The Rotary Club of Ambler

www.rotary.org – rotary international web site

www.amblerrotary.org – our web site

www.rotarydistrict7430.org  – district web site

President, Patrick A. McGee

Publisher – Eric Faddis

Editor – Steve Pribis

MARCH 26 MEETING:  

President Pat, it seems is looking to July 1 so he can begin using two of the most popular words in the English Language, “Past President,” opened the meeting a tad late (12:20) by asking us to recite “America the Beautiful” and then sing “America the Beautiful” before he realized that he meant to say, recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and sing “America the Beautiful.” John Snyder offered the invocation by giving thanks for the wonderful day and for fellowship…

The front table hard at work

President Pat thanked those who assisted in today’s meeting; George Carey (set-up) , John Snyder (invocation), Chuck Dager (Greeter) and Peter Gutekunst (50-50).

Walt West reports that nearly 400 Grand Club tickets remain to be distributed.  The Grand Club is one of our major fund raising activities and it is one we always enjoy.  It’s sort of like the “Jelly of the Month” club.  The Grand Club keeps giving, week after week, for 10 weeks.  We have fun watching Bob King draw tickets and read the winner’s name.  Our final $1,000 prize will be drawn at Change-over on June 25^th.  Back off 10 weeks and this means that we need to begin our drawings on April 30^th.  That’s only 5 weeks from now.  We now will be past the Spring Gala and need to focus on the Grand Club.   Here’s how the Grand Club works:

GUESTS AND VISITORS:

• Raffelina Natale and Fabiano Lombardi were guests of Maria Kim
• Matt Cluff-Lees with the Wordsworth Interact Club was a guest of Steve Bass
• Chris DeMerlis (former member) was a guest of today’s speaker

COMMUNITY IN CELEBRATION: (Happy $$)

• Pat McGee recounted how he is learning things that he thought he’d never have to learn.  With his wife, Mary Ann, home recovering from replacement surgery, Pat has had to learn to cook, do dishes, do the laundry and other household chores.
• Dick Booth reported that one of his daughters-in-law has been honored as one of the top 35 physicians in the Washington, DC area and his other daughter-in-law will be on hand this summer in the White House to greet the Pope on his visit to Washington
• Dr. Elsie Casimir was elected as President to (?).  Correspondent’s Note -Perhaps Elsie will part with an additional dollar at the next opportunity so I can pay closer attention
• Phil Godshall, who was inducted last week, wanted to recognize his first official Ambler Rotary luncheon
• John Gerhard contributed $91 in memory of his mother-in-law who recently passed away at age 91
• Peter Gutekunst contributed $3 in celebration for his return from his companies national meeting where he was recognized by several people, no just kidding, Peter.  He was recognized as a “Rising Star.” 
• Jim Caldwell reported that he received a “make-up” certificate that Dan Ritter received on his recent cruise.  That prompted Jim to remind us that attendance is a price of membership and that we are required to have at least 50% attendance to maintain our membership
• Maria Kim thanked all that have signed up to attend next Friday’s meeting and also thanked all who have worked to make this special meeting happen
• Eric Faddis recognized Steve Bass’ guest from Interact and urged all members to get involved in the up coming tree planting project of the Wissahickon and Wordsworth Interact Clubs (see flyer at end of newsletter).
• John Snyder recognized Tom Murphy’s mother-in-law who passed away last week at the age of 91 and put in one more strong plea for our upcoming Spring Gala
• Tom Murphy said that his mother-in-law gave him permission to tell jokes about her – even after her passing.  So Tom told a mother-in-law story
• Steve Bass deposited $5 for ALL mothers-in-law and introduced Matt Cluff-Lees from Wordsworth Interact who spoke of their tree planting with Wissahickon on April 10^th.

PROGRAM:

David Schoneker, from Colorcon spoke about “Counterfeit Drugs, A Growing Menace.”

The following photos tell the story…

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Saturday night the Spring Gala and International Trivia Night is at the Old York Road Country Club.   

• Plan now to attend the District Conference in the Pocono’s, the last weekend in April, with the Bethlehem Club as the host club.  Start saving now as this looks to be an extremely exciting conference.  This will be a combined District Conference with Districts 7430 and 7450.  It is anticipated that the cost to Rotarians will be somewhere between $650-700 per couple.  The District will be subsidizing a portion of the actual cost.  Let Geff Ries know if you are planning to go so he can make some effort to coordinate plans.

50/50:

Dick Booth was our white tee winner today and received $12. Thirty tees remain – 28 to 1 odds…The pot stands at around $400

UP-COMING PROGRAMS:  (Chair, Joan Coleman)  

4-2 – THERE IS NO MEETING

4-4 – “20 Years of Women in Rotary” at the WPI

4-9 - Jim McCloskey, US Army retired – Returns with an update on his recent Viet Nam visit

4-16 - Angel Flight

4-23 - Tony Stranges - Classification

4-30 - Larry House – Classification  

5-7 - Bob Adams – Wissahickon Valley Watershed

ASSIGNMENTS: (Chair, Elaine Hubing)

Remember that if you can't fulfill your service obligation, please provide a suitable substitute and call Elaine Hubing at 215-643-2294 to let her know or deal with…

ROTARY MINUTE ASSIGNMENTS: (Chair, Elaine Hubing)

INTERACT TREE PLANTING:

Want to spend an enjoyable late morning and early afternoon.  Volunteer to drive the Wissahickon Interactors and stay for Pizza and some brush cleaning and tree planting with Wissahickon and Wordsworth Academy.  Volunteer!