Today's meeting was a Club Assembly, primarily about our Winter Golf Classic. Mike reminded club members that we need golfers and asked all of us to form a participating foursome or find people (friends, family members, business associates, clients, etc.) who will do so. Remember: prices for participation go up after 1/31! He vigorously voiced the need for club volunteers to offer to help out at each hole location, as well as with registration of participants, and with the reception at the end of the event. In addition, Mike asked us to collect raffle donations and suggested that we gather gift cards and gift certificates, and place them in a basket with other desirable stuff. Donation examples: Jets or Giants or Ducks tickets; gift certificates for local theater and movie performances; magazine subscriptions; restaurant dinners; gym or spa or ski resort visits; and the like. It would be most appreciated if you could get your donations to Erika a.s.a.p. Erika will certainly welcome your help at her office on Fri., 2/8, when the gift baskets will be prepared. (On Tues., 2/5, she expects to receive the last of the gift donations. Of course, if the donations come to her already pre-wrapped, that would be super!) Mike then reminded us that many more sponsorships are needed, too. There are a lot of ways to sponsor our event. He noted that BNB and HoundsTown have already purchased Gold Sponsorships at $1,000 each. Perhaps one can offer to sponsor a tee (signs start at $125 for 1 ) or a hole (6 are available at $500 each), or find someone else to do so. We need members to put up posters advertising our event at as many local venues as we can find. We have to distribute our brochures and advertising materials to as many people as we can, too. (At our meeting, members sent out via their phones copies of our Face Book ads to folks in their address books and on contact lists.) All of us are urged to use Face Book, Twitter, and Instagram to share info about our Winter Golf Classic, inviting all the people we know who live in the area to join us. Some of our businesses (ie., Mather) will help us promote the event. Nancy will be reordering posters & brochures for further distribution throughout this region. Mike plans to make a video appeal, as he did last year, to be promoted via Port Jeff Pulse (and on FaceBook, too). He suggested the possibility of adding more competitions to our event such as for "best appetizer" served at a hole location and "best hole" created for our event. Tune in for more ideas to make the outing even more fun than last year. Mike invited all of us to attend a Golf Committee Meeting tomorrow at 5 PM in his office. Can you come? Your input is invaluable. Finally, our President reminded us that the only way that we, as a club, can make a real difference in the world is to raise enough funds to be able to continue to make donations to people who are in need or who can help others help others in need. GO TEAM!!!
We welcomed as a guest/visitor Andy Harris, a Special Ed. teacher at Comsewogue High School, who plans to occasionally represent his school district at future meetings.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: ***NEXT TUESDAY, January 29th, we will have an EVENING MEETING instead of the usual noon luncheon. Please join us from 5:30- 7 PM at the office of Erika Jurasits, 170 North Country Rd. (corner of Columbia St.) in the former Raytheon Bldg. This will be primarily a social gathering- an opportunity to enjoy fellowship and network a bit. Family and friends are most welcome to attend.***THE POT IS NOW AT $655 (with only 14 cards remaining !)***
***According to our new Club Bylaws, in order to maintain your membership in the club,YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY 2 ROTARY-RELATED ACTIVITIES PER MONTH,ie., meeting attendance, on-line makeups on the RI website, donating to the Open Cupboard and /or Woodhaven Nursing Home, volunteering for a Stuff-A-Van event or at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, a Habitat build, attendance at any Committee or Board Meetings, and the like. Please notify Yvette of each make-up at your earliestconvenience via a note to hohlerlj@aol.com or the Make-Up Report Sheet, which will be passed around at each regular meeting for members to report when and how they made up previously missed meetings)***Regarding our upcoming (Feb. 9th) Golf Outing/Fundraiser, each club member is asked to help out in some way: volunteer to create and be part of a foursome or find 4 people who will do so; find a sponsor or be one; ask a business for a raffle donation or donate a raffle item yourself; help Erica prepare the gift baskets /raffle items for display; man a hole; offer to help out with registration or at the reception; etc. A successful event depends on us all. [Michael reports that neat donated goods are beginning to come in ,ie.,a ski camel jacket ; ferry tickets with casino visit, etc.]Dennis invites members to join him in attending a 1/25 meeting with Jesse Watson at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck to discuss/plan special projects at the camp such as refurbishing the animal pens, boats, etc. While our big Spring Clean-Up at the Camp won't take place until April 7th, Dennis is asking for volunteers to work on small projects at the camp between now and April. Contact Dennis for more info.Yvette thanked our club for its generous support of the Hope Children's Fund's "Passion for Education" Gala this past Sunday. The club was well-represented by Debbie and Nancy, and Cindy also much enjoyed this event. Jenn invites all to set aside April 11th for attendance at the PJ Station/Terryville Chamber's Trade Show to be held at The Polish Hall on Jayne Blvd. Vendor spots and tables are available. Attendance at the Trade Show is free to the public. Interested in taking a space at the show? Contact PJSDchamber.com. Bob announced that club golf shirts and vests can/should be ordered NOW. If you haven't yet given him your order/size info, please do so a.s.a.p.-PREFERABLY BY TOMORROW, 1/23, if you want to be able to wear these items at our Golf Outing.
***Please check out our page on Face Book- and Like Us. ***Photos from our 2018 Winter Golf Classic 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.
If you missed today's meeting, kindly inform Yvette about make-ups in a timely fashion.
***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.
...BOB NEIDIG, who will celebrate his birthday on January 30th; SARANTO CALAMAS, who celebrated his anniversary on January 8th; DICK NOLAN, who this month celebrates his 50th year in Rotary; and BILL CURRY, who is enjoying his 26th year as a Rotarian!
