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Club
Meeting November 8
President Brookhart called the meeting to
order.
Guests: Ed Tolsman, retired from
family business, a Locust Park resident,
joined us again. We first met him through
Steve Arum’s Russian librarian adventure.
Tom MacLean, a retired urologist and friend
of Russ Witzke, also visited.
New Business: George announced a
wine dinner at the Elkridge Furnace Inn
sponsored by the Clarksville Rotary.
Richard Hiteshew brought some empty boxes
from a Chic-Filet Operation Christmas.
Members volunteered to fill the boxes with
things children like.
The next Mock Job Interviews are Thursday,
Nov. 16 at Catonsville High School. Check
with Cal about the time. Cal can also use
volunteers for the Dictionary Distribution
project.
Harvest for the poor event, Nov. 19 at
Coldwell Banker according to Charlotte
Galley.
Happy Dollars: Larry Aaronson
thanked all of us taxpayers for sending him
to his old stomping grounds, Philadelphia
for a conference. He’s enjoyed two recent
trips to Florida for other conferences.
Larry was happy that he only has to vote
once in elections now (not 4 – 5 times like
the old days in Philadelphia).
George was happy that the election is over,
the signs will be taken down, and the
negative campaign ads are finished. He was
happy to see Gus Russo with us.
Brent was happy for a wonderful weekend in a
roomy old cabin at the Shenandoah National
Park near a river. He was also happy that
in spite of massive efforts against it, the
American people had expressed their will in
a free election. (He compared the national
Democratic party to Moses wondering around
in the desert, etc.)
Susan was happy that we have the freedom to
run for office, campaign, and vote.
Speaker: This was Gus Russo’s third
appearance at our Club. His most recently
published investigative book is SuperMob.
The book describes the enormous power
wielded by organized crime in the 50s and
60s. He related several stories from
different elections influenced by organized
crime. In addition, he told us about the
breadth of the Mob’s power in industry and
government.
The book includes a lot of information about
Sydney Korshat, one of the Mob’s top “go-to”
guys. Russo’s remarks for entertaining as
well as informative.
50/50: Tom MacLean won the 50/50;
his “friend” Russ advised that the large pot
of money be donated back to the Club. Thanks
Tom!
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Souder, Secretary
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Club Meeting
Nov 15
Irrepressible President George Brookhart
called the meeting to order. Peter Sonntag
greeted us all warmly. Souder provided the
Devotion.
Ed visited us again and is being given a
membership packet.
Old Business Updates: Steve Dare
reported that our new snazzy shirts have
been ordered/
New Business: Larry noted the Women’s
Expo being held in March 2007. There is a
Web site with info.
Bruce may have been the one who mentioned
Relay for Life on the weekend of June 9-10,
2007 to raise funds to fight cancer.
There is a Board meeting next Tuesday, Nov.
21, 2006 at Café on the grove at 7:30 AM.
Happy Dollars: The Sage of Frog Hollow,
Brent, related enjoying fried squirrel,
radish greens, squirrel gravy smothering
some roots, “akerns” and other delicacies.
Larry boasted that the Eagles kicked butt
(the Redskins did not).
George was happy about the Terps victory,
the Ravens victory streak, Sherry Welch
coming to a meeting, and a brochure for a
school play produced by his terrific
granddaughter.
Dawn was happy to have returned. She was
also happy to report that her brother had
married and moved to LA.
Tom was happy that his son was going to be
visiting that weekend; he also looks forward
to attending a football game in Atlanta
where he will get to sit on the field
because his friend plays on the Falcons.
Steve Dare, a man of many talents, announced
that he had joined a jazz quartet (which he
says is “nameless”). The group has an
upcoming gig at the Annapolis Yacht Club.
Drummer Dare says they have a 12 – 18 song
set, of light and easy jazz like Miles
Davis.
Richard is happy with the progress of the
Silent Auction – flyers, tickets, and a
brochure are at the printers. We have $5500
(27 items) in Silent Auction items. I can
attest to the clever combinations and
inventive items being auctioned. Richard
also advised the group that his son Mark (20
year old student at Villa Julie College) is
available for small odd jobs, hauling,
moving stuff and home repairs. Mark can be
reached at 410.960.4052. He has worked for
neighbors and will be available over the
holidays.
Guest Speaker: Sherry Welch – St. Agnes
Foundation. Sherry was a sensational speaker
telling us about herself, her background,
and the work of the Foundation.
Sherry has an 18 year old daughter
interested in attending college in Kentucky.
Welch was the Executive Director of Girl
Scouts in Memphis TN. An attorney friend
advised her (late in the last century) that
Rotary was about to take in women members.
He invited her to join the local Club in the
basement at the Peabody. She faced a room of
about 500 men in business suits 19 years ago
and she and 10 women joined the club.
Sherry told us about the $160 million
renovation of St. Agnes which is undergoing.
Raising $25 million in private funding is
Sherry’s responsibility. She told us about
how she had gone from being a consumer of
services of St. Agnes Hospital to President
of the Foundation. Her husband was treated
there for 9 months for esophageal cancer.
Sherry was later diagnosed with breast
cancer.
Welch said that she and her husband were
treated very well. Their medical needs were
tended as well as emotional and spiritual
needs. Both of her grandchildren were born
at St. Agnes. Brochures were distributed.
St. Agnes is mission driven to provide:
1.
