Club Meeting September 3
ROTARY CLUB MINUTES, Catonsville
Sunrise – September 3, 2008
President Cal Oren gave the
devotion and provided the
“rotary moment” about the Rotary
Foundation.
Cal Oren opened the meeting.
11 Members were present, plus
Bill Walton of the Parkville
Rotary and Bill Lorenz, a
Catonsville locksmith who is
interested in joining.
Rotary Announcements:
-
5K Race. Bruce Siddons
provided an uptight.
-
Arts & Crafts Festival.
Volunteers are solicited to
staff the booth.
-
Rotary shirts in a variety
of colors and styles are
available for purchase and
order from Rosemary Wright.
-
Cal Oren reminded everyone
of Visitors Day on September
10. Everyone should bring a
visitor (hopefully
breathing. Sorry, Russ, no
“stiffs” allowed). Former
District Governor Pat Kasuda
will speak on her trip to
India.
-
Cal also reminded all of
September 17, when the new
District Governor will be
guest speaker.
Happy Dollars:
-
Brent Tolbert-Smith gave a
dollar in honor of a happy
day spent with one of his
sons, newly arrived in
Washington for a new job.
-
Sherry Welch gave dollars in
honor of her appearance next
Sunday (September 14th) as a
singer with a light rock
band at Lansdowne Methodist
church at 5:00 (members
welcome).
-
Richard Hiteshew gave
dollars for his weight, now
below 200 pounds (195), on
his way (hopefully) to 185,
and for the curious course
of his struggle to get
services paid for from
Verizon. Richard also
solicited offers for some of
the fine office furniture
recently donated to CEAN,
the food ministry, much of
which CEAN is unable to use
itself.
-
Rosemary Wright gave dollars
both for her daughter’s
birthday and her own (happy
21 Rosemary!).
-
Cal Oren gave dollars in
appreciation of his recent
vacation/business trip to
the Midwest.
Speaker: M. Russell
Frisby of Marylanders for
Reliable Power.
Mr. Frisby is a former Chairman
of the Maryland State Public
Service Commission, which
regulates electrical power
generation and transmission in
Maryland. He spoke on the need
to improve the infrastructure of
the electrical power grid in
Maryland.
Mr. Frisby outlined the problems
with the reliability of the
electric grid in Maryland and
the shortage of power on the
East and West Coasts. Plenty of
power is available in the
Midwest, but access to it is
limited by transmission
shortages.
Mr. Frisby saw the solution to
the problem in new transmission
(the quickest remedy), new
generation plants (problems of
approval and construction time),
renewable power (wind, solar,
other environmentally friendly
solutions) and conservation (it
will help, but has the problem
of being voluntary).
Mr. Frisby encouraged everyone
to inform themselves on these
problems and to publicize the
need for solutions, then to
press elected officials for
action.
50-50 Drawing:
Tom Medicus won the
drawing (coming up roses, Tom!)
The meeting was closed by Pres.
Cal Oren
Submitted by Brent
Tolbert-Smith, Scribbler
9-4-08
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Club Meeting September 10
ROTARY CLUB MINUTES,
Catonsville Sunrise –
September 10, 2008
Sherry Welch gave the
devotion and provided the
“Rotary moment” .
Cal Oren opened the meeting.
Guests were Troy Harris of
Santa Barbara (risk
management, friend of Cal’s,
a fine fellow in spite of
that no doubt, he set up a
laptop video presentation
for our speaker),; Sue
Miller of the St. Agnes
Foundation; Reginald Avent,
a local Entrepreneur
(invited by Ed Tolzman);
Patty Riley (Social Security
Administration) and Bill
Lorenz (who has rashly
applied for membership – we
could use a good lock
picker). About a dozen real
Members were present, I
think.
Rotary Announcements:
-
5K Race – Orientation
for volunteers and
planners is Wednesday at
9:00 at St. Agnes
-
Arts and Crafts Festival
– half the membership
volunteered for action,
thousands of brochures
were distributed to
festival goers.
Happy Dollars:
-
On behalf of absent Joe
Loverde, Rosemary noted
a visit by Joe’s
son-in-law, recent radio
interviews, talks coming
up at Cardinal Gibbons
and CCBC, plus golf on
Monday.
-
Sherry Welch gave
dollars for the Social
Security payment she
just received from 2004.
-
Susan Souder gave
dollars for Bill
Lorenz’s large-size
coffee mug, which he
brought so he could get
a decent size cup of
coffee (hey, if
challenging your state’s
party establishment is a
qualification, I propose
Judge Souder for
vice-president – at
least – convicting a
governor should count
for something, I think).
-
Brent Tolbert-Smith gave
a dollar to note the
interview with Kojo
Nambe at noon on WAMU
(88.5) by Junot Diaz,
author of The Brief
Wondrous Life of Oscar
Wao, winner of the
2008 Pulitzer Prize for
literature, set in part
in our own Bani,
Dominican Republic.
