Rotary Club of Port Jefferson (Jul 23, 2019)

News of the Meeting of Aug 20th

Posted by Yvette Hohler on Aug 20, 2019

Today was a Woodhaven Adult Home Donation Day. To those of you who delivered a helpful item or two to the home's residents, we thank you.

Since the village restaurants that helped sponsor our 2018 Winter Golf Classic were unable to join us today, instead we enjoyed a sort of Club Assembly/fellowship luncheon. Michael was Club Sergeant.

We welcomed the brief visit of three RYLA guests, PJHS students Claudia Koutsantanou, Michela Rabeno, and Mattea Rabeno. Dennis introduced these youngsters to our members and to President Paul, who validated their request to serve as facilitators at the next RYLA weekend. They promised to make a return visit to one of our future luncheons in order to tell us about their recent experiences at RYLA summer camp.

We also welcomed back Chris Buzzanca, who last week made a presentation about the impressive BSA program in Suffolk. Chris will become our newest club member when he is inducted on September 10th.

Bob H. shared information about new member Rebecca Kassay, who just began her journey with her production company to learn about volunteerism and spotlight unsung heroes along the East Coast. On the 16th of August, Rebecca joined members of the Rotary Club of Washington, D.C., at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, as they ran their "historic" (since 1946) Family Bingo Night at the USO Warrior and Family Center. She invites you to keep up with her at IG:bethechangewrebecca on Facebook.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: ***NEXT TUESDAY, on Aug. 27th, we will NOT meet at Cafe Spiga. Instead, we will gather at Archana's HSBC Bank (in the Aliano Shopping Center, 691 Rte. 25A, Miller place), 5:30-7 PM, for another end-of-month evening social fellowship opportunity. Please bring family and friends along with you- the more, the merrier! ***Judi asks that each club member bring a bottle of wine to this meeting as a donation to our 7th Raffle Prize: The Wine Basket. ***CLUB DUES ARE NOW DUE!!!! *** Kindly let Yvette know, at your earliest convenience, if you've made up any missed meetings. ***Today, the pot stands at $92. It will continue to grow until we have a new winner. Will it be you? Ya gotta be in it to win it!*** ***Please continue to sell your Raffle Tickets and then turn in the stubs and money to Bill a.s.a.p. The more successful your sales efforts, the more expanded our ability to serve our community this year! Thus far, Judi is the Queen of sales (BRAVO!), followed by Pat and Sharon, who are also doing a most impressive job.*** Dennis reminds us that we'll have members participating in the Wednesday, August 28th Southold/Greenport Golf Outing at Island's End. If you'd like to register to join them, contact him immediately at 631-831-2075 or dbren24706@aol.com. (Dennis also reminds us that our next Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck Clean-Up is scheduled for Sunday, 11/17.) After Archana and her minions purchased and delivered the 80 backpacks and school supplies requested by Vicky to Infant Jesus' Social Ministry office (The Open Cupboard), she found that she had 20 backpacks left to distribute to youngsters who will need them. Yvette suggested that perhaps Habitat could use them, as they also collect and distribute backpacks to their clients' children at this time of year. A phone call was made, and the folks at Habitat Suffolk were delighted to accept our donation of the remaining backpacks. These items were delivered to the Habitat office on Monday. All members are invited to attend the 10/26 Rotary Leadership Institute in Melville. Contact Paul for more info. You are also to invited to attend the last of the Port Jeff Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce sponsored Wednesday Summer Concerts at The Train Car on 8/21. This one, "80's Night", will feature the Ronald Reagan Band. It's free! Bring a chair, come, and enjoy! For more info, contact Jen. Rob invites you to enjoy LISEC's Annual Quick & Dirty Boat Build this weekend at the Village Center & Harborfront Park. His firm will be one of the event's sponsors. Are you interested in also being a sponsor? Contact Len Carolan at ltcarolan@optonline.net. Judi reminds you AGAIN to bring to the next meeting a bottle of wine as a donation for our Raffle's Wine Basket.... She also invites you to join her at her home on Fri.,10/4, at 4:30 PM for "An American Octoberfest"- the opportunity to celebrate the return visit of Wenzel Blaschke, who first arrived as an exchange student in 1988, and who returns as often as he can. This time, Wenzel will be bringing members of his family. This happy event will count as our weekly meeting. Meanwhile, Paul reminds you that on 10/15, the DG will visit with us at Cafe Spiga. Please plan to attend and welcome him to our midst. Michael and Kevin are the process of planning our Annual Ski Trip. Michael calls this year's event "the deal of a lifetime". The cost of $240 per couple will include, Wed.-Sat., a room, breakfast, happy hour, and 1 dinner at The Indian Head Resort in Lincoln, NH. The hotel has indoor and outdoor heated pools and is near 3 great ski areas, where lift tickets will be discounted, especially for Sr. citizens and kids. The date has yet to be chosen and will depend on the preference of the participants. The choices: the 1st week in January or the last week in February (after Presidents' Day Week). If you intend to take advantage of this opportunity, please contact Michael or Kevin, and let your date choice be known ASAP. Will you be attending "Autumn Splendor", the annual fundraiser that benefits the Parish Social Ministry, to be held on 11/2 at The Waterview at the Port Jeff Country Club from 7-11 PM. The cost is $125 p/p and will include a sumptuous harvest dinner, live music, raffles, a silent auction, and more. Sharon pointed out that last year's "Can Do Award" of $500 went to a single mother of 3 who was studying to become an RN. Sharon provided an update: the lady is now working on her Master's Degree. ***REMEMBER: Our Past Presidents Dinner & the Raffle Drawing will take place on September 19th at Savino's Hideaway. We will also be celebrating at this event Al Kopcienski's 60th year as a Rotarian! You must be a paid-up member to attend. Your membership dues include your attendance plus that of a guest at this event. *** Please RSVP to Sharon in a timely fashion!*** Check out our Club Calendar for summer activities that you might want to join, for example: the Annual Greek Festival will be taking place on August 22nd-25th at the Church of the Assumption on Sheep Pasture Rd.; the LI Comedy Festival at Theater Three will be held on August 24th; and from now until Labor Day, you can visit the Mather House Museum and Consignment Shop, open Wednesdays-Sundays, 2-4 PM.

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.