Health care that works
2. Health care that is safe
3. Health care that leaves no one behind.
Welch described the renovations: Breast
Center including digital mammography,
Emergency Room expanded from 1600 to 2500
square feet with separate inpatient and
outpatient areas and 5 additional treatment
rooms, two more operating rooms.
St. Agnes has always been active in the
community; but, it has reached out even
more. St. Agnes is a sponsor of the Fourth
of July parades in Arbutus and Catonsville,
the Chamber of Commerce crab Feast and of
course, the YMCA 5K.
St. Agnes is trying hard to listen more to
the community as it is aware that it won’t
be able to raise the $ unless people know
about the work of St. Agnes.
Sue Miller, who was at the YMCA 5K, is the
Foundation’s Community Liaison. She is
trying to design an event for St. Agnes to
participate in the Arbutus Arts & Crafts
Festival.
Sherry can be reached at swelch@stagnes.org
50/50 Drawing: Tom Medicus was the BIG
winner. He selected the Ace of Clubs as the
card for the pot.
Almost delinquently submitted,
Susan Souder
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Club Meeting Nov 29
Our charming President George Brookhart
called the meeting to order. Brent greeted
the assembled
en masse.
Bruce inspired us with references to castles
in the air and the building of
foundations.
Happy Dollars: Though diminishing in
numbers, we’re an extremely happy group:
Brent invested in a log splitter and happily
discovered that his stepson Martin has a
great talent – split a cord and a half his
first weekend. Our crack scheduler, Steve
Dare, has scheduled Brent’s sister-in-law
who will visit the US in January from Taiwan
as our speaker in January. Brent was also
happy that the ashes of his actor friend
Edwin have been moved before his wife
discovered the ashes were in repose in their
home.
George was thankful for the lovely holiday
meal he had with his daughter and her
husband, his son and his wife, and all of
his grandchildren. He was also happy with
the Ravens continued winning streak. And he
was extremely happy with his new BMW 330i
which he found is a smooth ride at 115 mph.
Dawn happily recounted hosting her first
Thanksgiving feast. Larry was happy to have
attended a family reunion for the first time
in 8 years.
Jerry was happy to have had a large family
gathering for Thanksgiving including his
mother from Michigan and friends met through
Rotary. His wife’s recovery from breast
cancer is proceeding; the cancer was
localized – she’s had one radiation
treatment with only 31 more to go.
Susan enjoyed a gourmet Thanksgiving in
sunny Los Angeles. John Monk was happy about
University of Maryland’s basketball team’s
victorious streak. Richard and Toni are
headed to a special gourmet meal at the home
of the owner of Le Bec Fin, one of the best
French restaurants.
Cal related his pilgrimage to Mecca which
turned out to be sponsored by JNR Tobacco,
the world’s largest cigar store and giant
humidifier.
Old Business update: Steve reported
that our spanking new shirts should arrive
before Christmas. M/S/P that the Club will
pay the set-up fee for the logos on the
shirts.
New Business: The Café On The Grove
(Café) has scheduled meetings on about nine
Wednesday morning in 2007 for a State
Agency. The Director of Spring Grove is
apparently unconcerned about our contract
which doesn’t expire until the end of
February. Two of the dates we’ve been told
the Café is unavailable are clearly covered
by the contract according to George and Cal.
M/S/P to renew our contract through 2008.
After renewal, we will advise the Café that
we would like them to honor our contract.
There was also a discussion on making
membership fun and avoiding stress,
emphasizing camaraderie and downplaying
anything that appears like work.
Treasurer’s Report: The Club has
approximately $1600 in its bank account and
no debts at present. The Foundation has
about $10,700, about $3,000 of which is
earmarked for the Catonsville Emergency Food
Ministry, and some of which is for the Bull
Roast.
Some difficult decisions must be made
regarding two members who have neither paid
nor attended meetings in a while.
Disabled Sports USA thanked us for our most
recent contribution.
We decided to give $100 to RICA for their
Christmas Fund as we have done in the past.
We received some literature updating the
progress made on the Grist Mill Trail
Extension by the Friends of the Patapsco
Valley Heritage Greenway. They have several
events in 2007 we may wish to join. As it
has been several years since a
representative from the group has spoken to
out club, we will invite Kit Valentine to be
a speaker.
Vocational Lane: Dictionary
Project: Cal is looking for additional help
on giving out the dictionaries.
The Board recommends that our Club not
participate in the RYLA project at present.
The area schools have not responded; and we
don’t have lots of applicants. M/S/P that
our Club abandon RYLA until another time.
Community Lane: John Galley reported
that they are cruising through the rest of
the year.
International Lane: Bruce reported
that one-half of the money from the Arts &
Crafts Festival would be donated to the
Lithuanian students as scholarships and
one-half will be donated to a small school
project in the Dominican Republic being
helped by the Waterfront Canton Club with
whom we will partner until we can identify
our own project in the DR.
The Book Fair will be on the last Friday and
Saturday in April. Used books can be
brought to Club meetings and Bruce will
store them in his basement for the time
being. One-half of the Book Fair proceeds
will go to the library and one-half will be
donated to the Catonsville High School
Ellipsis magazine.
The Unwanted Gift Auction has been moved
from Jan. 3 to Jan. 10 to accommodate our
speaker from Taiwan.
No 50/50 this week.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Souder
Secretary
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