-
Rosemary Wright gave
news she had received
from Bani, that the town
and our friends have
weathered (literally)
the tropical storms well
with no injury.
-
Richard Hiteshew gave
dollars for his son
Mark, on his own for a
month before calling
home for help, for the
large oak that fell on
Hilton Avenue on a
neighbor’s lawn, just
grazing the front of the
house, and for his new
FIOS computer/phone
service that was finally
successfully installed.
-
Tom Medicus noted the
recent victory by the
Ravens, reputed to be a
local professional
football team.
Speaker: Pat Kasuda:
Past District Governor
Ms Kasuda spoke about her
trip for Rotary to Mumbai,
India to review progress on
Rotary projects, spending
two weeks near the Pakistani
border at Aggra and other
places and living with local
Rotarians.
She emphasized the need for
good partners for Rotary
projects at both ends of the
projects.
The projects she reviewed
focused on providing medical
and dental help to local
women, including surgery.
One medical clinic she
visited had one doctor and
hundreds of women waiting,
who often had walked many
miles to get there.
She also saw a school for
sightless girls, started by
the Charlotte hall Rotary
Club. Most of the faculty
were sightless as well,
teaching the girls cooking
and other useful skills.
Ms. Kasuda also inspected a
rehabilitation center for
physically and mentally
challenged persons, also
sponsored by the Charlotte
Hall club, which featured
sewing machines and the
manufacture of computer
parts.
She was moved by the
prostheses provided for a
young girl rendered legless
when a train she was trying
to board rolled over her.
Ms Kasuda also commended
Rotary efforts to eradicate
polio in the world.
50-50 Drawing:
Tom Medicus won the
drawing (again?))
The meeting was closed by
Pres. Cal Oren
Submitted by Brent
Tolbert-Smith, Scribbler
9-12-08
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Club Meeting September 17
ROTARY CLUB MINUTES, Catonsville
Sunrise – September 17, 2008
Karen Paris was greeter
Brent Tolbert-Smith gave an
inspiration. Our new District
Governor provided the “Rotary
moment” (many of them!) in her
remarks.
Pres. Cal Oren opened the
meeting.
Guests were Alvin Thompson of
the Columbia Town Center Club,
making the rounds as Assistant
Governor, and Alan Ray, our own
Charter Guest.
17 Members were present
(counting Bill Lorenz, a rising
soon-to-be member).
Rotary Announcements:
Happy Dollars:
-
Karen Paris gave dollars for
the successful golf
tournament last weekend at
CCBC and for Russ Witzke’s
team winning the tournament.
-
Rosemary Wright gave dollars
in appreciation of her
haircut Friday (whatever
makes you happy, Rosemary –
it is good to take pleasure
in small things)
-
Joe Loverde was made an
honorary alumni of Cardinal
Gibbons High School, I
believe?
-
Steve Arum gave dollars in
appreciation of being back
from his assignment with the
State Department after 5
weeks and for Russ Witzke’s
39th birthday (I
think that is right)
-
Eric Lamb gave dollars for
his 5K Beer Team, which has
the highest enrollment of
any team (more than 20), a
quick return for Larry
Aaronson (continued knee
problems) and for the
presence of our new District
Governor.
-
Russ Witzke gave dollars in
appreciation of Joe
Loverde’s golf tournament.
Speaker: Bette Lewis
District 7620 Rotary Governor
Gov. Lewis spoke of the “power
of Rotary”, the influence
marshaled by 1.2 million
Rotarians in more than 200
countries around the world, in
532 districts and some 33,000
clubs. This group comprises a
vast network of volunteers and
an impressive array of
accomplishments.
She noted Rotary’s work to
eradicate diseases in children,
immunizing 20 to 30 million
people. 2 million children have
been immunized against polio.
The Gates Foundation has given
Rotary a $100 million matching
challenge we are working to
meet.
Rotary is one of two private
non-governmental organizations
to hold (non-political) seats at
the UN, together with the
International Red Cross.
She said that the Canadian
government had given Rotary $60
million for the fight against
polio, and the United States may
give $125 million more. The
Rotary Foundation has given $700
million (so much?) to fight
polio.
In 1985 there were some 385,000
cases of polio worldwide. In
2007, there were 1313 cases,
with only 300 new cases reported
in 2008. So the goal is to get
the figure to zero.
Gov. Lewis emphasized that all
Rotary projects start as a dream
by a single Rotarian, and grow
from there.
50-50 Drawing:
Cal Oren won the drawing
(aren’t officers disqualified?)
The meeting was closed by Pres.
Cal Oren
Submitted by Brent
Tolbert-Smith, Scribbler
9-19-08
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Board Meeting September 18
Rotary Board Meeting,
September 18, 2008
The President, Treasurer and
Secretary were present.
-
The intention was expressed
to resume classification
talks to learn more about
new members and let them
learn more about older ones
(in length of membership).
