Rotary Reminder

Service Above Self

The Amherst Reminder

Volume 86 Issue 3                                           September 15, 2011

President Irv opened the meeting and John Barbaro led us in singing God Bless America.

Invocation:  Edith Hunsberger read the following excerpt from the Amish Work, The Rules of a Godly Life

“Finally, be friendly to all and a burden to no one.  Live holy before God… your forgiveness willing, your promises true, your speech wise, and share gladly the bounties you receive.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:  Ellen Carey reported we had neither visitors nor guests.

Rotary Minute:  Inspired by Pres. Irv’s recent e-mail, Justine Holdsworth spoke on the Fifth Avenue of Service which is new generations service involving young adults from 18-30.

Announcements and Reports:  Sandy Perron thanked everyone for their help on the COVAC ride.  There were 213 riders (135 preregistered and 78 walk-ins) and the receipts were approximately $ 9,500.

President-Elect Georgia announced that the Giving Committee had allocated the following funds:

                $ 200 - Literacy Project

                   175 -  Crocker Farm School Entrepreneurship project

                   175 -  Sponsor a team in the Trivia Bee

                   250 - NEADS – to support a dog for a combat veteran

                   200 – Pure Water for the World

           and to match member donations to the Rotary Foundation up to $ 2,500.

Greg Boisseau announced that last night’s Rotaract meeting at UMass had approximately 30 people in attendance including 1 international student, 1 student who was an exchange student overseas last year and several RYLA graduates and former Interact members.

Bob Biaggi, speaking for Ed Severance reminded us that the Amerstmedia.org auction is currently ongoing.

Steve Kravatz reminded us that the paperwork for the auction was on the back table and to be sure to contact those people you contacted last year.

John Barbaro announced the Archive Committee will meet next Thursday, Sept. 22 at 2:00 in the Jones Library Special Collections.

Jim Smith announced that there will be an event next Sunday at the West Cemetery commemorating black veterans.

Chad O’Rourke announced he’s back and everything at this home (which was flooded during the recent tropical storm) is fine and he is dealing with the mud.  He thanked everyone for their concern and offers of help.  He announced his Sun for Survival picnic raised $ 500 for the Amherst Survival Center which will fund $ 4,500 meals at the center.

Arthur Kinney announced that the Renaissance Center Newsletter was available on the back table.

President Irv announced that there is a member who likes getting auction donations but doesn’t like to write them up and would like to partner with someone who likes to write but not collect. He also announced that he will be attending the Foundation dinner on November 3 at Chez Josef in Agawam and to see him if anyone would like to go.

He spoke about the Junior Achievement program coming to Crocker Farm School for students in 4-6 grades.  It will be taught by Donna Kelly and will be entitled “My Business”.  Yankee Candle will be partnering with the students and desires to do more so the program may be extended to additional schools.

President Irv is grateful for the number of members wanting to attend the Facebook Training next month.  He announced that we hope to have an Interact club in place at Amherst Regional High School by November. 

He also read a very nice letter from the Survival Center thanking us for the $ 25,000 award.  He announced ACTV is running a promo showing the awarding of the grant.  The family of Gerry Grady thanked us for the memorial donation to the George Parks Memorial Band Building at UMass.

Good News:  Bob Biaggi announced that Greta LaMountain celebrated her wedding on Saturday.

Robin Brown told us that she is looking forward to walking her dog this evening after her pet spent 26 days at Tufts Veterinary Center for multiple surgeries.  Her love of her pet showed when she said she drove to Tufts (in Grafton) every evening to spend time with him/her.  Ellen McKay thanked everyone for wishing good weather for the COVAC ride because it extended over to her daughter’s wedding.  Ellen Carey announced that her daughter was one of the first 10 finishers in a 1.5 mile ocean swim in the Swim for Life.  Sandy Perron announced her husband has been working on the Extreme Home Makeover house in Springfield.

Sargeant-At-Arms Ziomek had us sing Happy Birthday to April  .  He fined all the tables for not answering his questions and was especially rigorous with James Tripplett for using his “computer” to get the answer to the question.  Stan asked one table a second question “What year did the bicycle come to Amherst” and promised to have the answer next week.  We sang Happy Birthday to Arthur Kinney who announced he had had a birthday.

New Business:  The planned vote on two by-law amendments had to be postponed pending the mailing of written notification to all our members.  Thad Dabrowski explained the amendments.