Newsletter 09-30-2008

President Bill Paulson led us in the pledge of allegiance, while Miriam led us in God Bless America and Darrell led us in prayer.

 

GUESTS: Kathy Whitney soon to be a member of Needham Rotary.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Ken Davis has arranged for 24 tickets to see the Celtics on November 24 vs. The Hawks. We have 24 balcony seats available on a first come first served basis. They are $45 each. Register online or send Ken Davis an email at pkedavis@aol.com. Go Celtics!!

 

Miriam reported that she, Bill Paulson and Karen last week went to the EliotSchool to pass out dictionaries to the 3^rd graders. These dictionaries have a book plate inside with their individual names in calligraphy by Miriam. This Friday they go to the MitchellSchool and next week the Newman. If you would like to go with them, please contact Miriam Bill or Karen.

 

Karen Wetmore attended a planning meeting for the Bandy Hefler friendship exchange program between English Districts and our District 7910. This will be held in the fall of 2009, and the District is looking for folks to host British Rotarians in their home for usually 4 days. This is a great event, one that everyone enjoys! See Karen for details.

 

Harvest Fair this weekend at Needham's common. If you signed up, be there. If not, drop by anyway.

 

Ryan Damaso updated us on the Pancake Breakfast scheduled for the morning of October 18^th.  Tickets will be available next week, and will be available for the Needham Center Harvest Fair this coming Saturday..

 

Darrell Minnich will have a Thanksgiving Dinner Committee meeting 8:30 AM Thursday October 2^nd at his church at 754 Greendale Ave. It has reached the point where is offering baked goodies from his wife as an inducement to attend. I hear they are very good!

 

Jim Brown announced that the visit to the New EnglandSportsMuseum will take place on October 27^th with a dinner outing to follow at the Fours Restaurant..  We will be accompanied by the Wellesley Rotary and will travel to the museum by bus.  Needham folks will meet at Jim Brown's office at 5:45 pm, where the bus will meet us to drive us to Boston. More details to follow.

 

Gary Jones is coordinating the Needham Rotary Quickie Board for the BethIsraelDeaconessHospitalNeedham Gala on Friday evening October 24^th.  Donation items are needed.

 

The traveling Viet Nam War Memorial will be visiting Needham shortly. If you would like to volunteer for set up, manning it, or tear down, please contact Bill Paulson. There was construction going on at both entrances to the Sheraton Hotel Garage as we met. Turns out they are installing lift gates for access to the garage. We hope to have details (like is there a charge) by the next meeting.

 

ROTARY MINUTE :

 

BIRTHDAYS: None

 

HAPPY DOLLARS:

-Ryan Domasso is leaving and flying somewhere for 4 days of golf!

-Scotti (Mr. Vacation) for a trip to NappaValley on 'business'!

-Gerry $2 for 2 weeks in Aruba.

-George for Needham Footballs's 4 and 0 record.

 

50/50 RAFFLE WINNER:  Ryan Domasso had the winning ticket but did not pick the correct card.  The pot now stands at $240. And yes, Greg did show us tht the Joker does live in the deck.

 

HUMOR: Tom Savinoshared the following e-mail he received with us.Make sure you read the entire e-mail:

 

From: Joseph J. Bonanno
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 9:17 AM
To: Timothy B. Davies; Thomas E. Savino; Rose S.Thibault; Pauline F. Haran; Conor M. Flanagan
Subject: FW: Your Urgent Help Needed

I am offering you an incredible opportunity to support an urgent secret business deal with a transfer of funds of great magnitude. I am Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic of America. My country has had great crisis which I promise you could never have been predicted. It has caused the need for me to receive the transfer of 800 billion dollars US. It is imperative that you assist me in this transfer to save yourself, your family and your aged parents from certain ruin. This transaction is 100% safe, I promise you.
 
This is a matter of great urgency, I promise you. We need a blank check. We need the funds as quickly as possible. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance. My family lawyer advised me that I should email every reliable and trustworthy person who could act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.
 
Please reply with all of your bank account, IRA and college fund account numbers and those of your children and grandchildren to wallstreetbailout@treasury.gov<mailto:wallstreetbailout@treasury.gov> so that we may transfer your commission for this transaction. After I receive that information, I promise you, if you quickly follow my instructions, you will be saved from a terrible calamity in the nick of time.
 
Yours Faithfully
Minister of Treasury,

Henry Paulson

 

SPEAKER:

We were fortunate to have with us Bill O'Donnell, the Register of Norfolk County and Jim Thrasher from his office. Bill talked about the advances in technology which have enabled the Registry of Deeds of Norfolk county to be 'on line' for look up of all real estate transactions since 1974. This includes document images of all transactions.

 

The Norfolk County Registry was established in 1793 by Gov. Hancock. Since that time, all RE transactions have been recorded in books, and continue to be recorded in books today. There are 26,000 books, so that is one reason they have gone to on-line access.

 

Bill recommended that if you have not filed a Declaration of Homestead with the Registry you do it. It protects the first $500,000 of your homes value against foreclosure. The cost is $36. Go to the Registry, or, go on-line, or, call your Attorney, or, call Maury Ringel.

 

Bill also pointed out that the Norfolk County Registry was selected by the Library of Congress to host a delegation from Russia to see how Registrars Offices work and how computer systems are implemented.

 

Great presentation. You can go to www.norfolkdeeds.org for free access to the system. Further, you can call 781-461-6116 for assistance over the phone.

  

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:

Saturday Oct. 4: Harvest Fair

Saturday Oct. 18: Pancake Breakfast

Friday Oct. 24: BIDHospital Gala at the Newton Marriott

Monday Oct. 27: SportsMuseum visit with Dinner

Saturday Nov. 8: Rotary at the UN Day

Wed. Nov. 12: Needham Rotary at the Boston Celtics

Tuesday Nov. 18: NBA Annual Dinner

Tuesday Nov. 25: Joint Needham-Wellesley Thanksgiving dinner at Sheraton

Thursday Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day dinner for Needhamites at Mason's Hall

December: Salvation Army Bell Ringing Fund Raiser

May 1-May 3^rd: District conference, Leominster