NEWTON ROTARY CLUB
MINUTES OF MARCH 9, 2022
Our regular Wednesday meeting was opened at 12:05 by President Laura Camp. Prayer was led by Carl Lazzaro, with a song (Battle Hymn of the Republic – first stanza) led by John Cuozzo. Today we had 12 of our members present, but no visitors. Greetings were offered by Buz Tomasino.
Happy Dollars
President Laura asked if there were any Happy Dollars. Buz offered the first dollar for the Rutgers U. basketball team for winning yet another game.
Carolyn Ottenbreit offered a dollar for her family gathering in Scottsdale, Arizona for the Spring Break.
Laura offered another buck for her grandson-in-law (to be?) being at her house in advance of a bridal shower.
Announcements
President Laura noted that the membership book project is under the diligent care of Bob, Carol and Alice. We will be hearing more about this project (which is an update of the book we prepared more than 20 years ago) in the near future.
Carolyn spoke briefly about the Two Hearts Program. She said that we have gotten close to the $2,500 that is needed for a single heart surgery. She will be personally matching every dollar we raise for this program. Additionally, her employer – Merrill Lynch – will also be matching dollar for dollar the final amount we as a club raise. So – if we raise all $2,500, then we will have effectively invested $7,500 for the project.
Aid for Ukraine – The Wallkill Valley Rotary and the Sussex County YMCA have partnered to provide aid to the many men, women, and children impacted by the humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s inhumane war against the people of Ukraine.
The collections dates run from March 8 to March 20, with the drop off site at the YMCA at 15 Wits End Road in Hardyston Township. It was stressed that thousands of each of these items are very much needed. The items they are in need of include:
- First aid kits
- Bandages
- Water purification tablets/Aquatabs
- Sleeping bags
- Sleeping pads
- Blankets
- Thermal underwear
- Socks
- Flashlights and batteries
- Baby formula
- Diapers (all sizes)
- Toothbrushes / toothpaste
Speaker for Today
Randy Parks was our guest speaker at lunch today. He is an ordained Baptist minister who presently serves as one of three chaplains up at Newton Memorial Hospital. His title there is “Spiritual Care Manager”. He has been here in the northeast since 1989. His father was an Army Chaplain during World War II. He has been working at Newton Hospital since 2004 while he resides in Sparta with his wife and family. Before coming to Newton, he had worked for three hospitals in New York City.
Randy spoke about the 17 points about being a hospital chaplain. He said that he is not there to push the beliefs of one denomination or set of religious beliefs on a patient, but rather to help them along in recovery while also meeting their spiritual needs. He is there to also help support the spiritual needs of the hospital staff, as well as working with local congregations.
Because Carl had to leave earlier to help at a vehicle crash scene in Fredon, Laura thanked Randy for his presentation today and for providing us with a better understanding of how the hospital is dealing with the spiritual wellbeing of the patients and hospital staff.
50/50
Carolyn Ottenbriet hit the weekly fund for a total of $3 or 4. But when she went and picked a card from the diminishing deck of cards – she left the ever growing pot of $224.50 on the table.
ADJOURNMENT
With no other business to come before the club, the meeting was formally adjourned by President Laura at 1:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted
Wayne T. McCabe
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