The Rotary Club of Catonsville - Sunrise, Maryland

Our adventurous President called the meeting to Order.  Regal Reggie offered our thanks for the many blessings our Club has enjoyed, and hopes to achieve. 

GUESTS:  Rosemary Wright, Wells Fargo, visited for her second time and announced that she would like to join our group. (Did someone give her an application, Russ?)  Joel Carpenter,  attorney and real estate person, also visited for a second time.

Two reps from Boy Scout Troop 456, Ken Boone and Mike Newman, visited with us to follow-up on emails asking if we would be interested in partnering with the Troop on some of our service projects. Troop 456 would provide (needed) labor for events like the Bull Roast, Book Festival, Art Festival where we have setting up, cleaning up, etc. 

Rick Martel, an Arbutus attorney who lives in Catonsville, visited for the first time. 

Old Business Updates:  4 Way Speech contest – Cal reported that we have one enthusiastic high school participating, another high school which is participating, and two schools which have not responded. The Contest is MARCH 28, 2007 from 4:30 to 6 PM at the Catonsville Library. First prize will be $200;  second prize is $100. volunteers will be appreciated. 

Mock Interviews at Catonsville High School will be THURSDAY MARCH 29, 2007 from 8 AM to 10 AM. There are about 90 students to be interviewed. VOLUNTEERS are needed. 

BOOK FESTIVAL – Chairman Bruce distributed 4 tickets to each member to sell for this delightful evening of poetry, wine, cheese, and BOOKS sold by their authors on Friday APRIL 27, 2007 from 6:30 to 9 PM. Catonsville High and the Friends of the Library also have tickets to sell for this annual event which benefits the high school and the Library. Joe Loverde has ALREADY paid for his tickets. Since he will be away that weekend, Joe generously donated the tickets for a second drawing at meeting’s end.   

Used books can be brought to meetings or dropped off at George’s house for the used book sale on Sat. April 28. Hard backs are strongly preferred.

PROGRAMS – Bruce said the schedule is full thru July1 so we are scheduling folks after that date.

HAPPY DOLLARS – Dawn was happy to present the GOLDEN PACIFIER to youngest member Peter Sonntag. (Russ mumbled something about the oldest member….)

Ed Tolzman was happy to relate his recent attendance at a Beer Conference held at the Museum of Industry featuring local breweries. Cal wants all to know that events featuring beer should be brought to our attention generally, and to Cal’s attention specifically, remember that 1000 Beer Blog he’s maintaining?

Sherry was happy to report that today, 80 % of women diagnosed with breast cancer can expect to survive at least 5 years. She is now one of those 5 year survivors!

George was happy to acknowledge that Sherry was recently recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record.  George also described spending time with his youngest granddaughter who may not have been as happy as George as she spit up 3 times and he was changing diapers…..

Joe Loverde noted he was happy that Sherry’s birthday is 3/28. Joe also proudly proclaimed that he has lost 7 pounds in 7 weeks (giving up the vino). He was pleased to let us know his young granddaughter Jessica Noel has been cast in a musical at the Aladdin in Las Vegas which he will be attending (query: would Joe still fly in for a performance in Ames, Iowa?!)

Bruce told us about 4 Pembroke corgi dogs recently rescued from a Pennsylvania puppy mill. Two of the rescued pups are staying with Bruce. Bruce was relieved to report that the pup who required surgery is recovering well.

Sherry mentioned the St. Agnes gala on 3/24 at M & T Stadium.

George reminded all of us of the Taste of Catonsville on 4/23  at 5 PM.

Susan was happy that Larry Haynes completed tax returns for her and her son and both are getting refunds!

Proud Papa Peter was happy to report that this morning was baby Josh’s 4 week birthday! He had pix of this adorable newborn to show as well. He also plugged sponsorship packages for the 5/14/07 YMCA Golf Tournament.

Guest Rick Martel, another proud father,  was happy to report 3 things – his oldest daughter recently visited with his 1 year old grandchild. Rick was happy that he was able to help a friend save his 20 year old marriage, and he was most pleased to report that he and his wife were going to surprise his 17 year old daughter today at Mount DeSales with a 1999 yellow VW bug.

Betty O’konski, our guest speaker, joined in and said how happy she was that the night before, her entire family, all 5 children and 9 grandchildren, were at her house for her weekly Tuesday family dinner.

Joe was very pleased with the District 7620 newsletter which describes a remarkable array of achievements by all of the District’s varied Clubs in eradicating polio, promoting literacy, etc.

Richard was happy that his son Mark is home from college on spring break, and he told us a cute grandchild story involving “healthy” cereal.

Tom Medicus optimistically thinks his Play Station practice sessions show improvement (like his grandson is getting better at the same time!)

