Rotary Club of Needham

September 29, 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: Mojee Babaie, who just moved to Needham and is selling Real Estate at Cliff London's office; the last time we can say it, Charles Nelson, who is being inducted today (see below). We were in a small room today, and sang the 'Rotary Welcome Song', and it sounded horrible, reported our Sgt. At Arms Greg, who chose to stand outside.

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!

Erica is busy working on the lawn signs for the event. If you have a lawn in  Needham which is suitable for such a sign, let Erica know!

• 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
• Gift of Life Update: 1 young boy has his final check up before going home to Kosovo, scheduled for last Thursday, 10/1. The other young boy was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Ted remarked how the local group of immigrants from Kosovo have stepped up to help their fellow Kosovoans.
• Our Bore Hole grant request to RI for matching funds has been turned down by RI, just because all the funds have been used. The world wide financial crisis has affected RI's investments as well. This is the second time it has happened. Hopefully next year! It's too bad, because this is a real good project: providing a pump system so a town can have potable water.
• Ted Shaughnessy was on a mission to find a temporary home (for 2 nights) for an Egyptian Doctor who had visited our area a year and a half ago, as part of a GSE team. Ando had reservations at one place which fell through, so Ted was looking. The good news is that the place he was going to spend the rest of his month here at MGH came through, and Ando was able to move in, no problem. Thanks Ted!!

INDUCTION: Charles is a VP in the Wealth Management division of Eastern Bank. While his office is in Saugus, he covers the Dedham, Natick and Newton branches. He assists clients with all facets of wealth management, and has been at Eastern Bank for 20 years. Prior to that he was at Scudder Stevens and Clark for 11 years. He is a member of the Boston Estate Planning Council.

Charles has a BA in Mathematics from BU, and an MBA from BabsonCollege. Additionally, he has completed BU's Certified Financial Planner Program.

Charles and his wife Stacy have  4 children: Peter, Cam, Ava and Lucy, who range from 4 to 9 years old. Charles is an active sports coach for his children, and they spend time in Southport Maine during the summer. Stacy is a 7^th grade science teacher at the JFKMiddle School in Natick.

We are all delighted to be able to welcome Charles to Needham Rotary. He is a fine person, and we all look forward to working with him, and getting to know his family.

Welcome Charles !!

Erica Bond is Charles's sponsor, and all are included in the attached photo

BIRTHDAYS: None.

50/50 DRAWING: Our newest member, Charles Nelson, had lucky ticket # 816, which entitled him to a draw of the cards. He came up empty handed, and the pot has grown to $84!!

HAPPY $$$: Gerry Goodman for 2 weeks in Aruba; Rich Forte pointed out that his wife's company, Flowers by Forte in Westwood, is having an open house next Thursday from 1 to 7 pm to celebrate being in business for 5 years! Congratulations Rich ! Plenty of Congratulation' for Charles Nelson becoming a Rotarian; Chris Teachout for selling 20+ pancake tickets and counting.

HUMOR:

SPEAKER: Jeanne Carey and Jennifer Lynch, from Independent Blessings, a firm specializing in non-medical services to enable senior citizens to live independently, were our guest speakers.

Jeanne has a degree in nursing from University of Michigan, and a law degree from the New England School of Law. Jennifer has a liberal arts degree from BC, and an MBA from TulaneUniversity. Prior to her involvement in Independent Blessings, Jennifer founded Kingston-Dwight Associates, a Boston based recruitment firm.

They explained how the life expectancy for a Puritan was 33. In 1950, ones life expectancy was 66. Today, it is 78. People are living much longer, and aiding seniors is their goal.

The services they offer include:

* handle the long phone processes to coordinate utility needs
* organize the cluttered basement/attic and donate to worthwhile charities
* assist you and organize your home for that long awaited winter vacation
* book your airline travel arrangements online
* develop a customized fitness program with our personal trainer
* fill out computer generated forms and applications for you
* collect, sort and manage your mail
* provide bookkeeping services for you
* help gather information for that annual tax return
* organize your pharmacy prescriptions
* drive you to your social, business, and health appointments
* place reminder phone calls to you about important appointments,
* provide accessible communications to you or your family
* offer flexible scheduling, daytime or evening hours available

They tell a story about a charming man, Charlie Keane, who was the reason they formed Independent Blessings. He aged very graciously, and was able to remain living independently with their assistance, for many years till he was over 100.

Jeanne and Jennifer did a great job. To learn more about the organization, see www.independentblessings.com

UPCOMING SPEAKERS:

Oct 7-Leslie Hester, Needham Boosters Club

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

Nov 3-Dan Tadar, ADK Productions

Nov 10-Roy Balfour, Rotary Foundation

Nov 17-

Nov 24-Annual Joint Needham/Wellesley Rotary Dinner w/Football Teams at Wellesley

Nov 26-Thanksgiving Day Dinner at Masonic Hall

Dec 12-Ring them Bells for the Salvation Army at Sudbury Farms

Dec 20-Habitat For Humanity Day-Needham Rotarians help build HFH home.