Rotary Meeting Tuesday July 30, 2013

Pledge - Bert Martinson

Song - Marie Presti My country tis of thee

Invocation - John Hurney (John had a really nice invocation today. thoughtful and insightful.

Speaker - Aaron Goldman - from Mayors Office
Stella - gave a joke as she introduced the visitors...  this week it was pretty funny and she's giving Mark a run for his money... :)

Mary Announcements:
1) Chris -membership. Big push for membership in September.  Resurrect our committee.  Focus on where do we find new members, how do we market ourselves, what material do we give them.
2) Tom - Its coming up.  Newton has Talent 2nd.  need a date.  big things is the website. Improve that.  He ran into one of our judges, Joe Amarosino this past week.  He said "I hope you're doing that Newton Has Talent again!" Tom replied "I hope you'll judge again!" and he said he would do it again.
3) Death by Chocolate fundraiser - meetings will be starting in October.  Talk to Mary if you want to be on the committee.
4) David Sellers - is doing the work of 5 people because his head of camp resigned in July.  so he and sue is working on speakers.  so if you know someone good who could speak let them know.  Speaker calendar is on the newtonrotary.org website
5) Tom - Lets have a website review at a meeting.  Jeff volunteered to do a demonstration.  Will put on calendar.
6) Chris - member directory.
7) Grand opening event - Sept - Marriott Needham exit 19A near Sheraton on B street.
8) Jeff - occasionally review member billing.  since only quarterly, it was suggested that if past due 45 days, Jeff will send an email.  Do don't take it personally, just pay so we can pay Braeburn, etc.

Happy Dollars -
Justin - picking up daughter at airport from Morocco
Jeff - $2 bill vacation for 2 weeks
Chris - for guests, weather today
Stella - for guests
Tom - played in Boys and Girls Club golf tournament fundraiser.  He saw Ed Casavant there.  Tom's comment was if you play with him, wear a helmet. With Tom or Ed?  That is the question... :)  Ed was with a potential member, Frank, owner of The Local. the local is opening up two additional bars/restaurants in Wellesley and Wayland also called The Local.
Sue - weather is good.  skyped with her son.
Marie - sad for boyfriend Eddie getting laid off, but he got extended 4 months, but its in Boulder so now he's traveling a lot.
Mary - 2 happy dollars on vacation next week.  Mark has agreed to be President next week

Raffle - pot is about $600.  Jeff picked ticket.  Mark's ticket is picked.  7 spades.  Too bad... (or good for the rest of us?)

Guest Speaker
Aaron - Newton City Hall.   Last time was about a year ago when Setti was speaking.  Today is harder.  Born here in Newton and graduated in 1999 grad from NNHS.  Went to UMass Boston.
First wanted to be a doctor.  But not good at Math and Science.  After a year changed major to political science.  Accepted at an internship at Boston office of Senator Kerry.  Assigned to work with Setti Warren back then.  Worked hard then and works hard now.
After college left to work on Hillary Clinton's campaign.  Moved to Iowa.  knocking on doors, promoting events, etc.  After Hillary finished 3rd in caucuses.  Went to Las Vegas, RI, PA.  worked with different groups of people.

Policy & communications advisor on Joint committee on transportation.  MassDOT (used to be turnpike authority, massport, etc.) volunteering for Mayors Campaign.  Afterwards, he asked to join his team.  3.5 years.

Achievements:
- Openness and Transparency - 70 town hall style meetings.  learn about what is going on and give opinions.  budget priorities, etc.  Three 1) Education 2) Public Safety and 3) Infrastructure.

Regular Office Hours - 10-15 minute meeting.  any resident.  400 meetings.
Jan 2010 - only way to report was to call.  No Metrics.  But now, overseeing implementation of 311 system.  Request is logged into web database with a unique work order including email address.  Residents can log directly on the city's website.  40-45 common service requests.  Being used 25% of the time. 70K requests over 2.5 years.
Reinstated the reversed 911 system for the city to call residents.
close relationship with business community.  businesses and land owners and their concerns.  Issues:  storefront sidewalks are uneven, fill empty storefronts, help find a location - every available open space.
Rox diner, example - west roxbury.  looking for location in newton.  About to open in Newton Highlands where bakers best was located.
larger scale developments - on route 9 chestnut hill square development mix of open space businesses including Wegmans (opening in march) and across at "The street" shake shack, la sports, pink berry, Davios, movie theater.

Getting the finances in order - didn't have a CFO prior to Setti.  Hired Maureen Lemeau.  0 based budgeting.  what services to you provide, what money do you need, and lets build up for each dept.  start over every year.  Saved $15 M .  Negotiated with 17 unions.  Many contracts were up.  previously spending more money than it had.  revenue was increasing at $2 M but expenses were increasing at $4M so something had to be done.  Rate of revenue and expenses are level at 2.5% with Setti.

Community Engagement team, Ana Gonzalez, to improve the aesthetics in each village.  Newtonville.  Beautiful  Trying to improve Walk-ability and beautification.  Some city funding and private funding.  For Newtonville, they replaced a few trash barrels with nicer looking ones, planters over the bridge on Walnut St.  Had a village Day last year for the first time.  Nonantum has had 2 village days last 2 years.  Beginning in West Newton this year.

Spring, launched partnership Wellcoin.  Glen Lefell, Newton doctor/resident.  Residents can be rewarded for a variety of healthy activities.  Free, username.  If you jogged, health lunch, doctors appointment, record what you did.  earn Wellcoins.  If someone else verifies you did it even more coins.  Partner Businesses that are offer discounts based on how many coins you have.  Pink Berry.  Fruit Smoothies.  Discount if you have Wellcoins.  Johnnies in Newton Centre, PureBar.

Spring, opened Veterans Center and American Legion in Nonantum.  First center of its kind of variety of services social services meet with VA, socialize with other veterans, employment opportunities.  What was wrong, different resources but they're fragmented.  Open once a month, first Tues of each month.  Residents and families can meet with providers and ask questions.  Aug 6 is next open evening.

Up for reelection in September.  If there are more than 2 candidate, there will be a preliminary.  top 2 will run in November.  Deadline to submit need 400 certified signatures, by end July 30, 2013.   its a 4 year term.
Newton Corner space - flower shop, a little market, Boston Market, old Applebees.  Rent is too high sometimes.  Try to do some Landlord round tables.

Railtrail - owned by MBTA.  expected to sign over to city.  hopefully this year. Walking and Biking on the trail.

Adjourned at 1:30PM.

Please forgive my typos and grammar... Presented by yours truly.... Marie :)