Cal was kind enough to donate the $1 for the inevitable auto body work Rick will be facing.

Whew! We were a hale and hearty, happy bunch this morning.

GUEST SPEAKER:  Betty O’Konski is the phenomenal Executive Director of SouthWest Emergency Services (SWES) and one of its two founding members. She described the humble beginnings of this effective community service provider in 1980 in her dining room (until her husband of 39 years insisted that she get it out of the house).

SWES is now in a 5000 square foot building behind the Arbutus Methodist Church. She passed out flyers with the most recent monthly report showing the number of people  and contributions used to help avoid evictions and utility and telephone  shut-offs, pay for prescriptions, buy gas, provide food, clothing, household needs, and furniture as well as the minimal overhead expenses of this efficient organization.

SWES is supported by area churches and private donations. SWES also operates a thrift shop, and works diligently to meet the physical and emotional needs of its clients. She described the tough love with which she operates.  She pointed out how government social services can only help where the emergency is the result of unforeseen circumstances (often the case) and that the person can prove he/she can pay the next month (not easy to prove for people waiting for child support, unemployment benefits, workers comp).

The SWES building has showers and at present, 5 – 6 people shower there a day. These are people living out of their cars, or whose utilities may have been cut-off or are homeless. Most of SWES clients are the working poor.

SWES operates with about 60 – 65 faithful volunteers, some of whom are former clients giving back. She said she has many clients who are repaying the help they received, some for as little as 50 cents a week. SWES doesn’t just give help, it teaches people to budget, and to prioritize their spending.

All in all, it was an informative talk from a dynamic individual.

50/50 – Bruce won and will use the proceeds for the rescued puppies. He also selected the new card, the identity of which we’ll have to trust Richard to remind us. There was a drawing for Loverde’s Book Fair tix, and for a calculator no one ever claimed at the Bull Roast.

Our Omnipresent President George Brookhart called the meeting to Order.  Youngest Member and Proud Papa Peter Sonntag offered inspiring words to walk gently, simply and to be kind to others in service.

GUESTS:  Joyce Glandin, Joel Carpenter, Jill Black, and Rosemary Wright who has submitted an application for membership. 

CLUB BUSINESS UPDATE:  Author’s Night is Friday, April 27, 2007. 12 authors will join us . There will be wine and cheese.  Each of us has tickets to sell. Used Book Sale is Sat. April 28, 2007 from 9 AM to 1 PM. We may also have an expanded poetry reading.

4 WAY Speech Contest. Wed. Mar.28, 2007 4:30 – 6:00 PM Catonsville Library Community Room. Prizes for top winners.

The New Rotary International theme is Rotary Shares. There are pins depicting the theme available for $5 from Ricahrd.

Chris Jones has prepared a new Club brochure. Cal will print it.

Mosaic Community Services has an awards banquet on 5/3 from 6 – 9 PM at martin’s West. The Hiteshews and Loverdes are planning to attend.

HAPPY DOLLARS:  Joe is happy that spring has sprung.

Larry is happy to be a grandfather again, new granddaughter Madeleine Kayla has arrived. He was also happy with the success of the 2007 Women’s Expo. They have people who are on the waiting list for next year already. He thanked our Club for participating again this year.

Dawn was happy with the little daffodil in her front yard persevering against the elements of this crazy spring.

Brent was happy that his son is glad that the PX and gym facilities in Kuwait are first rate. He was also happy to report that his nephew and a couple of girlfriends were visiting from the U. of Rochester Business School.

George was happy that at the Chamber networking event Dawn’s husband played the jazz guitar so well. 

Joe was also happy that, having lost 7 ½ pounds, his tux will still fit well for the St. Agnes Hospital Foundation Gala Sat. night.

Sherry was happy that 620 people have bought tix for the big event, our prominent president is among the expected attendees.

MEMBERSHIP:  Steve Baron has resigned for the present.

GUEST SPEAKER:  John Hoey CEO and President of Central Maryland YMCA. Joe Loverde provided an excellent introduction to our speaker, referring to a quote by Ray Kroc of McDonald’s that as long as you’re green, you’re growing. As soon as you’re ripe, you’re rotting. We can’t remain static. We have to get better or we will get worse.  Hoey is helping the YMCA to change.

Before YMCA, Hoey spent 11 years with Educate, Inc. Hoey is new to running a nonprofit. He showed great wisdom in presenting a well-deserved plaque to past Chair of the YMCA Board, Joe Loverde, thanking him for his significant service.

Hoey told us he wants to re-introduce the YMCA to the community since some of the Y’s accomplishments are not well-known. For example, the YMCA of Central MD is the largest child care provider, operates the largest Head Start program and provides the largest after-school care program in the State in 120 different church, school, park and other sites.

