August 15, 2008 Meeting

PLEDGE, SONG, AND INVOCATION

A surprise, President David Lindsay was back the podium and he led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bill Buck led us through a chorus of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and Len Wilson gave an invocation, inspiring to carry through with the good deeds of Rotary in the rest of our life.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS AND GUESTS

We welcomed our guests who included Kathleen and Caroline Buck, Andrew Lyman, and our three speakers, Cynthia, Garland, Evan, and their English teacher Dan Young.

CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS

David urged us to attend a District Foundation/Membership Seminar on the Rotary Foundation to be held at the Sheraton Ferncroft in Danvers starting at 3 PM on September 17th. District Governor Tom Elliot had touted this Seminar as being great for members to acquaint themselves with Rotary -- especially new members. The cost will be $65 and will include dinner.

The Peabody Rotary Club will now be meeting for a breakfast meeting at the Peabody Mariott on Thursday mornings, starting on August 21st.

David read a letter from Rotary International President Dong Kurn (D.K.) Lee who urges us to “Make Dreams Real.” Every member belongs to a club that carries out projects on the local and district level while supporting world-wide goals to reduce death rates of children. More than 30,000 children under the age of 5 die daily as the result of preventable causes (6,000 from waterborne illnesses). RI’s major goal has been to eradicate polio world-wide while supporting projects for clean water and promoting literacy. Now is the time to work toward these goals.

Coordinator of Auction Items, Richard Brenner, asks us all to start getting auction item commitments and to send news of those commitments to him.

RAFFLE

Since the pot was cleaned out last week, there was very little to look forward to as Gale and Jim had their numbers picked. For the record, Gale picked the Queen of Spades and was this week’s winner.

TODAY’S PROGRAM

The program today featured three high school leaders from Lawrence High School, who talked about the leadership part of the Humanities and Leadership high school. The new Lawrence High School is divided into six schools of approximately 500 students and 30 teachers who stay together for the 4 years of high school. The example they focused on is their study of President John F. Kennedy. His presidential leadership during the early 1960s and his subsequent assassination had a profound impact on this country. The students in this course seek to understand that leadership in the hope of becoming leaders themselves. Their goal is to raise $8,000 to travel to Dallas, Texas to visit the museum on the sixth floor of the Book Depository. The Book Depository is the site where the gunshots were fired that killed President Kennedy. They hope to sell calendars and boxes they have made at various locations to raise the funds to travel there this November, the 45th anniversary of the assassination. If you would like to know more about the museum, you can explore the website at http://www.jfk.org. When asked to list some qualities of a good leader, the students mentioned the following:

• Inspire others to do better
• Great listener
• Understand others and motivate

FINES AND HAPPY DOLLARS

Back in the role where he can strut his stuff, Fine-Meister Dennis Crossen started things going by assessing a fine of $1 to everyone who has watched the Olympics. Then, in a bout of desperation, he fined everyone who hasn’t watched $2. He fined his good buddy, our president, for his trip to Argentina and for skiing there. Bill Buck gave a dollar in honor of Kerry’s father who recently passed away. Cheryl and Jamie each put in a dollar to recognize the fine job by our speakers. Kerry also put in a dollar in remembrance of her loving father. Steve contributed to note that his daughter Alia has turned 8 years old. They are having a birthday party at the MSPCA where guests make donations to the Society and the birthday girl gets to name a stray animal. Paul Mercandetti was fined by Dennis. It was hard to tell why, although he apparently deigned to question our fine-meister. Joan nevertheless coughed up a dollar to recognize Dennis’s good sportsmanship. El Presidente David coughed up big-time to show us all a picture of a smiling baby who is his grandson. Congratulations, David!