Rotary Club of Needham

September 15, 2009

Newsletter

Ryan led us in the pledge of allegiance, with Ron Sockol leading us in "God Bless America" and  Darrell led the group in prayer.

GUESTS: Former Needham Rotarian and Past President Joel Skolnick was our guest. It was great to see him!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Harvest Fair is October 3.  Opportunity to promote the Rotary pancake breakfast. 
• Pancake Breakfast is October 17^th! We are looking for sponsors, with their ad to appear on the placemats used at the breakfast.
• Wingate is donating syrup for the event! Thanks Debbie
• The Sheraton is donating the pancake batter. Thank you Sheraton!

Gary gave a very complete on the event, and it is safe to say it is in good hands with Gary at the helm. We do need to sell tickets, which are the key to our success. Gary passed out flyers and window flyers are available as well.

• December 20, Rotary to help with the Needham Habitat House (bring your gloves and long-underwear for work)
• Anyone found the CHARTER???
• Lois Sockol mentioned the Needham Public Library Foundation 'Black White and Read all over Gala' to be held on October 17^th. See www.lflonline.org for details.
• Gift of Life Update: The 2 young boys from Kosovo who arrived 9 days ago, the first young boy (Endrit, age 4) was successfully operated on Saturday. He has one check up scheduled, and then he is on the way home!!!  

The second young boy, age 7,  has significant dental problems, despite a certification from the Kosovo dentist that his teeth were fine. These will have to be dealt with first, via oral surgery at Children's Hospital, before the heart surgery can even be scheduled. This will delay his surgery and his entire schedule by something on the order of a month. The original host family can not keep him that long, so, Ted has found the 'Boston Kosovo Society', a group of 80 families from Kosovo who have taken this child and his mother in, and Ted said it was like old home week.

In the mean time, the BU Roteract Club is signing up for their second child, and Brookline Rotary is about to pay the $5000 fee for their second child. Great project, great job Ted !!!

• BID-Needham Gala on November 6. Louise and Kathy looking for donation gifts. They will also have an open house the day of the Harvest Fair, with buses to the Hospital from the Town Green.
• Needham High School is hosting a 'Global Competency' night to explain the value of NHS obtaining this certification. Bill Paulson is looking for someone to attend this meeting to explain Rotary's 'Rotary Youth Exchange' program. Are you available October 6^th at night ? Let Bill know if you are.
• Lois Sockol talked up the 'Climate Action Day' which is to be held on Oct. 24^th. Her Synagogue and some Churches in town are involved. If you would like to be active, let Lois know.

BIRTHDAYS:

HAPPY $$$: Lois Sockol LaShanah Tovah', as this starts the Jewish Happy New Years celebration ! Bill Rosenthal: happy to have sold all his tickets ! George Hoffmeister-happy for the candles on our tables! A lot of 'Welcome Back Tom Brady', and a number of 'Did it have to be that close ???'

50/50 DRAWING: George Hoffmeister had winning ticket 976, but came in last when drawing for the King of Diamonds. Better luck next time George. The pot stands at $41.00.

HUMOR: A Detective Story:

Three elderly women are excited about going to see a Red Sox game. They smuggle in a bottle of Jack Daniels into Fenway. The game is very exciting, and they are enjoying themselves immensely by mixing the Jack Daniels with soft drinks. Soon, they realize that the bottle is almost empty, and the game has a lot of innings to go. Based on the given information, what inning is it, and how many players are on base ??

Think ! You're 'goanna love the answer..It's the bottom of the fifth, and the bags are loaded!!

SPEAKER: Our speaker canceled on Monday, so we all got an 'early out'.

UPCOMING SPEAKERS:

Sept. 22-Denise Garlick, NeedhamSeniorCenter Exploratory Committee

Sept. 29-Jennifer Lynch, Independent Blessings

Oct 13-Bill Burke, Headmaster, St. Sebastian's School

Oct 20-Dr. Peter Simulowitz, BID Needham: "Healthcare Legisslation"

Oct. 27-Mike Reilly, NECN and Brockton Rox Announcer