Chelsea Rotary - Rotagram - Archive (Feb 17, 2009)

VP Tom gave the blessing and Paula led us in “God Bless America”. Late arrivers were Joe, Carol, Bill, Juan, Joanne and PP Sue. PP Allan was the only early departer.

Secretary Monique gave her report: We had two guests. Bob Alconada, who played 1^st base and caught in high school, was a guest of PP Anne and Juan had as his guest his son Matthew. There was one birthday but PP Bob was not present so we did not sing.

Mitch filled in as Sergeants- at-Large for PP Mike who was vacationing in Cancun. The general fine, established by PP Mike even though he was not the SAA, was if you had ever seen a baby pigeon you were exempt. Another tricky fine devised by a SAA who has too much time on his hands.

Happy and sad:

Joe paid for sitting in a corner by himself and planning to leave early.

VP Tom said a baby pigeon is in the egg and he has seen pigeon eggs.

PP Barbara was on vacation for a couple of weeks.

Joel was happy his grandson’s hockey won their hockey tournament.

Paula was sad she injured her left ankle again on a long weekend which seriously added to the depressed economic state of local shopping malls.

President Saritin though she had seen baby pigeons and had probably eaten some as eggs.

PP Charlene paid for missing last week, Juan’s party and a successful Rotaplast mission to Colombia for Juan.

Juan discussed raising racing pigeons as a youth. He was excited to be joining the Rotaplast mission to Colombia and while in Colombia following up on our medical clinic project. Juan was also happy to have his son Matthew with him.

PP Joe was happy his previous next door neighbor raised pigeons and for a long, quiet weekend.

PP Barry was happy to have spent a week in Aruba and baseball season is starting.

PP Sue has a pigeon coop next to her office and she is not happy when they fly over her car and leave their greetings.

Fella tries to avoid pigeons, especially when they are flying.

PP Anne was looking forward to a successful trip to Colombia for Juan and to have Bob as here guest.

PP Anne’s guest Bob was happy to attend his 1^st Rotary meeting.

Secretary Monique was happy to be going to Pittsburgh to visit her grandmother. She was also happy to have visited her friend who is having twins. Monique is progressing quite well on her New Years resolution.

Mitch was happy to have the opportunity to sit next to Monique and wished good luck to Juan.

Mitch read PP Mike’s answer to the general fine: Baby pigeons are shielded by their parents until they are older and able to fly therefore no one can see them as babies. Juan felt this was the 2^nd time in a roll PP Mike was in error.

VP Tom introduced the guest speaker, David Dismas from Hallmark Health Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, Inc. David’s topic was Hospice Volunteering 101. His previous knowledge of Rotary was having his uncle Dennis Williams participate in a Rotary Group Exchange to New Zealand. He felt it had a profound affect on Dennis and when Dennis passed away in 1999 they received many expressions of condolences from Rotarians Dennis met in New Zealand.

Some of David’s insights on hospice volunteering:

Busy people make the best volunteers.

Hospice primarily works with people during their last 6 months.

For every 100 hours of funding received a Hospice must receive 5 hours from volunteers.

Volunteers provide several services including providing a primary care providers periods of respite, vigil services so a patient doesn’t die alone, bereavement follow-up and office volunteerism.

All hospice volunteers must go though training 3 hours a week for 8 weeks.

Announcements:

Rotary Pot-O-Gold is next Thursday, February 26^th. Tickets are still available. Dinner is $20 at the door. If you need tickets please contact President Saritin or .PP Bruce

PP Mike’s bowling team is still in 1^st place.

21 Rotarians had perfect attendance in January and 5 Rotarians have perfect attendance since 7/1/2009.

Juan’s son Matthew drew the winning raffle ticket and drew his own ticket. After much pressure from the members of the Club Matthew agreed to keep the winnings.