**Rotary Club of Needham**

Tuesday:     September 2, 2014

Location:  Needham Sheraton

Pledge of Allegiance:  Jim Brown, President pro tem

Song:  America the Beautiful; Led By: Karen Wetmore

Prayer: Led by Darrell Minnich

Announcements:

. Bob Dunning broke his leg about 6 weeks ago.  A ‘Get Well’ card was passed around and mailed.

. Bill Paulson updated us on Bill Rosenberg’s brother who passed away recently.

. Bill Paulson told us that the dictionaries are due this week, and a ‘labeling attaching session” may be called. Keep your eyes open for the email!

. Bill Paulson also told us that we will have a table at the NBA Harvest Fair.  He still needs people to sign up for the 1-3 shift in the afternoon.

. Roz  Fisher is working on the Pancake Breakfast on Nov. 1^st at the high school.

. Jim Brown reminded us that there will be a speaker next week.  The topic will be Impact on Casinos’ on Towns.  Meeting the following week will be a review of our committee assignments and duties.

. Louise Condon let us know about the NBA involvement in the Ice Bucket Challenge.  It will take place tomorrow, 9/3 at 5:30 pm at the Needham Town Hall. It has also been decided that the businesses involved will donate 10% of their proceeds to ALS on Sat Sept. 6^th.

. Fund raising committee will meet on Thurs., Sept. 4^th at 7:30 am at Ryan Damaso’s office.

. Rotary District meeting will be held on Sept. 18^th.  Ken Davis would like a couple of representatives to attend.  The meeting is at 5:30pm at the Best Western in Marlboro.

. Darrell Minnich reminded us that the Thanksgiving lunch with Community Council will be held again this year.  Bill Paulson agrees to be the Master Chef again this year.  Darrell needs a mashed potato masher this year.  Set up usually takes place on Wed. at 4:30 pm; cooking starts at 7:30 am on Thanksgiving Day and take out sets at 10:30.

Guests:   Slim and none

Happy Dollars:  Good Labor Day; great weekend beating my son at Boy Scout camp on Lake Winnipesauke; great vacation with family; great end of summer weekend sailing Newport Bay, St. Anthony’s Festival and golf at Millis; many happy to be here; daughter, Alexandra, moving into BU as sophomore; for 41 years of married bliss; another great weekend sojourn to St. Anthony’s Festival in North End; football; great sail in Gloucester on board Schooner Adventure who came in 2^nd in race; great weekend in Chatham;  sorry to be at another meeting next week and Go Pats!

Lois’ presidential minute: none

50/50 drawing: $520 in pot; Bill Paulson had lucky number but not the right card.

Well, come to find out, with all the money in the pot, after today’s drawing it was discovered that the card we are seeking (the Queen of Spades) is missing. A reward has been posted, and search dogs have been sent out on the trails. So, we will look to replace the entire deck with a new deck, including the missing card. Stay tuned…..

Joke of the day: Courtesy of Louise Condon:     An Italian Mama

Mrs. Ravioli comes to visit her son Frankie for dinner. He lives with a female roommate, Maria .

During the course of the meal, his mother couldn't help but notice how pretty Frankie 's roommate is.

 Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Frankie and his roommate than met the eye.

Reading his mom's thoughts, Frankie volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, Maria and I are just roommates.''  We have separate rooms and sleep in separate beds.

About a week later, Maria came to Frankie saying, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the silver sugar bowl. You don't suppose she took it, do you?"

"Well, I doubt it, but I'll email her, just to be sure."

So he sat down and wrote an email:

“Dear MaMa,

I'm not saying that you "did" take the sugar bowl from my house; I'm not saying that you "did not" take it.

But the fact remains that it has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.

Your Loving Son,, Anthony”

Several days later, Frankie received a response email from his MaMa which read:

“Dear son,

I'm not saying that you "do" sleep with Maria , and I'm not saying that you "do not" sleep with her. But the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her OWN bed, she would have found the sugar bowl by now.

Your Loving MaMa”

 Moral of the story:

Never Bulla Shita you MaMa!

 5 minute Rotarian: Darrell had the honor this week. He was born in Harrisburg, VA; his parents were missionaries in Brazil where he lived until he was 7 when the family returned to the US so he could have heart surgery.  In 1984 he moved to Needham with his wife and 2 children, after living in Ohio and Connecticut where he worked with refugees from Laos.  He has 3 grandchildren who live nearby. His other son lives in Laos as an ‘underground’ missionary who also works for an inexpensive water filter company.  His parish in Needham is the Good Shepherd Christian Fellowship at 754 Greendale Ave.  The building is shared with 4 other congregations.  Darrell is an evangelical preacher – Be in the World not of the World.  We are all welcome to attend any of this services which begin at 9:30.