-
The President will announce
membership changes of status
to the membership,
specifically which members
have elected for “inactive”
membership, as well as those
who feel unable to continue
membership at present.
-
Financial Report:
-
The Treasurer, Bruce
VanderVort, reported
that not many members
are in arrears on dues.
-
Checking accounts – The
club has two checking
accounts and will close
one at Wachovia to avoid
duplicative costs. A
PayPal account will be
kept, which will allow
people to pay dues and
other things with credit
card.
-
Money owed the club by
the Catonsville Library
has been received, which
is to be used in the
Dictionary Project.
-
Rotary District 7620
owes the club $1000 for
the Bani project. We
are awaiting this check
before returning it to
the District to pay
quarterly District dues.
-
IRS is claiming a $500
penalty against the club
for filing Form 990
late. The Treasurer has
written the IRS
appealing for relief
from this penalty.
Submitted by Brent
Tolbert-Smith, Secretary
September 19, 2008
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Club Meeting September 24
ROTARY CLUB MINUTES, Catonsville
Sunrise – September 24, 2008
Steve Arum was greeter
-
Rosemary Wright gave an
inspiration. Steve Arum
provided a Rotary Moment.
concerning Rotary
Ambassadorial Scholarships
-
Pres. Cal Oren opened the
meeting.
-
Guests were Alan Ray, our
own Charter Guest.
-
15 Members were present
-
Happy Dollars:
-
Brent Tolbert-Smith gave
dollars to note the progress
of his son in his new job
and the visit of his
sister-in-law, who was
inspired to apply for her
year’s fellowship at
Georgetown by the talk in
English she made to our club
on a brief visit last year.
-
Tom Medicus gave a dollar in
appreciation for his recent
trip to the dentist and loss
of a tooth (I doubt the
Tooth Fairy left him
anything for this one,
though)
-
Joe Loverde gave a dollar in
appreciation of Rosemary’s
help in getting donations
for Rotary from Wells
Fargo..
-
Bruce Vandervort gave
dollars for Bruce Siddons’
help on the 5K and for
Sam’s Club’s sponsorship of
the Arts and Crafts
Festival, for which the
Festival honored him with a
plaque of recognition.
-
Steve Arum gave a dollar to
review the workings of the
State Department he observed
in his recent temporary
stint there.
-
Richard Hiteshew gave
dollars to note his years of
being a licensed
stockbroker, express his
belief that the country
would weather the current
financial crisis and suggest
some solutions to the
political problems.
-
Alan Ray gave dollars to
comment on his disbelief in
a political solution to the
financial crisis.
-
Cal Oren gave dollars to
publicize a Cigar Dinner
sponsored by the Annapolis
Rotoract Club, only $100 a
ticket (some members might
pay $100 for the pleasure
NOT to go to such an event –
hmm, another money-making
idea).
Business Meeting:
-
Membership: Cal Oren
discussed the status of
members. Rick Martel and
Dawn Olenski wish to
transfer from active to
inactive membership because
of family responsibilities.
The club now has 21 active
and 7 inactive members.
-
Treasurer’s Report.
Bruce Vandervort reported
that District 7620 had paid
the $1,000 it had committed
for the Bani Project. Dues
to the District will go out
soon.
-
Membership Recruitment.
Eric Lamb noted the
joining of Bill Lorenz (in
spite of Cal’s trying to
warn him off – No, glad to
have him, of course). Each
member should be able to
recruit at least 1
additional new member during
the year.
-
Donations. Rosemary
Wright discussed a new
program at Wells Fargo, her
employer, Sharing Advantage,
by which mortgage applicants
can designate $300 of their
closing costs to go to a
charity of their choice.
Lacking any other, two
recent applicants have
designated our Rotary Club
as recipients (glad to see
some people are still
getting mortgages out
there!). The Club should
receive the $600 from Wells
Fargo soon.
-
Bull Roast. Richard
Hiteshew discussed the
possibility of a new venue
for the Bull Roast. A local
caterer, Marty Resnick, is
vying for the event. Cost
would be $42 a head for 300
people, with increased
discounts for a Sunday date
(always more successful,
according to history).
Richard also distributed
outlines of responsibilities
required to put on the Bull
Roast, suggesting that
member’s commitment to
specific Bull Roast
responsibilities should be
the means of voting to
continue the Bull Roast.
Returns will be appreciated
(Richard also provided
return evelopes).
-
5K Fitness Run.
Bruce Siddons reported that
St. Agnes Hospital has
helped efforts to put on
this year’s race
tremendously with staffing,
registering runners and
contributing money. Weather
is projected to be wet for
the race Saturday, which
will hold down last-minute
registrations (perhaps 100
or more), so we should
concentrate next year on
getting 500 runners
pre-registered. As to
funding, $16,500 is either
on hand or on the way for
race costs.
50-50 Drawing:
Joe Loverde won the
drawing.
The meeting was closed by Pres.
Cal Oren
Submitted by Brent
Tolbert-Smith, Scribbler
9-26-08
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