March 6, 2009 Meeting

Pledge, Song & Invocation

Switching the usual order of events, David first tapped the ever-reliable Ray Cannon to conduct a short and sweet invocation. Masestro Marie turned to the tried-and-true America with its legendary fruited plains and pleas for self-control.

Visitors

Jack Reeder returned after a long hiatus. The Buck girls came to compete against the Spencer twins for the hearts and wallets of members for the sponsorship of their jump rope campaign for the American Heart Association. Andrew Santos was back again and speakers, Lynn Morin and Marie Brody rounded off the guest list.

Announcements

The Beverly Rotary Club invites theatre lovers to come on March 14 to the North Shore Music Theatre to a fundraiser for the beleaguered theatre. North Shore Star III will host 16 singing acts competing for the top prize. The District Conference will take place this year in Salem May 1 and 2. From June 21 through 24 Birmingham, England will be the site for the International Rotary Conference.

March is Literacy Month. President Dave read a letter from R.I. President D.K. Lee advocating the need for boosting literacy rates around the world. Our club continues to do its part for the cause of literacy with our STOP program.

Ray Cannon reported that last week's meeting to plan out the Educator of the Year award fleshed out the outline of the new program. Ray scored a major coup by enlisting the support of superintendent Claudia Bach. Nomination forms are available as a download from the cub website. For this year, at least, the Educator of the Year will be folded into the Citizens Who Care reception. The latter will close nominations next week. Marie and Helen Nicolopouls will ferret out some last nominations.

Raffle & Happy Dollars

A slew of orphaned tickets dragged out the raffle. Ultimately Helene's eight succumbed to Peter Caruso's Queen. No sooner had Peter picked up his winnings then he picked up the fine bag. Falling on old habits, he first punished those without pins and then victimized those without hair. This editor is considering an anti-discrimination suit. Marie took the baton last Saturday to conduct a local orchestra and receive a standing "O." John Colbert is off to Vegas with his sons. Matthew Gold should be focusing better since he (or someone whose name I missed) underwent two cataracts procedures. Peter Cotch returned from a golf junkie in Boca. He paid pennance for his indulgence and for the coming of Lent. Ray Cannon joined with Joan Johnson last week at the Lazarus House soup kitchen. Ray also toasted the inception of Educator of the Year. Richard Brenner reported that Dennis Crossen is recovering from his car accident and looking forward to coming back in one piece.

Prodigal son Jack Reeder is glad to be back in the fold. Jim Greeley used his typically generous contribution to announce that, on March 28 at Andover Country Club Ironstone Farm will host its annual gala. The annual heartbreaker that we call the Spelling Bee will take place on Friday evening, April 4. Our club will sport two teams so our chances of disgracing ourselves is doubled. Deedee O'Brien thanked Jim for the plug. Joan Johnson thanked Ray for his companionship at the Good Shepherd.

Bill Buck had two reasons to rejoice: Ray's Educator of the Year program and his second go-around in the upcoming PETS training. (That's for new presidents, not dogs.) The unsinkable Helen Nicolopoulos is just happy that we all have our health—if not our savings. The last happy buck goes to the President and Dave used his to welcome back Jack Reeder, toast Ray's EOY initiative, and report on a good time last weekend skiing at the Balsams.

The Main Event - Lynn Graziano Morris

For 60 years the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) has been advancing care for sufferers of blood cancer. Lynn Morris is the organization's outreach coordinator. Her Natick office insures that any person afflicted with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma, can receive $500 per year for blood treatment and up to $5000 for all patient care.

A newly diagnosed patient's first contact with LLS is a phone teleconference with blood cancer survivors. Support groups that meet in person are next on the agenda. For those who are sick or simply at risk there are educational programs in hospitals and health centers. To complete its offering of services LLS hosts a plethora of information and message boards on its website. An "800" number for the Information Response Center is there for those in immediate need. Blood diseases often strike the young. Returning to school after treatment is made easy for all with a Welcome Back program.

Lynn turned the podium over to her partner. Marie coordinates public awareness projects, including five signature campaigns and a series of weekly walks around the lake in Wakefield, The Light the Night walk is quite the sight to behold with cancer survivors sporting white balloons and supporters holding red balloons. A penny collection drive and a golf tournament rounds out the group's fundraising calendar. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is not just asking for money. Volunteers are always needed. The LLS host a cadre of runners who compete in the Boston Marathon. Helpers are needed on March 28 for a training run and, of course, on Marathon day when LLS mans a water station at mile fifteen.