Ambler Rotary Wheel

 

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 40                                                                                        April 4, 2006


Please note that Change-Over will be held on June 21 at 6 P.M

 

APRIL 4 MEETING:

 

Prior to today’s meeting, President Tom, seemly upset over the fact that his joke telling was not living up to his high standard, was heard to say, “That’s ok, you’ve only got 90 more days to kick me around.”  Has Richard Nixon returned?  We opened the meeting with the Pledge to the Flag, a rousing rendition of “America” and Bob Myers, back from Florida with his glowing tan, led the invocation.

We had an extra large crowd today as this was the Annual Joint meeting of the Ambler and Springfield Clubs.  It sure is great sharing lunch with such an outstanding group!

 

We were fortunate to host a delegation from Wordsworth Academy. 

 

Richard Witzer, President of Wordsworth Interact Club gave a report on all the projects in which the club has been involved.

 

Kristie Pieratio, reported on all the environmentally sensitive projects now under process and

 

Angelo Americo reported on the upcoming tree planting project, “Planting Today for a Better Tomorrow,” to be held on May 2nd along with the Wissahickon Interact Club and he also pitched, “Pitch in For Baseball.” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

  • Group Study Exchange will be going outbound in September to South Africa. They are looking for young professional individuals between ages 25-40 who would like to travel to S. Africa for 5 weeks and have all travel expense paid by the District and hosting clubs.  Participants must be non Rotary professionals.  Applications must be submitted by 5/1.  See President Tom for further information.
  • Bob Halsey from the Emmaus Club visited us to promote the District Conference to be held on Saturday June 3rd at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Allentown, PA.  Full packages which include the full program, breakfast buffet, lunch buffet, memorial service, governor’s reception and banquet, evening entertainment and gift bag is priced at $178 per couple.  The district golf tournament will be held on Friday June 2nd at the Olde Homestead CC in New Tripoli, PA.  Total cost is only $75 and includes green fees, card, lunch, pot of gold.  See President Tom for further details
  • Tom’s story today was about a mother-in-law who died in Jerusalem.  The son-in-law was willing to spend $5,000 to ship her home; ask Tom and he’ll be glad to tell you why. 
  • President Tom also thanked Donna Buckley for her outstanding piano playing, Rich Lawrence, Jim Caldwell and J. R. Warner for volunteering to work with the Student Exchange program.  He also thanked Jeff Jacoby for taking over Public Relations chair, Jay Jablokov for taking over Membership chair and Jim Caldwell for taking over Attendance chair.

 

  • Clare Springer, President of the Springfield Club made a pitch for their “Easter Plant Sale” which will be held on Saturday, April 15th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at Magarity Chevrolet in Flourtown. 

 

GRAND CLUB UPDATE:

 

Walt West reports that 60 tickets still need to be distributed and Dave Lightkep has sold 40 tickets and turned in all $400.  Way to go Dave.

 

PROGRAM:

 

Our speaker was Marie B. Lalley, Community Liaison with the Office of Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Consumer Protection.   She had a Power Point presentation regarding scams that are alive and well in our Commonwealth and measures we can take to protect ourselves.

 

50-50: the winner with the white tee and $12 is Lindy Rote from the Springfield Club.

 

 

**********

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

 

4-12 – George Carey – will present the program on the 2005 Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention in Salt Late City, Utah.  Parts of the presentation will be a video of the performance by the 600 voice Gold Medalist Chorus and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

4-19 – Business meeting - Mark Waltz, filling in for Chuck Dager, will be administering a test in mid April on the “Rotarian” magazine.  Be prepared.

4-26 – Hunt Weber – Rotary Foundation

 

ASSIGNMENTS: (Chair, Elaine Hubing) We 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  

 

4-12 - Marinucci                    Miller                          Blasko             McAuliffe & Irving

4-19 – R. Myers                      Pugsley                       McGonagle     Pribis & Parkinson

4-26 – Reis                             Ries                             Reinoehl          Roberts & Satterly

5-3 -    Smith                          Swansen                     Urban        Schneider & Strasburg

 

AFTERTHOUGHTS: A couple thoughts come to mind as this newsletter is being put together. 

One is fundraising.  We, the Rotary Club of Ambler, have several methods to raise money.  The Grand Club is one and it is so simple.  We print and sell 1,000 tickets and raise $10,000 dollars.  Over a ten week period, concluding at Change-over, we have drawings, awarding two fifty dollar prizes and a one hundred dollar prize.  At change-over, the very last ticket drawn and $1,000 is awarded to the owner of said ticket, thus we net $7,000.  All weekly winners have their tickets returned to the “pot” and are eligible to win in subsequent weekly drawings. 

We are asked to take and sell a minimum of ten tickets.  Some members simply write a $100 check and put their names on the tickets.  Some members don’t necessarily have a spare $100 sitting around and sell the tickets to family and friends.  Then there are some who do not feel “comfortable” approaching family and friends to buy tickets and shy away from taking tickets from Walt. 

Think about this for just a moment.  How better can we spread the message of Rotary?  We have an opportunity to tell our family and friends what we are doing in the community and in the world.  If you don’t know what we are doing, ask Bob King or President Tom or ask any “senior” member what it is that we are doing.  Better yet, attend next week’s business meeting and learn first hand. 

Bob King made a good point at Wednesday’s meeting; that if you were a member of the Springfield Club you would be selling oranges, grapefruit and Easter flowers.  Do you know how many oranges, grapefruit or flowers one has to sell to net $7,000? How would you like to approach your family, friends and neighbors and ask them to buy a case of grapefruit?  Now go sell those tickets and get your money in to Walt so we can begin our drawings as scheduled on April 19.

 

Thought two has to do with our cell phones and Rotary.  Before the age of cell phones, we could not be contacted by our friends, offices or bill collectors while we were at the William Penn Inn for lunch.  Are we now at a place that we can’t be out of touch to the outside world for one and a half hours per week?  Do we leave our phone on while we are in church or synagogue? 

If there are matters that are pressing and you can not isolate yourself, is it possible to set the phone to vibrate and exit the room while talking?  Just a thought…

G.E.F.