Rotary Club News

And the Substitute is back so don’t blame Bob for errors!

Thirty (30) Rotarians and guests attended our first official permanent joint meeting of the Jupiter Tequesta Sunrise and Palm Beach Gardens Rotary Club to be known as the Jupiter Palm Beach Gardens Rotary Club. The PBG President Dan Carbone conducted the meeting. Invocation was given by the Rev. Skip Bush. Charlie Horowitz led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Shawn Rasmussen led the Four Way Test.

Once again the Rotarian of the week was a no show as Alan Fishman is in California.

JT President Steve Layton introduced Joe Dudenhoefer who reported on the progress of the water filter project. Rotary matching Grants totaling $50,000 to provide the water filters in Mexico and training to villagers to use them.

Eddie Anker is doing well at home for which we are all grateful.

The luncheon last Friday for the GSE Team from the Ukraine was well attended and nicely organized by Carol Sutton.

Jack Phillips announced that he was making a film about Palm Beach Gardens to tell newcomers what was available and what a wonderful city we have. He would like people who live in Palm Beach Gardens to fill out a Film Survey, and you can be in the film, too!

Fire Chief Bergel returned and introduced the Fireman of the Year Sean O’Bryan. We all agreed that firemen have more hair than policemen and were impressed by the work that the Fire Department does for us. Sean was presented with a certificate and an honorarium.

Charlie Horowitz introduced Robyn Lorimer, Director of Rotary Camp Florida, and Reba Cook, Capital Campaign Coordinator. They updated us on the improvements at Rotary Camp Florida and the need to build a new dining hall. The camp is now occupied 48 out of 52 weeks by Special Needs children having a camp experience. Pictures were shown of what we had contributed to this past year and a slide show was also shown. We are looking for a new projector and projector operator for future shows. Any volunteers? A $3,000 check was presented on behalf of the club as a result of the Circus Fund Raiser, chaired by Charlie.

The new Rotarian of the Week is Tom Boyhan.

There was no drawing, but our Sargent at Arms Skip Bush certainly drained us all with his fines so there is a big pot adding up!

Damned! I’ve got to renegotiate my contract. One day on the job and the summer editor has already taken a vacation day. Little did she know that she would miss an assemblage of 18 people. Visitors were Dick Cramer, Jack Phillips and Dorla Leslie, along with three honored guests.

Dan called on Rotarian of the Week, Rick Barnes, who told of his recent trip to Washington, D.C.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

EDDIES HOME!!
Fantastic news worth an immediate edit. After we went to press. Eddie came home late Tuesday. What a great day. Get out the shorts old friend. We've missed you.

The merger agreement will be signed by Steve Layton of the Jupiter/Tequesta Club and Dan Carbone , for the Palm Beach Gardens Club and mailed to R.I. on April 30.

A reminder of the GSE luncheon on Friday, May 2 at the DoubleTree Hotel. Five of our members have signed up. If you can possibly attend, call the president right away.

Starting with next week’s meeting, we will be meeting with Jupiter/Tequesta in a combined format. The meetings will commence at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesdays at the DoubleTree. Let’s all be here next week to welcome our new brothers and sisters.

MEMBERSHIP MOMENTS:
The letter for this week is “G.” G is for giving. This is true service above self. Give breakfast next week to a friend and potential member.

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:
Again, nobody is celebrating.

SERGEANT AT ARMS:
Extorter Bush began by remembering a few of the historical occurences at the end of World War II. He then reflected upon celebrity birthdays of those too young for most of us to remember. Showing his nasty side, he fined everybody a buck because the president forgot the raffle tickets. He did fine the president a buck for his bad memory. Again, the coffers swelled under the new Sergeant’s unrelenting ways.

On the nicer side, Bob Potere was called forward to receive his attendance tab for 42 years of perfect attendance.

PROGRAM:
Today is the day that we set aside to honor our police and fire departments. Police Chief Stepp reported that crime is down in Palm Beach Gardens for the second year in a row. This past year saw 40,000 calls for service and 190,000 incidents handled. The Gardens police force is made up of 118 officers and has a total employment roll of 156. Most of the arrests were for drug violations and retail theft. The department implores all of us to lock our cars. Don’t help the bad guys. Chief Stepp then introduced Jason Sharon as Officer of the Year. As a detective, Jason has an unbelievable record for crimes solved and in his young years has served us all with distinction and honor. He was presented with an appropriate certificate and a token of our appreciation.

