The Rotary Club of Catonsville - Sunrise, Maryland

George Brookhart was Greeter

Cal Oren provided the inspiration.

George Brookhart presented a “Rotary moment” concerning efforts by a club in Germany to train high school students in Brazil in useful trades President Cal Oren, opened the meeting.

Guests included Cathy Yost, of the Columbia-Patuxent Rotary and the Howard County Business Monthly in which Rotary is publicized.

10 Members were present.

Rotary Announcements:

• Bruce Siddons reported on progress in organizing the upcoming 5K Fitness race.  Porta-potties have been obtained (I guess the bushes aren’t as thick around here as they are at the farm).  The need for some coffee on race day to prime the runners’ (and volunteers’) pumps was discussed and assurances given.

• St. Agnes will have a car show on August 16, that would be a good chance to publicize the 5K race.

• The club will sponsor a booth at the Sept 7 Catonsville Arts and Crafts Festival (no food), which also can promote the race

• Cal Oren has a list of race day assignments for volunteers

• Larry Aaronson is recovering nicely from surgery (to be back soon – hurry back Larry!)

Happy Dollars:

• Steve Arum presented a letter of appreciation from one of our Bani hosts of the recently returned group of members who visited the Dominican Republic in July; he also gave dollars for his daughter’s move to Menlo Park, California, a visit to his mother on her 101^st birthday (after surviving Steve, she could survive anything!) and an upcoming appointment from the State Department (we hear Condoleeza Rice’s position is coming vacant soon)

• Brent Tolbert-Smith gave dollars for Paris Hilton’s entry into the presidential race and for other matters off the record.

Speaker:  Lee Jensen, past CEO of the Central (Western) YMCA on “Life after Retirement”

Mr Jensen advocated vigorous planning by everyone for retirement, which he sees as concerned with living and the future  He advocated retirement savings plans and paying all bills monthly and in full, including credit cards (especially).  One rule his family adopted is that each spouse plans and uses each day as their own until 5:00 p.m.  (“You are CEO of the Y;  I am CEO of the house”, his wife told him). 

Mr. Jensen also advocated taking Social Security early (64, he retired at 62), saying the loss in dollars was not so great and the gain in time to enjoy life was greater.  He discussed the need to stay mentally engaged in life (he continues to serve on some organization boards, but has largely stayed away from the Y so successors could run their own show). 

Of course, “working on wellness” is important, diet, exercise, emotional outlook.  He favored identifying your personal goals and most of all, “laugh a lot” (good advice for us all, even those far from retirement).

50-50 Drawing:   Susan Souder won the drawing.

The meeting was closed by President Cal Oren

Submitted by Brent Tolbert-Smith, Scribbler

8-07-08

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Club Meeting August 13

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Club Meeting August 20

President CAL Oren authoritatively called the meeting to Order. He also led a Devotion.

Rotary Minute:  I seem to recall it was about a Rotary Club doing something very impressive somewhere.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

• September 7, 2008 is the Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival. Many of us are needed to hand out 5 K Race brochures. It will be a grand occasion and lots of fun.  Joe Loverde has asked Nearly Famous  Eddie Applefeld to help promote a treasure Chest which will be awarded to a winner. (I’m sure more details will be available at the next meeting!)

• 6 Spiffy Rotary shirts were displayed for members to choose. They seemed to be reasonably priced - $15?

HAPPY DOLLARS: 

• Past Pres. George B. attended a great Auto Show at UMBC. There were 120 cars. It’s an annual event.

• George also reminded all that this Friday, 8/22/08 there is a Frederick Road Friday Free Music Event at Egges lane at 5:30. Families welcome. Omar Jennings provides a beer garden. Great weather expected. Good time to promote 5 K Race.

• Jonathan morosely announced that he is the new owner of a minivan. Condolences were expressed. He also mentioned having a Porsche 928 to sell. The kids like the automatic door feature of the minivan.

• John Monck was thrilled that the CEAN Bloomsbury building purchase settled.

• Bruce V. was happy that Russ attended The Children’s Home Music Festival. He was also pleased that the Catonsville Chamber of Commerce and George B. hosted a fantastic event at UMBC’s new research building along with the Arbutus Business and Professional Association and another like group from Lansdowne.

