April 1, 2010 Meeting – Aloma United Methodist Church

 President Ben Whisenant rang the club bell; Matt Straub led the invocation and pledge

Guests: Bob introduced his wife, Paula; Hiram introduced his wife Robin and Guest of the Club Linda Sang; Jack introduced his friend from Vermont; Barbara introduced Greg Trent for his 2^nd meeting; Gen. Bill introduced Courtney Frangio; Sherry Anderson introduced his wife.

Visiting Rotarians: Sherry Anderson, Farmington, ME; 

Announcements: 

• Merv explained how the receipts for donations to Polio Pluss were being handled, for those who need them for tax purposes. All of those who have paid have receipts at the front, if you paid today, your receipt will be included next week.
• The District is hosting a GSE team from Israel and need host families for Friday and Saturday night, May 7^th and 8^th. Please speak with Tom Griffin if you are available to host one of more of these young, professional guests.
• Joe Regner announced about the upcoming OCE/WP Rotary Foundation Golf Tournament and distributed brochures. We are looking for 18 foursomes for this event on May 7^th. A great course, a great day and an even better cause will benefit. Get a team together, sponsor a hole, participate in a great day. Registration begins at 11, with a shotgun start at 12 noon.

It is important to stay focused on the Polio Plus Challenge that is before us. We are one person shy of 100% participation in this world changing work – and from getting an extra $1K toward the cause from Jeff McAcbee. Get your pledges in now!!

“Change for Books” is doing great – keep brining your change each week. Keep up the good work!!

• Linda Scott announced about our plans for participation in this year’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life. April 30^th and May 1^st at Eastland Elementary School. There are several ways to participate in this event:
•  - Donate canned goods for the Luminaires, the cans will hold the candle bags down and then    be donated to a local food pantry. You can bring canned goods between now and April  30^th.
• Volunteer to “man” the booth at the Relay for Life or to help with cooking pancakes and sausage at 5a on May 1^st, for all of the participants at the event. See Linda to sign up for the booth or to walk in this overnight relay.

 - Our booth will be raffling off a couple of gift baskets again this year. You can help by making donations to the  gift baskets or donating money to help stock those baskets. See Linda Scott for your donation.

• The Goldenrod Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Spaghetti Dinner on Tuesday, April 6^th to benefit the Goldenrod Relay for Life. Come out for a good dinner and a good time for a good cause.
• There will be a Board Meeting on April 6^th at Lyle’s office
• The sign up for the District Meeting is ending now. If you are interested in attending, see Tom or Ben today!!
• Pres Ben was happy to welcome new member Sharon Thornton to the club. Sharon is sponsored by Gen. Bill. She was presented to the club and given her pin, her certificate and her dues statement! Welcome Sharon!!

Historical Moment: It was April, 2006. “How U doin?” This president was in the automotive business – not selling them but towing them around, sometimes under dark of night, and sometimes even fixing them when they are broken. Then President Frank Tibbitts has a lovely wife, and delightful children and grandchildren! “Tibbiitts, three bits, four bits, a dollar – All for Frank Tibbitts, stand up and holler – how u doin?”

Fines: $ All members without their pins, $ Jack Henderson bought back a pic; $ Vanessa Skinner bought back front page pic;      $ Tom Lawton paid for pic in Orlando mag, and paid John Beatty’s fine as well; $ Pres Ben fined everyone he has not fined before 50/50 - $$ 88– Paula Harvey; Cookies – Shannon

Happy/Sads

 Professor Hanson is sad about the death of his 94 year old mother.

 He is happy about being featured on a show on the History Channel this Sunday at 3p

 Bob is happy to be going to The Masters and finishing off his “sports bucket list”

 Mike is happy to be celebrating his birthday

 Hal is happy that his daughter survived a lightening strike that happened while he was standing in his garage.

 Jerry M. is happy to have been able to be with his daughter to celebrate her 30^th birthday.

Program: Mary Tooles surprised the club with an unannounced program taking a pictoral look through the good ol days. Mary had a collection of old photos of the men of OCE/WP Rotary and we played a game of “guess who” as we got to see current members as children, teenagers, and some really groovy young men! In addition Sherwood Anderson shared how to use the free ancestral search program “Personal Ancestral File” for tracing family roots.

Upcoming Dates:    Foundation Golf Tourney – May 7^th;   Installation Banquet – June 17th