Next, Chief Bergel of the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department spoke to us of the qualifications and skills of the Fire Rescue Team. Our Fire Rescue personnel have the highest degree of certification in Palm Beach County. In addition to assuring that we seniors continue to breathe, they maintain the only EMS lab in the area. Housed at Station 5, this facility allows our rescue teams to hone their skills and provide us with the best of care. We are one of the few units with the ability to transmit EKG results directly to the hospital. Thus, we are assured of more accurate diagnoses and faster treatment. Chief Bergel announced that the fire department honoree was Sean O’Bryan. Due to a conflict in scheduling, Officer O’Bryan will be presented with his award at our next meeting.

PRESTIDIGITATION:
Without raffle tickets, it was really a sleight of hand---over before it started.

ROTARIAN OF THE WEEK:
Our new Rotarian of the Week is Alan Fishman. Aside from being an outstanding architect, he urges us to think green.

TOAST:
Bob Potere toasted the Bellaire, Michigan Rotary Club, his home away from home

April 22, 2008
By Bob’s Substitute so don’t blame Bob!

A select group of nine Club Members and one Visiting Rotarian, Dick Cramer from Flint, Michigan attended this morning.

It was announced that there would be a noon luncheon for the GSE Team from the Ukraine Friday May 2, 2008 at the DoubleTree. The cost is $25.

The Rotarian of the Week was Danielle Webel who had notified the president she had to attend a meeting in
Boca Raton and would not be able to attend. In lieu of Danielle Dick Cramer was given her two minutes to tell us about the Flint Rotary Club, which has about 200 members and many activities. He later also shared their high school speech program with us.

Ed Kent reported on the District Assembly that he and Mike Donovan attended at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce on Saturday. He said there were interesting Break out sessions about the working and doings of Rotary. The stars were the RYLA students who gave excellent reports on their conference and were so enthusiastic about Rotary.

It was Skip Bush’s day. He not only gave his usual outstanding Invocation, but also performed beautifully as our new Sergeant at Arms. Since he was responsible for the program, he filled in with interesting facts until Carla Leslie, Executive Director of the Center for Family Services arrived. Carla’s program stressed the needs of the under served homeless. The Center for Family Services serves over 4000 homeless families. The average age of the homeless is only nine since there are so many children. Carla spoke on the Program Reach at Pat Reeves Village. There are three buildings at the Central location. Two are apartment buildings, and the third has apartments and the administrative offices. When Carla was given the Rotary key chain, she said how much it meant to her because her father was a Rotarian. An invitation to join was immediately extended to her to join our club.

The two of clubs was drawn from the deck.

The Rotarian of the Week for this week is Rick Barnes!

‘Twould warm the cockles of your heart. One of our colder mornings and winter member Eddie Anker showed up—in shorts! Thus we greeted visitors Dick Cramer and Lennie Cottrell. With 12 members, 3 RYLA students and their principal, we had a nice group.

Attention directors: Your presence is required this Thursday, April 17, 7:30 a.m., at the Boulevard Restaurant.

A special thanks to Maryly Peck for answering the call as summer author of the blog. We extend gratitude to Bob Potere for all of his good work and will look forward to his return as editor next fall.

There will be a luncheon honoring the Group Study Exchange Team from the Ukraine on May 2 at the DoubleTree.

President Dan called upon our three RYLA students from the Benjamin School for comment on the recent conference. All reported on extremely rewarding experiences and learning. They look forward to a possible return.

We then observed a moment of silence for our missing Rotarian of the Week, Sandy Brown, who has been wrongfully placed in Czechoslovakia. It was pointed out that he is actually in Prague, Czech Republic with Slovakia being a separate nation. Too much change for this tired old mind.

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:
Good news–we’re no older than we were last week. We are happy to report, however, on the Right Reverend’s 32nd anniversary. Congratulations to Skip and Chris Bush.

SERGEANT AT ARMS:
Skip Bush told that today is tax day, the day the Titanic sunk, and Abraham Lincoln died. Happy dollars were collected from one and all with Alan Fishman coming forth with a Czech joke (not rated), followed by another one from Eddie Anker (minus 1). I guess this is why Skip chose to alter his presentation and tell his joke last. Ah, the wonders of the Internet earned a 10+.

PROGRAM:
John Tague introduced John Geraghty who is a Certified Financial Planner. He spoke to us on Energy Leadership, referring often to his “energetic self perception” chart. He directed our thoughts to living your life on purpose. To reward ourselves with full potential, one must start with core thoughts. This will lead you eventually to the highest level of thought energy and full productivity. Positive energy comes from positive thought. If we start with the core self and focus positively, we will develop a high level of energy which will impact those about us and will lead us to the experiencing of high levels of joy and fulfillment. It was a very motivational presentation.

