Today was an Open Cupboard Collection Day. Thank you, donors, for your generosity, and Dennis, for kindly collecting and delivering the goods to the pantry.
This was also a day to meet, greet, and honor a Most Motivated Student of the Month from Comsewogue High School: Sarah Blonder. School Principal Mike Mosca accompanied Sarah to our luncheon, as did her proud grandparents, Larry and Myra. It was the Principal who introduced Sarah, a well-known and much appreciated Senior, who plans to next attend Suffolk Community College to study TV & radio production. Mike told us that when meeting with the faculty to determine who should get this month's award, the response was unanimously in favor of Sarah. Why? Sarah is credited with bringing back the school's printed student newspaper, which had been dormant for quite a while. Another once-popular feature at her school that had disappeared but was re-awakened by this determined student: the playing over the PA System during the change of classes music that follows daily themes (ie., appropriate holiday music played during that time of the year). Sarah took over the creation of a playlist and now is the person responsible for musically lifting the spirits of students and staff alike in the hallways of Comsewogue High. For these reasons, among others, we were pleased to be able to recognize Sarah with our award.
Another guest visiting today: Daphne Dzvonar, daughter of Jen and Will, who will be having some injured fingers tended to today. We wish Daphne a speedy healing.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: ***NEXT TUESDAY, 1/21, we will meet again at Cafe Spiga, where Mike Sceiford will go over the 3rd ANNUAL WINTER GOLF OUTING FINAL DETAILS for Saturday's Putt & Golf Pub Crawl Event in the village. Please plan to attend. How much money is currently in The Pot? $40! This amount will probably grow, as there are now 52 cards remaining in the deck (including 2 Jokers). Or perhaps you'll win this fortune at the next meeting. You've gotta be in it to win it! *** Paul and other members of the Golf Committee updated us on plans for our biggest fundraiser of the year, The 3rd Annual Winter Golf Event, which will be held on Saturday, January 25th. Paul asked that all members keep pushing forward to insure a most successful outing. So far, 153 golfers have signed up to participate! We were reminded that the real measure of our success will be determined after the event has ended, but so far, we have received great media coverage, including from Newsday, thanks to YOUR efforts to publicizethis club activity. Have you seen the banner hanging above the crossroads of Broadway and Main Street at the harbor?! PLEASE NOTE: we still need hole referees at a few of the golf venues. Please ask friends and relatives to volunteer to help out. They will receive free drink tickets & giveaways for their service. Erika, who is in charge of the auction baskets, reminded us to drop off all donated items, including gift certificates, at her office (corner of North Country Rd. & Columbia Streets- in the Raytheon Bldg.- just east of Mather Hospital) no later than Friday, 1/24. We still need more stuff to fill the baskets. Please let Erika know beforehand what you are dropping off. Since each basket must have a minimum value of of $150, she and other basket-wrapping volunteers will be tasked with putting related items together in order to create a worthy raffle prize. More volunteer wrappers are welcome on the 24th, by the way. Contact Erika for more info. Paul noted that we'll have lots of promotional items to fill the bags that event participants will receive, and he passed around a sample of the wool gloves with our event logo that will be given out. Also, Bob has received as donations 8 vouchers for Caribbean trips like the one he won last year. ***REMINDER: Tomorrow is the LAST DAY for our event's "early bird" per person ticket price. Attention, new members: please sign up as a volunteer for at least several club committees. It'll make your membership so much more enjoyable the more you get involved with our projects. Dennis announced that our new Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck Spring Clean-Up date will beSunday, May 3rd. (While at the camp, he also noted that our new camp leaf mulcher is working well.)It has been decided that our club will cease making monthly donations of goods to the Woodhaven Nursing Home. Instead, we will try to arrange future visits by club volunteers with Woodhaven's residents. Kevin reminds you that if you were thinking of participating in the Annual Club Ski Trip, February 26th-29th, you'd better contact him quickly. The sign-up deadline is January 31st, by which time available rooms might be gone. Cindy asked that you keep the date of Saturday, March 28th available for a Boy Scout-sponsored Walk/Run fundraiser. More info soon...Pat updated us on our Harbor Bus Stop, stating that the new windows not only look great but they appear to be wearing well. He also reminded us that we are welcome to volunteer at the end of February/March in a continuing cleanup effort at the Chandler Estate park. Among chores to be done there: wood chipping. Meanwhile, do come visit and enjoy the site. Is there a superlative woman you know who lives or works in Brookhaven Town and who you believe deserves to be honored by the Town? Community groups, businesses, and individuals are now being solicited to nominate women deserving special recognition. There are many categories of awards (ie., community volunteer, music & the arts, medicine, science, etc.) Go to BrookhavenNY.gov/WomensRecognition for info and nomination forms or contact The Division of Women's Services at 631-451-6146. Deadline for nominations: January 31st.Hope Children's Fund invites you to its 3rd Annual "Passion for Education" Gala to be held at The Inn & Spa at East Wind in Wading River on February 16th, 2020, from 6-11 PM. This will be a celebratory evening featuring music, dancing, a cocktail hour followed by a plated dinner, raffles, and a silent auction. The event is held in support of the education of the children residing at the Jerusha Mwiraria Hope Children's Home in Meru, Kenya. The cost: $199 p/p. Please RSVP to HCFgala@gmail.com or send a check to HCF, P.O.Box 1345, East Northport, NY 11731. (Discounted overnight accommodations are available.) Journal ads and sponsorships are WELCOME!
Check out other upcoming events that might be of interest to you that are listed with appropriate details on our Events Calendar on this website.
RI's 2019-2020 theme: "Rotary Connects The World".
***Please check out our page on Face Book- and Like Us. ***Photos from our 2018 and 2019 Winter Golf Classics are posted there as are photos of the inductions of our newest members, presentations of honors to special club members, participants at our most recent Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck Clean-Up, and other delights.
...BOB NEIDIG, who will celebrate his birthday on January 30th; SARANTO CALAMAS, who celebrated his anniversary on January 8th; BILL CURRY, who is celebrating his 27th year in Rotary this month; and BOB HUTTEMEYER and Ami, who learned that they will be grandparents in May!