• Bruce V. was most happy, however, to announce that Becky and Bruce V. were leaving on vacation to Montreal where their son would happily translate for them. Bon voyage!

GUEST SPEAKER:  Todd Brown of Bay National Bank – Private Banking and Investing, I think. 20 years in the banking business in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Todd brought us a message of hope in the financial industry. He opined that government regulations are stricter and they provide better consumer and investor protection. For example, there is more insurance available on certain deposits that did not use to exist (like at the infamous time of Maryland’s Savings & Loan crisis). He compared the number of banks which have failed in the past with today’s lower (so far), rate.  The Internet provides a valuable research tool for individuals to assess risk.

50/50: Lucky Ed won the pot and selected a Jack of Spades (I think) to be the new card to be drawn.

Apologetically (for the spacing and lapses) submitted by,

Susan Souder, Former Secretary

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Board Meeting August 20

Rotary Club of Catonsville – Sunrise

Board Meeting Notes

August 20, 2008

Present: Cal Oren, President; Bruce Van Dervort, Treasurer

FINANCIAL REPORTS: The financial reports were presented. The President recommended a citation for bravery for our newly installed Treasurer, who is already ably demonstrating his prowess using QuickBooks.

CHECKING ACCOUNTS: The Treasurer requested permission to close one of two club checking accounts, there being no reason for having two accounts at two different banks.

PAYPAL ACCOUNT: The Treasurer is investigating the possibility of restructuring our Paypal arrangement, with a potential savings of approximately $360 per year.

5K PARTNERSHIP: The Board will recommend that the club approve the partnership agreement with the St. Agnes Foundation, regarding the level of cooperation between our two organizations, and the sharing of income from the Catonsville Fall Into Fitness 5K.

CLASSIFICATION TALKS: A recommendation was received from a member that we regularly schedule “Classification Talks” by our members. The Board concurs, and will pass this on to our esteemed Vice President & Program Chairman, Joe Loverde.

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Club Meeting August 27

ROTARY CLUB MINUTES, Catonsville Sunrise – August 27, 2008

George Brookhart provided the inspiration.

President Emeritus George Brookhart, opened the meeting.

7 Members were present, plus Kristen O’Farrell representing Sherry Welch and St. Agnes Hospital Foundation.

Happy Dollars:

• Bruce Vandervort primed the Happy Dollars pump with dollars to get more flowing.

• Richard Hiteshew gave dollars for Joe Loverde’s return home from surgery (hurry back, Joe!) and Bruce Vandervort succeeding him as Treasurer.

• Susan Souder gave dollars in anticipation of her coming short trip to Paris (France, we presume, not Indiana).

• George Brookhart gave dollars for time with his grandchildren and the encouragement given one to apply to M.I.T. (reputedly an acclaimed institution of higher learning, not the unsuccessful Romney campaign).

• Brent Tolbert-Smith gave dollars to recognize time spent with his youngest and eldest sons.

• Kristen O’Farrell gave dollars to recognize arriving on time for the meeting.

Club Business:

• Arts and Crafts Festival:  A Rotary booth has been paid for.  Volunteers will be needed once a list is formulated.

• 5K Race.  Posters are available to distribute to business places.

• Treasurer’s Report.  Bruce Vandervort spoke of:

  • receiving Book Festival process of $700 from Friends of the Catonsville Library to use for the Dictionary Project.

  • District 7620 has approved a $1,000 grant for the Bani Project

  • Dues remain outstanding for 9 members.

  • The club has 2 checking accounts.  We only need 1.  Plans are to close the one with the most charges.

  • Dictionary Project:  Huntington Learning Center will sponsor (i.e., contribute funds) for the project

• Visitors’ Day is Sept. 10, when former District Gov. Pat Kasuda will speak about her trip to India.

• The new district governor will attend the Sept. 17 meeting

  • George read the proposed agreement between the club and St. Agnes Foundation for the 5K race.  St. Agnes will contribute $2500 for start-up funds for this year’s race, meaning the club must hold back money of its own to start up next year.

  50-50 Drawing:   Deferred until next week

  The meeting was closed by Pres. Em. George Brookhart

  Submitted by Brent Tolbert-Smith, Scribbler

  8-29-08

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