.  We need a big turnout.  Sometimes he wants to come earlier but there is no board meeting.  So Mary will let us now.  

Marie - She is doing the note taking to produce the gear... bear with her as she gets used to doing it.  She's not the best speller so if she spells your name wrong please let her know.  She won't take offense... :) 

Sue - She is in charge of the speaker calendar with David Sellers.  If you have an idea send it to Sue and she will followup.  She and Paul Kerrissey is trying to coordinate a time to meet to discuss speakers and rumor has it that it involves alcohol and may be on Sept 5th.  She'll send out an email.

HAPPY DOLLARS
Mary Kern gave $5 because she was sort of on vacation this past week.  She went golfing and other local things including the beach.  One of the dollars was sad because she pulled her back out by sneezing... (Crazy huh?).  She also gave a dollar for Bruce Leaver and gave us an update on him.  He called her said he's been wanting to say hello.  Last round of chemo this week.  Then 2 more weeks to recover.  He said to say hello to all of us.  Doctors told him it was a surface brain tumor which is better than most.  They are feeling good that they may have gotten it all.  They may do radiation after depending.  This is all a very good prognosis.  He hopes to be back with us fairly soon.  We love you Bruce!  

Indira  Desai for Bruce hope he gets better fast.

Susanne McInerney gave a dollar for Gervaise her sister who is doing well at Spaulding rehab.  She's been 18 weeks in the hospital.  They nicked her heart when they were cotterizing veins around the heart.  Another dollar was for her brother, Bob Long, who was a Detective Lieutenant and was one of the first witnesses at the Whitey Bulger Trial.  He got interviewed by the media and all... It was a big day for him yesterday hearing the verdict.

Tom Keery for Bruce looking forward to good news.  For Marie with understanding that she will explain what she did this past weekend.

Sue Peghiny gave $6 as it was a big week.  She went sailing on premaster schooner, 3 days on Bear Island on Lake Winni, and her son's grades from New Zealand were great!  Lastly, her husband and her went on the sail boat "Allegra" with Paul Kerrissey.  (I'm jealous... )

Paul Kerrissey for Bruce, for Mary for doing the Jimmy fund walk with 13.1 miles on Sept 8th.  She is looking for donations for Pat Palmer's wife.  As an aside, Mary gave us an update on Pat's Wife... she can't take Evastan, so she just got accepted into a clinical trial.  Only 4 people with this type of cancer was accepted into the trial so they're excited to try it.  It just started today.  She does the walk in her honor.  Mary, send us the link via email so those who can walk but wants to donate can do their part.

Bill Lowry $2 for Bruce, for his oldest grandaughter Emily who was in the cast of Susical in Newton, played part of "Sour Kangaroo".  All the kids were blooming actors.  Now with 2 weeks before school and no play rehearsals they are now able to hang out...

Tony Bibbo for Bruce, for the fundraiser "Dancing with the Stars" that Brookline Rotary ran last week, and for Tom Keery and Marie Presti who placed 4th in the contest... Everyone in the room stopped and stared at Tom and Marie.Is that what Tom gave a happy dollar for earlier? (Tony was kidding...really... hahaha)

Dick Bowen for his daughter visiting here from Staten Island.  She actually asked him to give us a happy dollar from her.  THANK YOU!

Peggy Lepore, welcomed back fellow Rotarian Paul Stone back to the meeting for the first time since his fall.  Yea!!  and he looked very good too.

Paul Stone as he was happy to be back at the meeting and healthy again.  He also did his usual "how about them Red Sox!"

Stella Pang gave $15 today since today is her 14th year wedding anniversary!  CONGRATULATIONS!  She also commented part of it was for Bruce.

Marie gave $5 to give an update on her mom... (bone biopsy was Monday and confirmed it was hormonal cancer which metastasized from her breast into her pelvic bone as well as skull and legs.  Oncologist appointments next week to recommend treatment plan.  She also described her Spartan Saturday race.  It was a 3.2 mile mountainous run (actually walk on many occasions)   along with 15 obstacles including jumping over fire, climbing 10 foot walls, climbing up 12 foot hanging ropes to ring a bell, dragging tires, and crawling under muddy barbed wired.  See pictures at the end of this newsletter to get the full effects...

No guests today so Stella is off the hook for introducing guests.  But we'll miss her joke...

Paul picked Marie's number.  about $500 in the kitty.  9 clubs.  too bad.  (this time really too bad because it was me who didn't pick it...)

Mary thought membership met this week but actually it was notes from last year.  So we had a discussion about membership which has recently dwindled and about how to increase our membership for this great organization.

Stella putting together list of organizations of who to target in Newton
Tony came up with idea... letting us know when someone isn't going to be here so they can invite a guest in their place to eat the lunch on them.
Hit newton Wellesley hospital, Laselle college, 
Chris wants to be sure to assign the right person to who will call so they answer the person's questions.
Knox Trail Boy Scouts
Mount Ida
Boston College

Bill Lowry can bring in the book from 20 years ago for us to review what companys were represented way back when.  
Maybe inviting president of the colleges to come and speak first (as we had in the past).  Different presidents could come and speak.  We'd make headway if we asked to come and speak first and then judge their interest in joining.
Mary said she can get them to come for lunch... but sometimes people said they already belong to the "chamber".  Competition?  Do one or the other.  We're a luncheon club that helps the community.  We need to be able to help differentiate us.  Maybe get Greg to come.  He's the head of the Chamber of Commerce for Newton/Needham.
Taking a day and walking into the local businesses.  Auburndale Keys drug owner was thinking of joining.
We need a list and then match up who goes to which person.
Indira was invited to Worcester installation lunch.  Invitation in the mail.  Everyone was asked to invite a person $15.  People from everywhere.  President had 10 members to join as a goal.  They ended up with 5 members.  Getting them to death by chocolate.  Some entertainers.  

Marketing.  tied to membership drive.  Put an ad in craigslist.  Come on and do community service.  TAB can put a free press release.  25th anniversary of women in Rotary.  We've had 5-6 Women presidents.  We ought to take advantage of it.  Do a skit and invite people.  What will men contribute to Rotary?  Today we are 1/2 women and 1/2 men.  That could be a theme.  

Bring a potential member.  Have a visitor day at luncheon.  That would be the speaker.  Incent current members to bring a member.  Go back through the speaker list and ask them if they want to be on the friends list.  Mary will put together a committee.  Different ethnic communities.  Russian community in Auburndale might be good to ask if they want to join.

Board members of each of the non profits should be asked to come since we do donate and offer community grants which they may be eligible for.  2nd step, Newton Food Pantry.  Check with Ed for last 10 years of who we donated to.  

Mary Adjourned early at 1:15PM

Image

Paul Stone accompanies by our President, Mary Kern, and his weekly ride, Dick Bowen.  Thank you Dick!!

Yours Truly,

Marie

Image

Image

 
 
Sponsors