**NEEDHAM ROTARY CLUB**
Weekly Bulletin
Tuesday: May 2, 2017
 
This week’s Rotary started off with a celebration for everyone who has a May birthday. This includes Lois Sockol, Ron Sockol and Ted Shaughnessy.
 
What's even more interesting is Lois's love of 'whipped cream'. She says it goes back to her childhood when she would not eat her oatmeal. Go figure! 
 
 
 
 It was arranged to have a special serving of whipped cream just for Lois. Happy Birthday!
 
Guests: Steve Levitsky, District Asst. Chair for the Rotary Foundation was our guest and speaker.
 
Announcements:
  • Our District conference is coming up this weekend in Providence.
  • Neponset Valley rotary is hosting a recycling event on April 29;
  • Dan Tibma has organized the Arbor Day sapling delivery to all the fifth grade classes in town:
  • Wellesley Rotary is sponsoring a ‘dine around Wellesley’ event at Elm Bank on May 4th.
  • Charles River Center ‘Gala Event is upcoming on May 5th. See Louise.
  • On May 13 we will be working with Needham Community Farm in repairing their beds.  Remember to wear mud boots and bring tools. See Jim Brown to sign up.
  • Reality Fair will be held on May 22 at Needham High School from 8:30-12:00.  Rich needs members to help at the tables.
  • We will have a booth at the NBA Street Fair on Saturday, June 3 from 10:00-3:00.  We will sell raffle tickets at the booth.
  • Karen is working with Gloria Greis of the Needham Historical Society on a history of Needham Rotary.  Get any materials to Karen to be included in the display.
  • Newton Rotary is still looking for local families to host a scholar from Rome for a year in this country.
  • Needham Rotary will be sponsoring a CARNIVAL in the Needham High School upper parking lot the weekend of July 7-9.  We will need 2 people to man 2 booths for 2 hour shifts all weekend.  Charles will arrange schedule.  Bill is doing the publicity with Chuck.  Chuck has designed banners to be hung on Chapel St in June and July.  Brad will speak with Channel 5. All hands on deck!
  • We will be selling Raffle tickets there at that time as well.
  • Bill Paulson has arranged for banners on Chapel Street for June and July. Thanks Bill!!
  • Chuck Buyer has arranged for Needham Rotary members to be on the Schooner Adventure on Sunday June25. Tickets are $50 each. Contact Chuck for details.
 
HAPPY DOLLARS:  Scotti $3 for spending a month at  his Siesta Key home in Florida, and for the Celtics performance! Brad, Kathy Whitney wishing the birthday people ‘Happy Birthday’; Bob Cox, Roz, Charles and Ryan HTBH; Greg Cronin-Proud to be a Rotarian; Jim and Ken for Steve Levitsky’s presentation; Chuck for the Schooner Adventure sail coming up in July; Lois thanking for the whipped cream with the cake; Tom Savino glad to see his son Greg perform as principal timpanist with the Boston Civic Symphony, the second oldest symphony in Boston, playing Mahler’s first symphony. Steve Levitsky
 
50/50 drawing: Scotti  drew the right ticket, but did not draw the lucky card. If he had won, proceeds would have gone to  Gift of Life.  Better luck next week!  $542 in pot this week.
 
Humor: none today
 
Historical minute: Lois talked about our fifth President, James Monroe who was famous for the Monroe Doctrine, who died on July 4th.
 
Guest Speaker:  Steve Levitsky a member of the Concord rotary Club and out Districts Asst. Rotary Foundation chair, gave us an update on the Rotary Foundation. The foundation started I n the early 1900s with a single donation of $26.50. It has grown to where the Rotary Foundation has given away over $3 to date. Needham Rotarians are amongst the largest donners in the District, having provided over $324,000 to date. Much to be  proud of.
 
This week, new Paul Harris fellows were recognized: Bob Cox, Kathy Whitney and Dan Tibma. In addition Karen Wetmore reached the level of Paul Harris +3, meaning she has given a total of $4000 to the Foundation: Fantastic!:
 
 
Every year, $150 is given to the Rotary Foundation for each member of the club. Each member donates $100, and the club matches with an additional $50. This year, our club has taken advantage of the funds we donate to:
            -Spearhead installing solar cells in a school in India
            -Pledged giving towards Razia’s Hope school in Afghanistan
            -Pledged giving to a water project in Tanzania with the Neponset Valley Rotary
 
Of course, Needham Rotary is quite committed to the Rotary Foundation over many  years, and believes in it’s many worldwide projects.
 
Next meeting: Tuesday, May 9th, 2017 at 12:00 at Needham Sheraton