HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2017
“God Bless America”
Let the Summer Begin
This Week, Wednesday, July 5, 2017
In Service
Last Week, Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Pres. Charles tolled the bell for the final time of his presidency. Pres. Charles then assumed the role of choralmeister and led us in a “whizzo-like” performance of “God Bless America” – “whizzo-like” might be stretching it a bit. Carl Lazzaro offered the prayer of the day with a reflection on Jack Hontz, Jr. Pres. Charles then offered a moment of silence in remembrance of Jack, Jr.
On this date, Pres. Charles was to pass the Rotary gavel and presidency to John Roberts and the Board was to be inducted, but the ceremony (our 94th such) was moved to July 12. Pres. Charles' presidency lives on.
Garden Party
Abundant accolades were given to Jerry and Maureen Hanifan who served as hosts for this year's Champagne Garden Party. A very special thank you and note of appreciation to Jerry and Maureen for hosting this year's event. Tiny bubbles seen permeating the grounds on the afternoon of June 24 somehow quickly disappeared. The editor, et al., became new best friends with the Korbel family. Jerry commented on the day and thanked all those who helped him and Maureen to make the event the success it was.
Program Highlights
Recognized for 100% attendance were:
Tom Brodhecker
Denise Current
Charles Grotyohann
Carl Lazzaro
Pam Lazzaro
Barbara Miller
George Kaiser shared two thank you notes from our scholarship recipients.
Pres. Charles and Past Pres. Jerry inducted George Arezzo as our newest member, and in a very moving moment, Katherine Fletcher, accompanied by her son, Keith, was inducted as an Honorary member of Newton Rotary. Charles and Jerry offered fitting remembrances of Fletch and his contributions to the Club.
Pres. Charles recognized and thanked Carolyn Ottenbreit for her work with EarlyAct programs at KRHS and NHS.
Laura Camp had to leave the meeting because she recently assumed an interim position at a prestigious law firm and was needed at the office. So, it fell upon Denise to share with the Club their experiences at the National Convention in Atlanta. Denise shared how a Club in Taiwan now has a Newton Rotary banner and how we have a Taiwan banner. Denise also shared some of the many ideas garnered at the Convention which she hopes to share with the Board for possible incorporation into the Club's modus operandi. Denise also presented to the Club two large banners: What It Means to Be a Rotarian and The Object of Rotary.
Wyatt Glasser, grandson of Jerry Nechamkin, presented a follow up to an earlier presentation regarding his experiences in EarlyAct. Wyatt shared his Club's fundraising efforts to help a fellow classmate in need. His Club raised $600 selling lemonade. The amount was increased through donations made by members at the meeting. Wyatt is quite a fundraiser (and speaker).
Guests
In attendance were:
Joyce Wishart
Wyatt Glasser
Katherine and Keith Fletcher
George Arezzo
Announcements
The Farm and Horse Show is on the horizon beginning August 4th. Members are asked to volunteer for two shifts.
The 50th Newton Rotary Golf outing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at the Newton Country Club.
Bud Luthman is happy Frank Eberhart is back in North Carolina.
Happy Dollars
Bud Luthman is happy that his son was named Young Lawyer of the Year for the state of New Jersey. Bud is also happy for the Club's $1,000 donation to the YMCA's capital projects and for all the organizations our Club supports. Bud is also happy for a $1,000,000 anonymous donation to the Y's building project.
Linda McConville is happy to celebrate her (and Leo's) 42nd anniversary and for Garden Party hosts – Jerry and Maureen Hanifan.
Denise Current is happy to be in a position to donate a school bus to the Hackettstown Rotary Club which will, in turn, donate the bus to Ghana, Africa, Cataract Center.
Nancy Morrisey is happy for Jerry and Maureen Hanifan and Dottie Budd who missed the Garden Party because she was celebrating her 90th birthday with her family.
Barbara Miller is happy to attend the District Banner Exchange accompanied by ET Holland.
Wyatt Glasser is happy for the Club's donation to his EarlyAct project and for the near miss of a falling tree. Being inside when the tree fell, he was safe but not the car.
Jerry Nechamkin followed and indicated that Wyatt likes the rental car but not the reason why the rental car is needed.
50/50
Charles asked Katherine Fletcher to draw the winning ticket which she did – hers. Katherine drew the King of Spades. The search for the elusive Ace of Spades continues.
