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: Prospective Member due to be inducted next week, Charles Nelson.

PICTURE:  The picture attached to this Newsletter is from Thomas Gillett, who visited with us from his home in France this summer. He is the one on the right, and this shows him presenting the Needham Rotary flag to Pierre Poupard, of the Rotary Club in his home town in France. Great Picture Thomas! Come back soon!

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.
• 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.
• Maury Ringel has resigned from our club, due to business pressures. He wrote a very nice letter to the Club, and hopes to be able to return to the Club in the future. Classy way to go about it.

BIRTHDAYS: Chris Teachout. Maybe it's his lucky day ?

50/50 DRAWING: The Birthday Boy, Chris Teachout,had winning ticket 776, but came in last when drawing for the King of Diamonds. Better luck next time George. The pot stands at $66.00.

HAPPY $$$: Ryan had a $1 in memory of his Grandmother who just passed on; Erica for her 14^th wedding anniversary; Jim Brown for his 33^rd wedding anniversary; Bob Dunning for being able to get out of work to come to rotary; lots of  'Great Weekends'!

HUMOR: A Medical Stimulus Package..

 Apparently the American Medical Association has weighed in on the new
economic stimulus package....

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not
to make any rash moves.

The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the
Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.
Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said,
'Oh, Grow up!'

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the
Radiologists could see right through it.

Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The Internists
thought it was a bitter pill to swallow,

And the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the
matter."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were
pissed off at the whole idea.

The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the
Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to
the a**holes in Washington.

AND, a second one as well...

I was talking with a friend who told me had been married for 42 years. On his 42^nd anniversary he took a careful look at his wife and said "Honey, 42 years ago we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10: black and white TV. That was alright, because every night I slept with a hot 21 year old".

"Now I have a $500,000 home, a $30,000 car, a nice bed with a large plasma screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 63 year old woman. It seems to me tht you are not keeping up your end of the bargain".

He went on to say "My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find a  hot 21 year old, and she would make sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa and be watching a 10" black and white TV"

Aren't older women great ??? They really know how to solve your mid-life crisis...

SPEAKER: Lois Sockol did an excellent job introducing today's guest speaker, Denise Garlick. Denise is the Co-Chairperson of the Needham Senior Center Exploritory Committee; is a Selectman in Needham; and is quite active in a number of other Needham other activities.

The NeedhamSeniorCenter is currently in the Stephen Palmer building, adjacent to Green's Field. In 2010, 25% of Needham's population will be 60 or over, and as a result, this becomes an increasingly important part of the town. The current Center has 6700 square feet, averages 8000 phone calls per year, and has many visitors daily for their activities and services. Services for seniors include medical, legal, financial and job counseling. At the Center, high school students interview the seniors to learn more about prior generations, and to learn of their participation in WW II.

The Exploratory Committee has visited as many as 35 different senior centers in the area, to determine what is current and up to date. They have narrowed their original list of 8 prospective locations to the following possibilities, with the following qualities:

1. Presbyterian Church (next to the NewmanSchool): This church may become available, and it is of sufficient size. The problem is parking.
2. On Land above the Rosemary Pool: Conveniently located between the center of town and the Heights, but construction costs may be higher.
3. Green's Field: A number of town folks would prefer to use this space for Children's sports, as it is being used now. Likely this would be the least expensive to build on.
4.  Ridge Hill: Folks now think it would have to be torn down, and it is not very convenient.

Denise is a nurse, so she understands the importance of a SeniorCenter. The next step is to hear from the Presbyterian Church what they want to ask for the building. This would be the quickest, and perhaps easiest, way to obtain a new SeniorCenter. They are hoping to be able to occupy a new SeniorCenter by 2013.

Denise is obviously committed to this project, and gave a very nice overview of the entire project. Thanks Denise !!!

UPCOMING SPEAKERS:

Sept. 29-Jennifer Lynch, Independent Blessings

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

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

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