ROTARY CLUB OF VINELAND

October 31, 2006 Newsletter

Editors: 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 Rotary group singers were accompanied by Ron McMahon on piano. Cornell led us in prayer.

Guests

Bernadette Blackstock visited us from Mullica Hill. PDG Tom Veevers visited from the Garden State of Cherry Hill Club.
Guests of the Club were Larry & Suzi Merighi, Skip Buonadonna, Arlene Feaster, Ike Merighi, Susan Gogan, Pat Witt, Sid Brody, Rabbi Kohn, Dr. David Rosenberg and Dom Romano. John Pitcher was the guest of Diana Caraballo. Pete Galetto Jr. and his wife Jane Galletto also visited us. Mike and Lydia Press were also guests of the club.

Birthdays

Ted Lane - November 3rd

Announcements

Welcome to our newest members, Gerry Dooley, Dave Hanrahan and Chalky Ottinger.
P. Mike read a thank you letter received from a third grader that received a Dictionary. There are 3 dicitionary distributions remaining.
Bonnie introduced members on our upcoming Katrina trip. They were wearing their "Rotary Work Shirts". There are 21 participants going to Waveland this Sunday. Bonnie thanked all the members for their support. Today's guest, Mike Press, thanked our club for their support. He and his wife, Lydia, are from Waveland, MS and were there during Hurricane Katrina. They gave our Katrina group contacts and phone numbers of people they know in Waveland.
Ron McMahon asked all those that donated blood last week to stand to be recognized. We had 45 donations with 15 Rotarians participating. 60% of the population can donate, but only 5% do. Ron also thanked member's families and co-workers for their donations.
P. Mike announced the District is still looking for GSE team members going to South France next March. Team members must be Non-Rotarians between the ages of 25-40.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is holding a wine tasting this Friday night. Please see Mike for more information.
Carol Captis announced that our "Holiday Dinner" will be held on the 12th Night of Christmas - Friday, January 5th. Save the Date!
Sherry announced the "Special Needs Christmas Party" is planned for December 6th. This is a wonderful first project for new members to become involved in. Signups will begin next week.
Pat shared a summary of "What is a Billion" with us.

Finemaster

Finemaster Bill fined P. Mike $4, Ron McMahon announced happy news. Photo of he and his wife, Barbara, was in the paper announcing their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations! Diana was fined a press release and a long winded guest. Sherry paid a fine for thanking those that supported the Kejzman's at a recent award dinner. Carol C. was fined for singing and new member Dave H. paid a fine. All those who did not put chips in their sandwich today were also fined! Keep this in mind for future lunches!

**Larry Merghi Vociational Award Presentation**

Mike Benson introduced this year's Vocational Service Award, Lawrence J. Merighi. Larry is a 1969 graduate of Sacred Heart High School, a 1974 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Architecture and is registered to practice both planning and architecture in the State of New Jersey, and since 1978 has been an active member of the American Institute of Architects. In 1978, Larry formed a partnership with Dave Manders. The partnership was then and is still known as Manders Merighi Associates.

Larry has extensive experience in the design of educational, commercial and public facilities. His numerous clients include the Cumberland Insurance Group, City of Millville, Cumberland County College, Vineland, Buena, Commercial Township, and Down Township Board of Education, Cumberland County Technical Education Center and the New Jersey Audubon Society. For the past 22 years, Larry has been Architect of Record for the Vineland Public Schools and has been the Partner in Charge for over 100 projects for the Vineland School District. His projects have ranged in size from major school additions and renovations to new school facilities. Recently, for the Vineland Board of Education, Larry designed the renovations of the Veterans Memorial Middle School, the Tom Wallace Middle School and the Pauline Petway Elementary School. He has been instrumental in consulting with the Vineland School District for its long range school planning. Additionally, Larry is designing a 90,000 square foot all0purpose facility for St. Augustine Prep, with a construction value in excess of $20 million. Larry’s recent non-educational projects have included the Regional Offices for the Natural Lands Trust, together with a number of large scale retail facilities in Vineland, Marlton and Moorestown.

From 2004 through the present, Larry has been the key proponent in Cumberland County ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) Mentor Program. ACE has given 3,500 students per year a first-hand look at the engineering, construction and architectural world. The ACE Mentor Program, now finishing its 9th full year as a non-profit corporation, has a presence in most major cities and communities throughout the country. The students select real design projects, get involved in the requisites and site acquisition and drawing plans and building of models for their projects. Larry has committed untold hours of pro bono time to the architectural prong of the Program in five area high schools – Cumberland Regional, Millville, Vineland, Buena Regional and St. Augustine’s Prep. In 2005, one of Larry’s protégés, Kevin Beck, won the gold medal in New Jersey’s NAACP National Competition.

Larry has been at the center of the Wheaton Glass Center and the Wheaton Arts Program. From 1991 to present, he has been a trustee and esteemed advisor of the Creative Glass Center, serving as its President from 1994 to 1995. From 1993 to 2003 Larry was Director of the Wheaton Cultural Alliance, serving as its Vice Chair from 1994-2002. Currently, Larry is working on the Master Plan for the Glass Center, including a major expansion and improvement of the factory facilities. His designs led to the creation of the Renaissance Art Center in Millville, Winfields Restaurant, the Riverview Center and the Clay College.

Larry has served on the Newcomb Medical Center Properties Corporation, Director for the Newcomb Medical Center, Director on the Chamber of Commerce and Chairmanship of Boy Scout Troop 10.

Mike Benson, presented Larry with a plaque. Alan Dickenson presented Larry with a Paul Harris Fellow for his outstanding contribution of vocational service and talent to the problems and needs of society.

Upcoming Programs

11/07/06 First Tuesday, Classifications - Gerry Dooley and Dave Hanrahan
11/14/06 Dr. Dwyer - Orthopedic Surgery
11/21/06 Jay Parks "Rotary Year in Review" Slide Presentation - Don't Miss It!
11/28/06 Rotary Foundation - Alan Dickenson
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