Today was an OPEN CUPBOARD COLLECTION DAY. Thank you, generous donors! Thank you, Dennis, for collecting and delivering the goods!
This was also the 1st club meeting of the new Rotary year and over which Paul presided as CLUB PRESIDENT! Congratulations, Paul! And thank you, again, Michael, for your 2 years of service as our leader!
Among our welcome visitors: former club member Ed Miller and Jackie & baby Aria Vigliante.
After lunch, Paul conducted a Club Assembly at which he presented a synopsis of future plans for our club. He had earlier handed out printed surveys asking members to anonymously answer questions about the club and their membership experiences, their ideas, suggestions, etc. Paul noted that we have a good amount of funds- around $30,000- in our treasury that are allocated to finance our future donations, activities, and programs. We will continue to seek ways to help individuals and groups within the community and further afield.
One ongoing problem that most clubs, including ours, must work to resolve: membership- how to attract new members while keeping veteran members interested and active. Paul suggested that our club might consider starting a mentor program, where veteran members would be assigned to newer ones to educate and advise the latter about our club's service to others, ourselves, and our community. Mentors would explain the meaning of RYLA, Interact, Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, and our club's other Rotary activity links. We could add the mentor program to the welcome packet that each new member receives. Mentors could guide new members and nurture their interest in becoming fully-participating club assets. We could become a resource for them, plan to sit next to our mentees, and recommend committees for them to join. Among Paul's other suggestions: we should also reach out to and partner with other charities, helping them to learn more about Rotary, what it is and what it does and can do. We must also constantly re-engage and encourage members who were once involved but who have fallen away and/or no longer attend meetings or take part in club activities. We need to contact these members and encourage them to come back, get involved and become invested again, inviting them to join in our many projects and to enjoy new and old service activities. In addition, we need to involve more community members, as well as civic, other groups, and businesses in our activities. Recognizing that everyone has commitments and priorities, we need to attract and keep the interest of people who are willing to commit essential time to Rotary. We should invite more local people to speak to us and learn about us. As for the enforcement of our attendance policy, it's time for us to gently warn non-attending members that they need to return to more active status. Perhaps we should appoint each a mentor who will encourage them to re-join and become active again. Paul feels that we should approach currently non-attending members "softly" and try to re-attract them to whatever it was that led them to join the club in the first place.
If you're not a member of a committee, Paul feels that chances are you won't be more involved and invested in Rotary affairs, and, thus, he is looking to lure YOU to join a committee or two. Paul offers to help committee members and committees to reach their goals. He offers to guide and assist each member in any way he can to become more involved. He reminds us that it's our club, and that our suggestions and ideas as to how to make our club a more effective force than it already is are not only welcome but actively solicited. Paul is open to ending meetings early once business is concluded. He doesn't want to waste your time at meetings. He suggested the future possibility of busy members tele-conferencing if they can't attend a meeting. He also requested that if we have something negative to say, email it to him instead of bringing negative stuff to meetings. He looks forward to promoting positive leadership and membership.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: ***NEXT TUESDAY, on July 16th, Nancy, our club's Treasurer, will present a Rotary Financial Report. This is also a WOODHAVEN COLLECTION DAY.
***Nancy reminds us that THE DUES ARE NOW DUE!!!! ***Kindly let Yvette know, at your earliest convenience, if you've made up any missed meetings. ***The pot stands at $246. This amount will grow until we have a new winner. Will it be you? Ya gotta be in it to win it!*** Sporting the Rotary emblem on his '51 Studebaker Champion, Larry Hohler represented our club in the Village's 4th of July parade. Reporting on the June 21st Habitat Build, Jennifer and Bill C. summarized their experience- where they did molding work with Habitat's new general contractor- as a good time with much camaraderie. John Perkins, Build Team Cap't., asks that the $100 in participation checks that are due be paid in a timely fashion.Judi was pleased to have been able to attend the installation ceremony of the new president of Patchogue Rotary on June 25th. Dennis is awaiting receipt of a $137 check from a club foursome member for participation in the Annual Greenport/Southhold Rotary Golf Tourney. Jen announced the upcoming PJ Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce-sponsored SUMMER CONCERT WEDNESDAYS, 6-8 PM at 2 great locations. At the JFK MIDDLE SCHOOL: on July 10th, "Arts Night", featuring Mambo Loco; on July 17th, "Trivia Night", featuring City Sounds Music; AND
at the CHAMBER TRAIN CAR PARK: on July 24th, "Ice Cream Night", featuring a BMX Stunt Show; on July 31st, "Veterans Night", featuring 1 Step Ahead; and on August 7th, " '80's Night", featuring the Ronald Reagans Big '80's Show. IT'S ALL FREE! BRING A CHAIR! Check out our Club Calendar for summer activities that you might want to join, for example: on 7/12, the PJ Library bus trip to NYC and the Planetarium Show; on 7/13, the District Leadership Meeting at Rose Quaranta's home; and, on 7/13-14, the Annual Corn Festival & Pow Wow at the Setauket School. Dennis shared some news about two recent unfortunate happenings Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck: an adult volunteer passed away; and a young girl had a heart problem that sent her to the hospital. The better news that he had to share: the date for our Annual Fall Clean-up has been set: SUNDAY, 11/7. Kindly save this date and plan to join us.
***THE PAST PRESIDENTS DINNER & RAFFLE DRAWING WILL TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 19th. THIS EVENT WILL AGAIN BE HELD AT SAVINO'S HIDEAWAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU!
***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 CleanUp, and other delights.
***The following is a list of donation "assignments" for members' once-a-month donations via the Club to the Open Cupboard: (*If you don't see your name on this list, select an item from it for your donation.)***NOTE: This list will be updated as needed:
Black Beans- Bob H., Pat (& brown rice), Yvette
Baby Wipes- Jim, Tom
Canned Fruit- Dennis
Cereal- Jennifer, Paul, Amanda
Oatmeal- Lisa, Sean
Soap- Kathy, Paul
Canned Chicken- Sharon, Michael B.
Jelly- Debbie, Michael
Shampoo- Saranto, Nancy
Conditioner- Nancy
Toilet Paper- Judi
Diapers- John Perkins
Apple Juice- Bill C.
***Check the list for your name and assigned item. (If you are not listed, you may donate any listed item. Corporate members are encouraged to donate individually. If you would like to be listed with a specific item, contact Debbie and specify your item of choice.)
***Bring contributions to Cafe Spiga on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, or give to another Club member who will be attending.
*** If you would like to be reimbursed, bring receipt(s) to the meeting.
...WARD CLARKE, whose birthday is July 16th; JIM RHATIGAN, who will celebrate his birthday on July 18th; KARL JANHSEN, who has a birthday on July 24th; BOB NEIDIG, who celebrated an anniversary on June 4th; BILL JAEGER, whose anniversary is July 18th; WAYNE SHATTES and JOAN ELLIOTT, who are celebrating 32 years of club membership this month, while YVETTE HOHLER & PAT SABO celebrate 17 years as PJ Rotarians!
I've finally reached The Wonder Years: wonder where my car is parked; wonder where I left my phone; wonder where my glasses are; wonder what day it is.....
