The word, companion, is derived from the Latin, com - “with” + panis - “bread” and suggests “breaking bread with another person.”  This week, members of the Netcong-Stanhope Rotary Club will be our companions and break bread with us.

Pres. Jerry led us in the pledge; Sharon Hosking of the Wallkill Valley Rotary Club gave the invocation; Steve Wescott led us in a rousing rendition of “It's a Grand Old Flag.”  The rendition was rousing, despite a few missed low notes in the middle.  Okay, maybe “rousing” is stretching it a bit.

 

Jim Porter greeted our two visitors and even managed to inject “the weather” in his eloquent greeting.

 

Last week's meeting was the second in a series of joint meetings with other Rotary Clubs from Sussex County.  Wallkill Valley and Newton took turns sharing information about each Club's fund-raising, social events, projects, activities – all the appurtenances which make each Club unique.  Wallkill and Newton will be “companions” once again on November 11.  Wallkill may help financially  support the Newton Water Project in Haiti as explained by Denise Current during the course of the meeting.

 

Shaun and Kirtan Patal guests of Alice Vigiletti.

 

October 25 – Presidents' Ball.  By the time you read this, midnight will have struck and the Ball will be over.  Some ten members/spouses will be in attendance honoring Pres. Jerry.

 

November 11 – social meeting at Sheridan's Lodge, 4 – 6 p.m., Wallkill Rotary has been invited to join us.

 

Barbara Wortmann shared information regarding the American Red Cross “Adopt a Unit” endeavor.  Please bring any of the items listed to a Rotary meeting for distribution of “Comfort of Home” packages to military members serving overseas.

 

Helen Moch has graciously volunteered to assist with the Newtarian.  A few more volunteers are needed so that writing of the newsletter can be shared over a month by different editors.  You do not have to be an H. L. Mencken to take notes for the newsletter.

 

Pres. Jerry asked for volunteers to help with PR.  “It's time the community sees what Newton Rotary does.”

 

November 7 is Rotary Day at the UN.

 

Tom Digby shared information about the Club's Change for Polio Plus initiative.  All contributions of any denomination are welcome and appreciated.  We are close, so close, to eradicating polio worldwide.

 

Pres. Jerry announced that early next year our own Steve Wescott will present a program explaining the Rotary Foundation and the Newton Rotary Endowment.

 

Bob Shankman shared the history of certain plane crashes over Sussex & Warren counties; e.g.,  crashes of 1932 and 1942; a 1944 crash near Millbrook; and a 1948 crash over Swartswood, et.al.  Bob noted that Judge Weber remembered the 1948 crash as he was one of the first people to be on the scene.

 

Happy Dollars   

A panoply of happiness!  In fact, so many happy one and five dollars, the editor's aging pen succumbed during the meeting due to the number, rapidity and scope of the happiness shared.  The pen could no longer do what it was penned to do!  There were so many happy dollars that the number may break the Guiness Book of World Records for happy dollars given during a Rotary meeting.  It brings happiness to see so many happy!  Those sharing happiness were:

Carolyn Ottenbreit, Carl Lazzaro, Alice Vigiletti, Barbara Wortmann, Denise Current, Bud Luthman, Frank Eberhart, Mary Ann Seeko, Buz Tomasino – emissary for Sylvester Fletcher, Kurt Geweke, Charles Grotyohann, John Iliff. 

Note:  If anyone's happy dollar is missing, it's the pen's fault.

 

Charles Grotyohann won the 50/50 but left the growing pot for a future drawing.