ROTARY CLUB OF VINELANDOctober 10, 2006 Newsletter |
Editors: Gus & Linda Foster
Photos: Jay Parks
Website: www.vinelandrotary.com
Email: vinelandrotary@comcast.net
Flag Salute & Prayer
Marty led our singing, the flag salute and 4-way test. The lead singers consisted of Dan and Bonnie Leslie, Loren, Dick, Jay Einstein and Carl Kirstein. Ron McMahon got a hand from the group for his excellent accompaniment.Dan provided our blessing. .
Guests
Bruce introduced our visitors and guests.Bob Spence visited us from the Bridgeton Breakfast Club.
Bonnie Leslie was the guest of Dan Leslie. Paula Pitcher was the guest of Diana Caraballo. Congressman Frank LoBiondo and Mary Harpter were our program speakers.
Birthdays
Mary Lou Scarani - October 12thThomas Isekenegebe - October 13th
Announcements
President Mike Loyle introduced Sergeant-at-arms Bruce Middleton.Bruce told us that Rotary shirts are still available. Shirts and order forms were out on the table at the meeting. An order will be placed at the end of the month, so see Linda if you would like to place an order. You can select any item from the LL Bean "Direct to Business" catalog. llbean.com/business.
P. Mike introduced Diana who was looking for sponsors for the remaining five (5) cases of food for the orphanage in Santo Domingo. In short order during the meeting, Rotarians rose to the occasion. Way to go!
Carol Captis and Linda Foster thanked the members for their support for their participation in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer Research. Despite Friday’s rain, both members participated walking for the cause. We can still sponsor the walkers who are very close to their goal. In all, over 3,000 people participated. To date, the event has raised over $6.6 million. Checks can be made payable to "Breast Cancer 3-Day".
Carl Kirstein announced the Vocational Award Ceremony for our own Hugh McCaffery to be held this coming Wednesday. The program starts at 3:00PM in Lakewood. Walk-ins will be welcome. Mike Loyle will be running the bowling bus up. Members are encouraged to attend to support Hugh.
Ron McMahon said our next blood drive will be in two (2) weeks. The sign-up sheet was circulated at today’s meeting. Posters are available to post at your place of business. See Carol Captis. Our next blood drive will be held December 26th.
Ron also announced the trip to the UN on November 4th. Rotary and the Red Cross are the only voting members of the UN that are not political bodies. The bus will leave the Moorestown Mall at 6:30AM. See Ron to sign-up.
Bonnie Laube said she has 20 people signed up to return to Waveland, MS. The trip is scheduled for November 5th through the 12th. The trip is the second featuring our club members to the site of the Hurricane Katrina devastation in Waveland. Bonnie said the Voorhees club donated $2,000 to purchase building supplies. Checks from members are being accepted to support the trip.
Beth Israel will be honoring Sherry and Lilly Kejzman with a Women of Valor event. See Dave Schad for more information.
Bob Spence from the Bridgeton Rotary Club will be leading a Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team to France in February. The trip will be held from 2/23 to 3/23. Bob is still looking for young professionals at the beginning of their career to participate. It is not necessary to be fluent in French. A French group will be coming to visit us in May, to coincide with our District Conference.
Pat “stole the show” with today’s joke
Finemaster
Finemaster Bill showed a darker side with a violent cut at P. Mike! Seriously, we have it on the inside that it was planned. Many similar tie cutting events were performed by other Finemasters in past years. Bill fined everyone sitting at Frank LoBiondo’s table, as well as Ted Lane, Ken Dondero, attorneys Mike Benson and Ed Duffy and, of course, Sherry. Gail Marino had happy news, she announced that she is now Vice President of Business Development for the Cape Atlantic Credit Union.Today’s Program
Bill Dudley introduced Congressman Frank LoBiondo. Bill recounted the basketball games he played with Frank and Ed Salmon in Millville.Frank addressed us as “family”, having been a member of our club before he left for Washington. He currently sits on the Transportation and Armed Services Committees. He lauded our efforts “under the radar” to do good and said he has many happy memories of our organization.
He spoke on national issues as well as on local and regional issues. He spoke on the Mark Foley issue, advocating forming an ethics committee from outside Congress. He said he felt Congress is unable to police itself. He felt that special handling and prosecution was necessary.
The war in Afghanistan and Iraq was a result of the attacks of 9/11. He was in favor of the plan when the war started. He said the plan does not seem to be coming together, and that a commission needs to seriously look at options. He said a lot of good is being done in Iraq, and that to pull out would be a mistake. He emphasized that the war on terrorism is real.
Immigration and border security was a very important issue. He said there are a lot of places to enter the country because both our southern and northern borders are immense.
The US Coast Guard was very successful during the Katrina hurricane and saved 35,000 people. They operate with local controls, and perform the work needed without being directed from a central authority. He said port security will be changing and will become more secure. There are many incidents that have been prevented and have not been shown in the media.
Locally he said we have extended the Vineland EDA 5-year $500,000 Weed and Seed program to Millville. A program, Food Innovation and Research (FIRE) will help to keep our local farmers economically stable. The program finds new and innovative ways to use farm products that may have been considered waste.
The federal Highway Trust Fund gives 50% back to the local region for new highway projects. South Jersey needs to assess the transportation needs to develop future highway plans to gain this funding.
50/50
Bill Plick was our winner this afternoon. |
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Upcoming Programs
- 10/17/06 Jane Galetto – The Wild and Scenic Maurice River
- 10/24/06 Becky Schad - Exchange Student Experience - Red Cross Blood Drive
- 10/31/06 Vocational Service with Mike Benson (Tentative)
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