ROTATELLER

August 3, 2004

 

        Calendar of Events

Last Week:  Richard Kinney (Ballston Concerned Citizens for Sustainable Community)

This Week:  Dave Gerhan and Anita Paul – Zimbabwe  (Fulbright Scholars)

Next Week:  Picnic at Charlton School  (Walter Kessler Remembrance)      

Coming Up:                                  

August 17            RYLA and Rotary Scholarship Students

August 24            Local Food and Local Growers

August 31            Beth Palmer  “Shelter Box USA, Inc.”

Other Events Coming Up:

August 2004       “Membership and Extension Month”

August 24 @ 5PM  Board of Directors & Chairs meeting.                 

Sept 9 (Thursday) Gift of Life Golf Tournament at Antler’s Golf Club

 

Greeter/Invocator Schedule

 Date                                                     Greeter                                             Invocator                       

August 3                                           Bill Lonergan                                   Bill McClary

August 10                                         Clarence Linder                              Rey Whetten

August 17                                         Earl Wilmot                                      Dan Stec

August 24                                         Val Mosier                                       Garry Morrow

August 31                                         Rey Whetten                                             ?

 

                                                           District Governor Hartman Speaks

               On Tuesday, July 20 a large contingent of BH-BL Rotary members and their spouses welcomed District Governor Blair Hartman to the club meeting.  Speaking under a new “Welcome District Governor Blair” banner beautifully made by Shirley Garrison, Blair spoke on his theme of “Stop, Look and Listen: 100 Years of Service Above Self.”  Blair was introduced by our own Dan Stec,  who is serving this year as Assistant District Governor.

               District Governor Blair lauded our club’s ambitious plans for the coming year and went on to discuss the many programs – both large and small – on which he hopes to focus during his tenure.  He urged us to take a moment and reflect on the club’s direction and noted that some adjustments may have to be made to our traditional ways in order to inject a new enthusiasm as we all “Celebrate Rotary!”

               In addition, it is District Governor Blair’s hope that through fundraising or individual contributions, one hundred dollars per member would be sent to the Rotary Foundation this year. New recruitment goals,  leadership courses, and upcoming convention news were also reviewed by the District Governor.  At the conclusion of his remarks, Blair received the “coveted BH-BL mug” from President Steve Caine.

 

                                                          Garrison Award Established

               President Steve announced the establishment of a new BH-BL Rotary Club award at our July 20 meeting.  The award recognizes a “lifetime of service above self” and is one of the highest honors our club can bestow.  Most fittingly named the BH-BL Rotary Stanley “Doc” Garrison Award, the initial recipient was, again appropriately, Stan himself.

               In announcing both the award and the recipient, President Steve noted  that  “when we think of our Club we think of our outstanding members.”  This award was initiated to recognize a member of our Club whose hard work, commitment, vision and character not only help shape our club but have a strong and positive impact on both the local and worldwide Rotary communities.

               Stan Garrison, a founding and charter member of our club recently marked his 53rd    (over) consecutive year of perfect attendance!  His lifetime of exemplary contributions to the Club, the community and Rotary  were outlined by President Steve.  The festive meeting concluded with the presentation of a lovely and richly deserved bouquet of flowers to Shirley Garrison.

 

                                                          Kinney Reviews Land Use Issues:

               At the July 27 meeting a spokesperson for the Ballston Concerned Citizens for Sustainable Communities, Richard Kinney, offered his views on the controversial “Saratoga Saddle Club” land use plan submitted by developer Victor Gush.  Mr. Kinney addressed three main questions:  How we came to be?  What do we do?  Where are we going?  He described BCCSC as a “grass roots” organization that came together to share information about concerns with the enormity of the Saddle Club proposal.  Mr. Kinney reviewed his group’s unsuccessful efforts to persuade the Ballston Town Board to establish a year’s moratorium on all major development to preserve the status quo temporarily while the Town updates its comprehensive land use plan.  BCCSC supports the June Town Board decision to table Mr. Gush’s proposal as incomplete because it  lacked mandatory impact  studies.  The organization will continue to lobby for a moratorium and believes with a year’s grace time a Land Conservation Committee, previously appointed by the Town Board, will be assured adequate time to tackle an enormous learning curve and give town citizens an opportunity to participate in writing a new town plan that represents a collective community vision.