Reporting Meeting of 23 July 2007

(For Distribution 30 July 2007)

· Ron Serapilio welcomed all to the meeting.

· Dan Stec delivered the invocation.

· The Rotary guests attending the meeting were Harriet Noble, 7190 District Governor and Dee Pangburn, Assistant District Governor.

· During dinner, the Rotary Video Magazine (RVM), Volume 2, Issue 2, played in the background. Five major themes were covered:

- Polio in India - Building Bridges

- Success Stories - Gift of Life

- From Crawling to Walking

· Mary Anderson discussed the Roots and Wisdom program, which arranges for suburban kids to join city kids in growing organic produce for donation to local organizations and sale at farmers’ markets. She suggested patronizing the nine local restaurants, which support the program.

· Ken Crotty reminded the membership that dues are overdue. Ron Serapilio stated that dues are the sole source of operating funds.

· Bob Youmans led the singing of Side by Side.

· Mark Gasparovic collected Happy Dollars, closing with a story of how Moses was led astray by a burning Bush.

· Dee Pangburn introduced Harriet Nobel, our District Governor, and the evening’s speaker.

(Correction: The Rotarian visiting us 7/16 was Mike Beaudoin (not Boden))

Rotary is an amazing organization because it allows ordinary people to do extraordinary things. It allows people like you and me to reach beyond our daily lives, to do and be something more - things like BHBL’s Apple Pie Festival.

This year we are leading the way in our communities and the world by showing that Rotary Shares. How do we share and what does it mean? We share through Club Service – because our clubs are the hands of Rotary. We share through Vocational Service – because through our work we are the voice of Rotary. We share through Community Service – because service to the community is at the heart of Rotary. We share through International Service – because each of us serves as the eyes of Rotary.

This year RI President Wilf will continue Bill Boyd’s emphases on water, health and hunger and literacy. These basic needs have been the focus of our clubs’ efforts for several years because with clean water, good health and the ability to read and write, many of the people who need help will finally be able to help themselves. Clean water projects are being expanded from Honduras to El Salvador and Nicaragua. Ms. Nobel is excited to be attending the first World Water Summit in Haiti in December. She asks each club to participate in a literacy project supporting International Literacy Day on 8 September.

Because youth is our future, President Wilf has created a new resource group, Youth Services, which will support will support all our youth programs - EarlyAct, Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and Youth Exchange.

Ms Noble asks, “What can the district do for you to make your magic come true?” and responds, “We can share our resources, our time, and our talents with you. Our primary goal is to support the clubs in the district. Feel confident that the Assistant Governors, the Resource Coordinators, the District Committees, Foundation Area Coordinators are ready to help whenever you need them.”

One of the greatest treasures we have is the Rotary Foundation, whose goal continues to be Every Rotarian, Every Year. A personal goal is polio eradication for which Ms Noble will join the Polar Bears for a Lake George plunge on 1 January 2008; sponsoring contributions were solicited!

Reported by Fred Baily