SPUR December 9, 2015

Enfield Rotary Meeting December 9, 2015

The meeting involved High School Recognition, Nomination of  2016-2017 Club Officers and a Rotaract Update.

Pledge of Allegiance by Eric Moody

Four-Way Test by Mike Helechu

Prayer by Steve Damon

Visitors in support of High School Honorees: Andy Longey, Ellen Frost, Cory O'Connell, Elaine Helberg, Marilynn Cressotti, and Mike Pescitelli.  Honorees: Alexander Byron with parents Thomas and Becky Byron and Ali Kafel with parents Imad and Najat Kafel.  Rotaract members: Alaysia Murphy and Sarah Mauceri.

Visitor who has repeatedly shown interest in our club: Alleson Rodrucks

Our new Sergeant-at-Arms Adrian Garcia-Sega took the floor for Gail Albetski who has retired from the position due to career obligations.  Thank you Gail for your service.

Happy/Sads;

Ed happy to have been Santa Claus at three venues last weekend.

Mike H. happy because his Dad went for a hearing test.

Jeff sad for the passing of his friend Ann Raffia, 94 years young.

Rich happy to see Marilynn Cressotti who was a classmate of his in the Enfield School System.

Kate happy for her attendance at a WWE (wrestling?) event.

Adrian happy for his birthday and a rousing Polish Happy Birthday song erupted from the floor led expertly with spirit and impressive volume by Mike H.

Joe's Venerable History Minute December 9, 2008- seven years ago- “How quickly we forget category”

The governor of Illinois was arrested on federal corruption charges.

1- Who was he?

2-Who did he appoint to the United States Senate to fill the seat vacated by Barack Obama when he was elected President?

3- Who succeeded that Governor after he was impeached?

Answers:  Milorad “Rod” Blagojevich a/k/a Blago, Roland Burris, Patrick Quinn

Raffle: Linsdey grabbed $10, Derek struck out with 3 of diamonds, Jeff pounced on the $5.

Nick reported Meaghan Burr from the Enfield School System is helping resurrect the Rotary Youth Exchange Program which would be scheduled for summer 2016.

Lou Reported record breaking attendance at the Rotary Pancake Breakfast last Saturday.  The pancakes were perfect and were affectionately dubbed “Little Beauties”.

Scott requested sign ups for program advertisements at the Basketball Tourney be in before printing on December 17.

The Nominating Committee (Jerry, Greg, Nick and Kevin) led by Jerry Recommended:

President                                 Greg Stokes

Vice Pres/ Club Service Dir   Scott Kaupin

Community Service Dir.        Adrian Garcia Sega

International Service Dir        Carol Bohnet

Vocational Service Dir.          Eric Moody

Secretary                                 Kate Garvey

Treasurer                                 Lou Bolduc

Sergeant at Arms                    Kevin Mayo

Past President                         Nick Deni

The above nominations were accepted by the Club and unanimously confirmed.

High School Recognition Presentations  (Again this year this reporter feels like an underachiever)

Kate led the festivities recognizing:

Alex Byron, Enfield High School.-  A sampling of Alex's accomplishments: honor roll, marching band squad leader, NCCC honor musician, varsity tennis team captain, host/greeter at Friendly's on Elm St..  He has been asked to work shifts when the Friendly's owner or a high ranking manager enters the store.

Alex is planning a business career and has applied to colleges that have an excellent business ciruculm.

Ali Kafel, Fermi High School-  Accomplishments include:  honors classes in biology, english, geometry spanish,algebra, and precalculus.   He is a member of FIRST Robotics Team 175, Computer Club Engineering Club and volunteering with Relay for Life.  After High School, Ali hopes to major in Computer Science in college and then become a Software Engineer/Developer at Google.

Rotaract Presentation by Alaysia Murphy and Sarah Mauceri,  (Carol and Adrian/ Rotary Advisors):

Activities are substantial and include: Weekend trip to the United Nations in NYC attending programs involving Woman's Advancement Issues and Woman and Child Health with a networking opportunity during the evening.  Also activities included working at the Animal Shelter in Springfield and fund raising for that facility, helping our Club with Amber Alert and planning their own Amber Alert, and a fund raising Bake Sale.

President Nick closed the meeting with a quote from Basketball Icon, Jimmy V who said “ Enjoy your life spending each day with laughter and thought.   Laugh, think and cry seven days a week and you'll have something special”.

That's the way it appeared to me at Rotary 12/09/15.

E. Steven Damon, Guest Editor