PRESTIDIGITATION:
Our speaker presented us with his book which was part of the raffle. The first number drawn presented the book to the Donovan table and gave Mike first rights of perusal. Mr. Geraghty then selected the number for his table and promptly drew the jack of clubs.

ROTARIAN OF THE WEEK:
Next week, our queen of private banking, Danielle Webel will reign.

TOAST:
Rick Barnes raised a glass to the Rotary Club of Potomac, Virginia.

Tis the season of summer. With only 10 Rotarians and 2 guests, we could almost fit at one table. Guests today were Finbar Corr, Yarmouth, MA and Ed Oskamp, North Palm Beach.

The monthly board of directors meeting has been rescheduled for April 17. Same time, same place.

Dan again made a request for a summer volunteer to write the blog. Maryly Peck accepted the call and will be your editor through September 2008.

The mob became nasty and pointed fingers at your editor. Skip Bush immediately started to heat up a pot of tar while Carol Sutton went to the hotel management seeking some feather pillows. Quickly and under such threats, my greatest
apologies. Our new URL for the Web page is www.RotaryJPBG.org . The old address still works.
It is with deep regret that the resignation of membership from Eric Stein was announced. Hopefully, his absence will be short, as he has been part of the back bone of this club. We miss you already, Eric.

The RYLA students and advisors will be in attendance next week. A special thank you to Carol Sutton and Ed Kent for transporting them to and from the meeting.

Ed Kent spoke briefly of the PETS (Presidents Elect Training Seminar) conference recently attended. It was a great experience, which recharged the spirit of Rotary.

Rotarian of the Week, King Flesher blessed his subjects, recognizing that he is “a little older.” Perhaps this is so, as he has hung up his goggles and oxygen mask and permanently hangared the plane

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:
Happy Birthday was loudly proclaimed in an attempt to reach Sandy Brown in Prague. Meanwhile, Maryly Peck celebrates her 17th anniversary.

MEMBERSHIP MOMENTS:
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SERGEANT AT ARMS:
Charlie Horowitz advised that this was “Get along little doggies day.” Seems that on this date in 1939, the first intercollegiate rodeo was held. With a wink, Charlie told not one, but two doctor/lawyer jokes. Both were 8s. Maybe next week he’ll pick on undertakers.

PROGRAM:
President Dan introduced Anna Stewart, who cheerfully stepped in at the last moment as our speaker. Anna is a former CSI from the Delray Police Department and has more degrees than Maryly. She currently is the manager of Drowning Prevention Coalition.

In Palm Beach County, there have been 522 deaths by drowning in the last 10 years. Nine percent of those were under the age of 4 and over 25% were over 55. If you measure the space from the top of your nose to slightly under your bottom lip, you can readily see that it takes very little water to drown. Requiring an average approximating 2 inches, hazzards in and around the home abound. Everything from the toilet to the back yard swimming pool is a culprit. Add to this the oceans, lakes, and canals and we begin to realize the broad exposure. The time for a drowning is equal to the seconds spent answering the telephone.

The second leading cause of drowning results from entrapment in an automobile which is sinking in a canal. Extrication is the answer. Practice S.O.S.-stay calm, open the window, and release your seat belt. Always have a device for cutting a seat belt and breaking a window within easy reach. Directing her attention to swimming pools, Anna noted that lack of supervision and suction entrapment cause some of the greatest exposure. Much can be done to prevent drowning in this area, with good safety practices and devices. With small children who easily slip through doors and fall into pools unattended, the safety turtle is recommended and consists of a wrist sensor and a monitor with audible alarm. You should always appoint a water watcher when there are groups about the pool. Never swim alone. Always have a companion who can intervene in emergencies. When around water, always have Coast Guard approved life jackets and don’t use arm floats as they do nothing other than buoy self confidence. Always have on hand a safety pole and a throw float with long rope. It doesn’t have to be expensive as a detergent jug partially filled with water will work just fine. An excellent program that kept all in attendance awake and on their toes.

PRESTIDIGITATION:
Our guest Finbar Coor, representing his table selected the ten of spades.

ROTARIAN OF THE WEEK:
Next week a moment of silence. No long speeches. Our honored member is Sandy Brown.

TOAST:
Skip Bush chose to honor the Rotary Club of Cape Cod.