February 15, 2008 Meeting

PLEDGE, SONG, AND INVOCATION

Our Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Helene Andersen-Michel. Alan led and accompanied us on guitar through two choruses of “You Are My Sunshine.” Here are the words:

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

…and here is a link to a nice rendition on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgBoJP83OQk

George Chatson gave a really nice Invocation for which we should have had at least a podcast, if not a YouTube version. How bout that all you computer guys and gals, shall we broadcast these meetings for the people who can’t make it?

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS AND GUESTS

Not too many visitors – soon to be a member Michele M. Drapeau and Assistant District Governor Roger Bell.

CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Helene read several thank you letters including one from our speaker of a few weeks ago, Julia Scolnik and one from the beneficiaries of our campership contribution.

Helene announced District 7930’s “Peace Begins at Home” celebration and dinner to be held at the Danversport Yacht Club on Friday, February 29, 2008. If nothing else, these dinners are a fine way to meet the Youth Exchange students and Ambassadorial Scholars while enjoying a fine dinner. The club will pay half the cost of anyone going. Check it out at http://www.rotary7930.org/

Even though it seems impossible that any future team could meet the greatness of the Rotary Spelling Bee champions of two years ago, the ever optimistic Jim Greeley, urged us on toward forming two, if not three teams for this year’s bee on Friday, March 28th. Perhaps with four teams, it could be an “All Andover Rotary” final.

A REALLY SPECIAL MEETING IN TWO WEEKS

Membership Chair Peter Cotch has been going all out to get every single member to bring a potential member on Friday, February 29th. This is truly a high priority day for the club. Without new members, the club cannot possibly be anything close to what it should, indeed what it needs, to be. We need some more members. Please get out there and ask someone to come. There will be a new members induction and all aspects of the club will be presented in interesting ways. Peter has done a great job planning this, let’s support him!

RAFFLE and HAPPY DOLLARS

The noise during the raffle made it impossible to figure out what happened. Your editor is pretty sure no one won, but Susan, Roger Bell, and Ed Bride all seemed to get a crack at the pot.

Speaking of talking too much, Finemeister Joan asked Len and Bill to pay for talking too much during the meeting. She then fined everyone who gave flowers, candies, or cookies to their sweethearts. Jim Greeley must have coughed up his last dollars as he put $8 in the bucket for the best Chamber of Commerce President ever, Joe Bevilacqua. Donna Lee was back from the mission in Chile and was happy for a successful mission. We look forward to hearing more. Bill Buck appreciated hearing his song. Bob Troiano announced that he was giving up his run for the presidency and throwing his support to John McCain. I think that throws Mr. McCain over the top. Joe Bevilacqua gave a dollar for speaking today. Alan Michel urged everyone to look at the email he had sent out on the ski trip on March 2nd. Michelle mentions that Deedee’s mother is very ill and she asks us to support Deedee during this time. Jim Sutton asks if he is the only one to find the recent Congressional hearings on steroids in baseball to be fascinating and he also said that he will be absent the next month to have his hip replaced.

TODAY’S PROGRAM

Our speaker, Joe Bevalacqua, is active in many area organizations and civic groups including the Chamber of Commerce and the Haverhill School Committee. He began by thanking the Rotary Club for working to carry out all the basic community projects that it does. These activities, whether it’s a $200 campership program, giving turkeys at Thanksgiving, or sponsoring missions, cannot be supported by the Chamber of Commerce. Through programs like “Merrimack Valley Means Business,” the Chamber can help provide the grease that makes the other pieces work together. Working with the town governments, including Andover’s, the chamber works to promote workforce development and to promote a positive economic climate. Joe’s wide-ranging interests were evident in his remarks about the environment, global warming, mass transportation, education, and alternative energies. He said that as a small business, you have the opportunity for free business counseling.