February 27, 2009 Meeting

Pledge Song Invocation

Bill Buck (the “Back to the Future” President) running a meeting for the first time in ten years led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Marie Stulz conducted us in the Peter, Paul and Mary classic, “If I Had A Hammer”. Ray Cannon delivered the invocation and asked us all to remember in our prayers Attorney Tom Collins, a former member of the Andover Rotary who recently passed away.

Announcements

Citizens Who Care: Mark Spencer announced that a committee comprised of Marie Stulz, Helen Nicolopolus, Jim Greeley and himself will meet after the rotary meeting on March 5th (NOW THE 12th) to choose the 2009 selections. Still time to nominate but email to Mark ASAP.

Educator of the Year: Ray Cannon announced that the committee will meet immediately after this meeting.

Rotary Ski Trip: Allan Michel, the Jean Claude hilly of our club, announced that this family fun filled event will be held on Saturday, March 14th, contact Allan for additional details.

Membership: Richard Brenner stated that in our recruitment efforts we should stress community service and aggressively illustrate all the club does for multiple non-profits, local and international. As well as work with the Andover School System.

Rotaplast: Bill Buck in a master segue move announced that we had in a combination of member gifts and club funds contributed $3,750 to the misiion this year. The Andover Rotary has contributed over $60,000 since the beginning of these missions, which until this year were directed by our own, Donna Lee Rubin.

Bill also gave an update on the progress of the Beverly School of Kenya.

Henry Broekhoff- Bill read a letter from our beloved restaurateur turned cowboy who has transplanted from Austria to Andover to very happily in retirement in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He has joined a Rotary Club but your humble scribe has no idea how to spell it.

Andover Educational Fund Spelling Bee: Bill Buck isn’t the only one who can segue, Jim announced that we have one team made up of Kerry Ellen Enright, Ray Cannon and veterans Matt Gold (on the winning team two years ago) and ten time loser (but this could be his year) Mark Spencer. Jim is still recruiting for a second team.

Guests

Don Robb- Andover legend
Deborah DeGalla- An Andover Rotary legend when she was a member
Steve Cook- A Rotarian from Westwood, California who still was here before
DeeDee O’Brien
David Campbell- Executive Director Hands on Disaster Response
Andrew Kerr- Our guest speaker
Kathleen and Caroline Buck- the beautiful bell ringers and Polio Fund collectors

Rotary Minute

Jim Sutton did a superb job in outlining various programs, with special emphasis on programs our club is involved with including:
S.T.O.P., Rotaract, College scholarships, and the active participation of many members with the Elementary School Reading Program.

Fines and Happy Dollars

The wonderfully warm, witty, (and perpetually late) Humanitarian, Horsewoman, Executive Director, and all around great gal, DeeDee O’Brien, was the Sgt. At arms designated hitter today. DeeDee stated that 10 years ago when Bill was president, she came and gave a presentation on Ironstone Farm and the late and beloved Barbara Doran soon after sponsored DeeDee and she has been an integral member of our club for many years.

Like SaraLee-no one doesn’t like DeeDee so the money was flowing including $10 from DeeDee herself (wicked shocker!) for her great experiences with our club.

DeeDee “party animal” that she is (clever…horses, animal…night) collected from everyone who celebrated Mardi Gras or who had ever been to Bourbon Street in New Orleans or anyone that could spell Fat Tuesday. Joan Johnson spoke with Donna Lee Rubin, and Vince is progressing slowly, Donna Lee is exhausted but still looks strong (God bless her). Perhaps another round of the “Caruso Cards” to both Donna Lee and Vince?

Jamie Lyman said that he remembered DeeDee’s presentation 10 years ago and thought she was great but wondered about this horse therapy thing. Jamie now realizes it works. Matt Gold (he is always good for an interesting tidbit) our brilliant singing surgeon is participating in a Welsh sing along. I wonder if Dylan Thomas went to many Bar Mitzvahs?

Several other folks including Marie Stulz, The Brotherhood, Peter Caruso (who was thrilled and appreciative of the excellent rotary turnout for his wife’s Gayle artistic showing at Phillips Academy) Mark Spencer, Helene, etc. etc.) for among other things: in memory of Tom Collins and for having Deborah DeGalla back at least for one meeting-Great job DeeDee.

Guest Speaker - Andrew Kerr

This is an amazing young man. At 22 he was chosen Rotarian of the Year by his club in North Carolina. AT 23 V.P. and at 24 President of his Rotary Club by the time he was 25 he was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

Andrew had a successful career in the banking mortgage industry when he volunteered for a month long period with Hands on Disaster Response. This month H.O.D.R., changed his immediate career path and he is now a full time member of H.O.D.R.

Andrew’s PowerPoint presentation showed work done in diverse locations from Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas to Bangladesh, and Peru.

In 2008 a total of 2,663 volunteers from 34 countries assisted 11,331 families suffering from the effects of earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and cyclones. Andrew stated that more than $.90 of every dollar donated goes directly to a generous annual donation that covers most of the support expenses.

At the conclusion of this excellent presentation, Andrew handed out a H.O.D.R. Annual Report and stayed to answer questions. This remarkable 28 year old Rotarian is one of the best examples I have seen of service above self.