The Rotary Club of Ambler

www.rotary.org – rotary international web site

www.amblerrotary.org – our web site

www.rotarydistrict7430.org – district web site

Vol. 81. Edition 36 March 8, 2005

MARCH 8 MEETING. We opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag, singing of “America the Beautiful” and as Dave Roberts proclaimed to those at his table, that is NOT “America” as announced by our esteemed President (these are actually two different songs). Al Douglass invoked his fellow Rotarians to do Rotary things.

President Tom thanked all who assisted in today’s program, especially Donna, for her delightful music, Cary Fleisher for filling in with the 50/50 and J.R. Warner for a good job as greeter.

Rotary guests included Ann Dunnington from Springfield, Nick Geer from Norristown.

Bill McAuliffe brought his lovely wife, Mary to enjoy today’s program and Al Douglass brought Jack Ambuka, who hails from Kenya as his guest.

Jack Ambuka

President Tom, once again took a couple cheep shots at his mother-in-law by explaining that she is 90 years old and has taught him the real meaning of HELL. He then told of the police report on the murder of a husband at Victoria Secret, the parrot at Shanachie, the married couple whose phone rang at 2 o’clock in the morning and the lady crying in Rittenhouse Square.

Tom read a thank you note to us, but really directed to Dick and Grace Landis for donating a refrigerator to Mattison Ave. School.

Chuck Dager reported on the March issue of the Rotarian – Bill Weir actually knew title on the cover, “Road Rules.” This joke telling stuff is starting to spread throughout the club as Chuck attempted to one up President Tom.

COMMUNITY IN CELEBRATION. Reply to last week’s newsletter – “Yo rookie – ya betta get your facts straight! Steve Pribis wasn’t that cheap – he placed $3 in the- whatever the heck that thingamajig is – one for each of the 3/1/55 b’day boys – SRP, Bob King and Ron Howard.”

• Jim Caldwell donated $2 to promote two Wissahickon music programs listed below in the Announcements section.
• Ron Larson donated $1 to report that Russ Long has recovered from his hip surgery and will be moving to SC later in the year.
• Jay Jablokov felt $5 was sufficient to celebrate 5 wonder days in the Keys, OK Jay.
• John Costa announced that his daughter was expecting twins and parted with $5.
• Geff Ries donated $5 (we think) while announcing that his sister’s husband, is the Head Basketball coach for the Ohio State women’s team, won the Big !0 title and will be a force in the National Championship Title race.

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

• Wissahickon High School's Musical Theatre Company will present the Tony Award winning show, Urinetown, the Musical, in the High School Auditorium tomorrow at 7:00 pm and at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday.  Tickets are $8.00 at the door. The musical has won three Tony Awards, including Best Book, Best Score, and Best Director.   

• The Rotary Club of Willow Grove will present a “World-Class Performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem Mass at the Calvary Presbyterian Church, 405 Easton Road, Willow Grove on Thursday and Friday beginning at 7:00 P.M. Call 215-784-9990 or 215-675-4000 for tickets ($20)

• Elaine Hubing reminded us that our winter social will be held next Thursday with a la carte dinner at The Shanachie followed by an evening of fun at Act II Playhouse to see “Syncopation”. No additional tickets are available.

• The Wissahickon High School Music Department will present a Jazz Festival on Friday, March 24, starting at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium.  Several high school jazz bands will participate. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens.  Attendees are encouraged to drop off used musical instruments in the Auditorium for distribution to Gulf Coast Musicians.  There will also be a special appearance by the Hoppin John Orchestra, which is comprised of area music teachers. 

• The Rotary Club of Allentown West will be holding their Thirteenth Annual Charity Auction on Friday March 31, 2006 at the Fogelsville Auction Center. Further information may be found by clicking on the link at the top of the newsletter, “Rotary District 7430”, then “Club Events” on the left hand column.

• President Tom reminded us that Walt West will be running our annual Grand Club with Bob as his strong arm. This event raises $7,000, so let’s each commit to selling or buying 10 tickets. Walt has been busy passing out tickets. If you have not received your tickets, please ask Walt to give them to you. Joe Schneider has been the ticket “King” for years and aims to keep his crown. A note to all of you who are spending the winter in Florida: we are counting on you to do your share - $$$.

PROGRAM. We had a two part program today.

Part one was a classification speech by Gene McGonagle, the new owner of the Ambler Flower Shop. Gene used a clever approach by using the Four Way Test as his guide for his talk.

Gene McGonagle

Part two was our mid March presentation of Bill McAuliffe and his Irish Ditties.

Bill McAuliffe

50-50. the winner with the white tee was (I had to leave early and it seems no one can recall who drew the white tee today). I guess it’s not worth paying attention when the pot is worth only a few dollars.

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UP-COMING PROGRAMS. (Program Chair, Pat McGee)

3-22 – Rob Croll, PA Fish Commission Update

3-29 – Steve Pribis and the Ambler Symphony

ASSIGNMENTS. (Chair, Elaine Hubing) The following Rotarians are reminded that if you can't fulfill your service obligation, please provide a suitable substitute and call Elaine to let her know:

Set-up/

Take-Down Prayer 50/50 Greeters

3-22 - Jablokov Kadel Holteen Graham & McGonagle

3-29 - Warner Jacoby Kim Kline & Blasko

AFTERTHOUGHT. (From Bill Strasburg in sunny Florida).

Here are some thoughts as a message to the members of the Ambler Club.....and this actually is easy to do because it is so clear that Rotary has a world-wide impact and that will be strengthened as each one of us has a willingness to work on Club projects and Club efforts, has a serious understanding of the ideal of Rotary, practicing the Four Way Test and reflecting a genuine interest in other people.

         There is the excitement of Rotary here in Florida.  They begin to gather on Wednesday mornings at seven, start the meeting at 7:15 ayem asking for any concerns and then, including these concerns, offer a prayer for dedication and guidance, pledge to the flag, and then all together say the Four Way test....a basic in the life of Rotary world-wide.  There will be about 150 Rotarians with maybe 50 makeups’....all most all from the North, and that might be understandable.  They will have a sergeant at arms who will "punish and fine" members for various infractions such as not singing loud enough and not wearing the Rotary pin or a name card...and anything else that he might think of.  But that is a fun time.

           When we walk out at 8:30 and the temp may be getting up to the mid-seventies and the sun continues to shine......(someone may point to a cloud in the sky so we won't miss it)....I think it will be only a few hours and the Rotarians will be meeting in Ambler at the William Penn Inn.... opening with a  prayer...Tom thanking members for what they are doing to make the Club better and then a story (some may call it a joke)....that adds color to the meeting.....and then I feel just how much I miss all of you and how meaningful Rotary is to each of us, to the strength of the Club and to the effort to build a better community.  But here again, each one of us needs to renew and rededicate ourselves to a willingness to work on Club programs, projects and events with a seriousness of the Rotary purpose and a genuine interest in one another.  This, the excitement of Rotary alive in Ambler, in Florida and in more than 32,000- communities in l68 countries.....and this builds a better community and, in the long run, a better world.  And this is the excitement of Rotary.