News and items from President Bill

J House - continues to work out well, even with competing events in the 'hood. We're working out a schedule with management to pre-set salads and get dessert served by 1:00. So, come one, come all, and let's get our weekly attendance above 30.

CoY - Sally and her team are doing a great job pulling together all the disparate elements. We can always use a few more silent or live auction items. An encouragement form will be distributed at the April 3 meeting.

Fireside Chats - These are informal dinners held in members' homes or someplace quiet and comfortable to engender discussion about Rotary, concerns, questions, ideas. In particular, with our new members, we'd like to get a good turnout from them so that we can discuss what's on their minds and cover some Rotary basics. Signups will be out Wed., April 3, for the two currently planned, each to start at 6:00 as follows:

Wednesday night, April 17 at the Silo Hill Clubhouse,

and Thursday night, April 18 at Diane Fox's house.

If you know your preference and can't make the April 3 meetingto sign up, e-mail your reservation to Jeff Weber at Three60Man@aol.com. Food is supplied; bring a bottle of wine to pass.

Polio Plus Golf - Every year the New Canaan Club sponsors a Rotary Golf Tournament for Polio plus at the New Canaan CC, this year May 9. Golf, etc. is $250 pp, and some pro-rata proceeds come back to each club's Polio Plus contribution to RI. Get more information from the New Canaan Rotary web-site, or from Assistant District Governor Ben Bilus (bbilus@gmail.com).

District Governor's Raffle - You might remember that the District Governor Brian's fundp-raiser was a raffle, tickets $20, to benefit the St. Martin de Porres Middle School in New Haven. We had a report on that school last June. I'll have tickets shortly for the raffle.

District Conference -- District Governor Brian has planned an excellent conference this year in Saratoga, May 16-18. Anyone interested could probably receive Greenwich Rotary assistance on the cost, etc.

J House luncheon experiment has been working well, and we hope to extend on for the future.  How many of you have ever had floating island dessert?  Even my dessert gourmet wife had only had it maybe once or twice.  Stay tuned, but note the upcoming date, Jan. 30, which was not available for the J House and we're going to do an "Afters" meeting at Toscano's downtown, a $10 donation for pizza and hor douevres and drinks you buy on your own.

Citizen of the Year (CoY) - continues to be in the planning phase with costs up from the country clubs 10-20% so far.  Thanks to Larry Larson, we have a lovely couple to honor, Bea and Peter Crumbine, and are actively checking out competitive bids at the country clubs.  We're going to need big time help on getting $quality$ auction items.

St. Patrick's Day - march will be held on St. Patty's Day this year, Sunday, March 17, in downtown Greenwich and we're planning our usual float and party after.  Put it on your calendar.

Fireside Chats. - Where thoughtful Rotarians cook up a meal for 6-8 of their compatriots.  Jeff Weber has dutifully agreed to head up again, but we'll be tieing a connection to...

Strategic Planning. -- which a hearty 15 completed four years ago and now sits in dusty computers will be brought out and reinvigorated over the next 5-6 weeks, so start looking for mission, vision, and elevator speeches.

Future Officers. -- Thanks to Sally Parris for stepping in to Vice President following Heather Smeriglio's resignation due to work and Larry Larson is our President-elect.  Russ Harden has agreed to step in as Vice President next year.  Father DeLuca continues as treasurer, and Leah Reeves will give way and help Bill Grad  serve as Treasurer.

Electric Bill Changeover - Leah has been leading us to water and trying to get us to drink, actually a free fund raiser through changing your electric carrier over to Ambit and benefitting Rotary, all done on line on data from your current bill onto their web-site.  Check out this link - http://www.greenwichrotary.joinambit.com

Thank you all for finding us at the YWCA this past week.  Our turnout was the best in a while.  December is a busy month for Greenwich Rotary.

Energy Fund-Raiser. -- Leah has presented to the board and to the membership at last meeting an idea for a "no-brainer" fund raiser where we shift our energy service to Ambit and Ambit will reimburse the Rotary Club.  It's a double-winner - lower rates for us, and guaranteed money back to the Rotary Club.  The more people we bring in, the more the Rotary Club will make.  If you've already changed carriers, you can make the shift.  It will all be done electronically on your computer, no sales people, telephone calls, etc.  We'll poll the membership this Wed.

Holiday Auction, Dec. 12 -- Jeff Weber will reprise his role as designated auctioneer a week from Wednesday where the members buy gifts to give to Social Services for distribution and "good gifts" are inter-mingled for the auction.  Jim Vivier is working up a list of appropriate children's gifts and will distribute on Dec. 5.  Look for the list of gifts, and bring your checkbooks on Dec. 12 at the Y.

Luncheon Venue Survey. -- On Dec. 5, a simple survey will be distributed asking for feedback on three choices:  YW, La Bretagne, and Polpo's (if available.)  The survey can be augmented through non-attenders sending me e-mail, and will be evaluated and a venue decided, hopefully for Jan.-June, at the Dec. 10 Board meeting.

Board of Directors Meeting. - On Dec. 10, Family Services, 4:30.

Boys and Girls Club. -- Annual Holiday Crafts Party that we're always invited to, (you'd be surprised, or maybe not, to see the craftiness in Jim Dean) on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 4:30.  Rotarians who can attend get a makeup, and we usually repair to a bar for a Holiday drink.

Holiday Party. -- Set for Dec. 14th at Milbrook.  If you didn't get an invitation, check with Sally Parris.

No Meetings. -- On Dec. 19, by a vote of the club in lieu of the Holiday party on Dec. 14, and Dec. 26, Christmas.

   The Rotary Club of Greenwich, Connecticut meets Wednesdays.  During June and July, 2012, please check the speaker list at the right for the luncheon venue.  A non-profit 503c organization, the Club of approximately 70+ members, who are by Rotary International requirements from different occupations, raises money locally for distribution to worthy causes locally and internationally.  A list of those contributions is included on this web-site.  Rotary is built around the Four Way Test, located above left under "Object of Rotary."   

   Chartered in 1921, the Rotary Club of Greenwich is part of Rotary International (RI-see hot link, above left) that is an international organization in over 120 countries with 1.2 million members.  RI is best known for the leadership position it has taken over the last twenty years helping to eradicate polio, but also takes other leadership initiatives internationally.  For its International service, the Rotary Club of Greenwich has sent over $6m. of medical equipment to rural Peru through a cooperating Rotary Club there.