ROTARY CLUB OF VINELANDMay 22, 2007 Newsletter |
Editors: Ron McMahon & Linda Foster
Photos: Jay Parks
Website: www.vinelandrotary.com
Email: vinelandrotary@comcast.net
Flag Salute & Prayer
God Bless America and Pledge of Allegiance were led by Marty, assisted by Mike Benson, Carl Kirstein, Loren Riggins, Dick Prochaska, Gus Foster and Ted Lane, with Ron M on the piano.
The opening prayer was led by Cornell Brunson.
Guests
Welcome to new member, Skipper Reyes.Eileen and Evelyn Duffy, guest of Ed; Eva Moffatt, guest of Jim; Stacy Loyle, mother of RYLA student Shannon Loyle, guest of Charlie Loyle; Tom McCann, VHS Principal, and his staff members Rachael Fanucci and Jim Smith. Also, the following members of this year’s RYLA group were present:
Ari Dendrinos A. P. Schalick High School
Frank Zorzi Sacred Heart High School
Michael Tosto Sacred Heart High School
Anthony Jadick St. Augustine Prep
Shannon Loyle Mainland Regional High School
Mike Ney Buena Regional High School
Birthdays
Paige Desiere - May 22Dennis Palmer - May 27
Announcements
Mike Loyle welcomed the RYLA students with an internet instant message, including shortcuts that most of us had no clue about. Mike also announced that the club received a certificate from the American Red Cross for meeting its goal at the recent blood drive.Keith Petrosky introduced the RLYA team members, and solicited volunteer drivers to transport the students from the YMCA parking lot to Stockton College on Sunday June 24th.
No lunch meeting next Tuesday May 29. We’ll meet for dinner with the GSE team from France on Thursday May 31 at the Ramada Inn. We’ll meet the GSE team again for a barbecue/pool party at Bill and Vicky Plick’s home on Saturday June 2.
Finemaster
Substitute finemaster Carl Kirstein was very effective in his job. Among the more notable fines was Ed Duffy, for acquiring 4 autographed books from daughter Evelyn’s new employer Bob Woodward in Washington. Carl also fined today’s speaker, for besting him in a past municipal election (the speaker disputed this allegation). And of course, Carl fined the recipients of this year’s winners of the annual awards from the Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce, Ken Dondero and Lou Tramontana. Congratulations to you both!! |
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Program
Today’s program was presented by Doug Rainear, Director of the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders. He stated that the present methods of government are too costly, and must be changed. He believes that property taxes and the concept of shared services must be addressed together, not separately. There are many layers of government in the state of New Jersey. The more levels of government, the more costly to the taxpayers.State mandates are often issued to local governments, without providing the necessary funding. This year’s county government budget is $119.9 million, a 7% increase from last year. About half the increase is due to the court ordered expansion of staff, facilities, and salary increases for the county prosecutor’s office. Fortunately, ratables in the county increased to $8.1 billion this year, compared to $6.9 billion last year, a 17% increase. This allowed the freeholder board to increase spending, and still provide a modest decrease in the county tax rate.
The county recently sponsored a “Children First” conference, to work towards overcoming Cumberland County’s last place record of conditions for children in New Jersey. A consulting firm has been hired to try to obtain grants to fund the program.
The county freeholders have gone on record against the state housing sexual predators in the local state prisons. Mr. Rainear accused the state Department of Corrections of planning this move in secret, to avoid the opportunity for local objections to be aired.
Upcoming Programs
May 29th - No Meeting will be heldMay 31st - Thursday, France GSE Dinner
June 2nd - BBQ/Pool Party at Bill & Vicky Plick's
June 5 - First Tuesday, induction of Skipper Reyes
June 12 - Keith Petrosky, Rotary Scholarships
June 19 - Mayor Perry Barse
June 26 - No meeting
June 28 - Annual installation dinner, Running Deer
July 17 - Blood drive