In 7 – 10 years Hoey hopes to see the YMCA double its reach and the number of people it serves. He identified 4 strategic objectives:

1. To be a leader in its chosen service area in Central MD

2. Grow membership and private revenues

3. Increase and update facilities

4. Increase fundraising capacity

Hoey acknowledges that the YMCA provides services in a competitive environment and so must differentiate itself in the areas of child care and family services, health and wellness facilities, and camps.

Compared to other YMCAs in the US the size of the Central MD YMCA, our local YMCA raises less money than anyone else. As a result it has been overly dependent on government funding. In the past, the YMCA has not gone after large gifts. Recently BB&T donated $300,000. The YMCA must change the way it raises money. There is a capital campaign underway.

The local YMCA is located on nice land that can’t be developed. Additional sites for services are being identified in the Catonsville area since the present facility is crowded. The YMCA logo is one of the 5 most recognized symbols in the world. In the near future we will see a big re-branding effort.

Loverde presented our guest speaker with a Notre Dame football jersey and football signed by Rudy for Hoey’s son. Loverde also presented Jill Black of the YMCA with a photo of her and Notre Dame Rudy.

50/50 Drawing Winner – ED!

Respectfully submitted,

Secretary Susan

With a spring in his step, President George Brookhart called the meeting to Order. Susan Souder offered the Devotion. 

GUESTS:  Rick Martel, an attorney practicing in Arbutus visited again and announced he was applying for membership. Rosemary Wright also visited, and has already submitted her application. (We have asked for a new member package from District.) 

HAPPY DOLLARS:  Richard was $4 worth of happy – he enjoyed celebrating his wife’s birthday recently, he had fun with his son pushing him wildly in a wheelchair on the Grist Mill Trail, he added to his silver collection economically and he cautions all to get control of finances of elderly family members. 

Rosemary was relieved that after driving to NJ because her mother had fallen, she had only to drive her mother to the grocery store, and not the hospital.

Alan was happy that when he was in California recently he had the opportunity to watch his son and his wife cherish each other.

Steve Arum was happy that after not playing softball for a looooong time, he went 4/4 in the Senior League game, and he has the sore hamstring to prove it!

Larry was grateful to be visiting Disney World and San Antonio at taxpayer expense. He also noted that Craig Witzke is much nicer than his old man.

George was excited that he is leaving Friday morning to visit FL for a few days on vacation. He also was pleased with his new tux which he wore to the recent St. Agnes Foundation Gala which was enjoyable.

Susan was happy that she prevailed again in racquetball last night with a friend who had previously been sidelined with fractured ribs after their first match.

CLUB BUSINESS:  We have lapel pins for $2 featuring the US and Rotary flags to benefit the Foundation.

TODAY is the 4 Way Speech Contest at the Catonsville Library at 4:30. Several members have volunteered to judge.

TOMORROW morning there are Mock Interviews at Catonsville High School.

TREASURER REPORT:   Richard reported that we obtain visitors’ business cards who attend Club meetings and send them a package about our Club which contains a lot of information about Rotary International and about our activities.

The Club has approximately $10,400 of which  $7,900 are paypal payments from the Bull Roast that will go to the Foundation.  The Club has about $2,000. Our liabilities include District($600) and International($800) dues and 2 more breakfast meetings.

The Foundation has about $19,000, including about $2,000 which we allocated to CEFM from last year’s Bull Roast but which we haven’t paid yet.  We are also holding $ for Joe Loverde’s Foundation which has not received its 501(c)(3) letter from the IRS yet.

One of the Foundation’s goals this year was to have about $5,000 as a cushion from which we could pay deposits and other up-front expenses for our fundraisers.

Richard also reminded us of the Club policy to retain 10% of fundraising proceeds to pay our expenses in connection with fundraising.  There was a general discussion as to whether the 10% amount is sufficient or should be raised.

There has been a discussion about lowering Club annual dues, which at present are about $175 per quarter. Dues pay for breakfast (about $8 per meal), and our overhead expenses which are about $5,000 per year and include dues, maintenance of the Web site (about $1400 annually), the Post Office Box, postage, stationary, etc. At present, we have 24 dues paying members. 1 person is in arrears. Average attendance is about 18 at meetings.

To decrease dues, we would need to have a fundraiser for the Club. Currently, we have 3 main fundraising events – the Bull Roast, the Book Sale, and the Arts & Crafts Festival as well as the occasional Guest Bartending nights.  Another type of fundraiser was suggested – an art show at the Elkridge Furnace Inn with wine and cheese or hors d’oerves. And, a member would have to volunteer to chair the event. While general feeling in favor of lowering dues was expressed, there were no concrete steps taken.

50/50: Susan won but didn’t pick the 2 of hearts. Bruce, Russ, and others won scratch off tickets.

Respectfully submitted,

Secretary Susan