Today we had a "twofer"- the opportunity to meet and honor not one but two students from the Port Jefferson Middle School as Most Motivated Students of the Month. (A snow day and then a holiday required the rescheduling of each separate award presentation- hence, the doubling of our pleasure at today's luncheon.) Sixth grader Kasumi Layne-Stasik was accompanied by her mom and dad, Stephanie Stasik and Bobby Layne, as well as Kasumi's ELA teacher, Deirdre Filippi, while 8th grader Peggy Yin was accompanied by her dad, Weiguo Yin, and her social studies teacher, Dr. Tara Sladek-Maharg. Club members Dr.Paul Casciano, Port Jeff's Sup't. of Schools, and Sean Leister, Ass't. Sup't. for Business, joined Middle School Principal Dr. Bob Neidig in this opportunity to fete these two super students. Bob introduced each youngster and explained the reasons for their selection for the awards. Both girls were lauded for their superior GPA's. Kasumi was noted as a student who enhances the classroom with her thoughtful and appropriate insights and opinions, who works well with others, is always willing to assist those who struggle with concepts she has more quickly mastered, possesses a kind nature and a great sense of humor, is always prepared and eager to learn, and sets a wonderful example for her peers. Inquisitive, an extremely hard worker, and a talented writer, Kasumi is most
deserving of her selection by her teachers for this recognition. Meanwhile, Peggy eagerly embraces a rigorous course load, taking 2 high school classes, geometry and algebra II, in addition to her regular classes. Her impeccable performance in algebra II is especially praiseworthy- she hasn't received any grade under 100%. Her geometry teacher remarked on her diligence, positive participation, helpfulness with fellow students, and her obvious gift for mathematics. A leader in the classroom, Peggy was the exceptionally well-prepared captain of her team in the Latin Certamen, a Latin language academic contest held at Stony Brook University. She led her team to a second place finish when competing against 22 other teams on her level. "Thorough, diligent, and stupendous" were the adjectives used by her social studies teacher to describe Peggy. Upon hearing the superlatives voiced by their teachers about these two youngsters, it's easy to appreciate why they were selected to receive our awards.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS:There's now $554 in the pot waiting to be won- and still the Ace of Spades is waiting to be picked out (but both Jokers remain, as well). It could be YOU who wins the pot. Next opportunity: our 4/11 luncheon at Cafe Spiga, when we will welcome as speaker Ashly Carabetta, Coastal Steward, who will inform us about local non-profit environmental & educational programs. ***This will also be an OPEN CUPBOARD COLLECTION DAY!Ready to be a volunteer at a Habitat build? Please save this date: Friday, June 9th. Club members, family members, & friends are invited to participate. More TBA..Oh no! Ed will be leaving us soon- retiring to Florida. Join us on Monday, May 8th , 5:30-7:30 PM, at Cafe Spiga to celebrate with him. If you haven't yet sent Sharon your personal info to be used in our Membership Directory, please do so a.s.a.p. so that she and Nancy can complete and distribute this useful document. It's time to start thinking about and planning for our Annual Raffle Ticket Sales Event- hopefully to begin this month.Each individual ticket will still cost $40, but we can also sell 3 for $100, 7 for $200, and 15 for $400. ***WE HAVE A TENTATIVE DATE AND PLACE FOR OUR ANNUAL PAST PRESIDENTS DINNER & RAFFLE DRAWING- (Sept. 14th, at Savino's Hideaway). More info will be forthcoming soon. Kings Park is sponsoring an "End Hunger in Kings Park" event on April 19th at Kings Park HS from 2:30-4:30 PM. The cost of participation is $40 per volunteer. This feel-good activity involves creating food packages for people in need. Thousands of these food packages can be put together in a very short period of time due to positive team work. You are invited to attend The Gift of Life Dinner Dance on May 10th, 6:30-10:30 PM. This Black-Tie-Preferred (or business suit) event, to be held at The Timber Pointe Mansion (398 Great River Rd.) in Great River, will cost $100 per person in advance, or $110 at the door. The guest speaker will be Robert Raylman. Our club has already bought a table (at a cost of $50 per member, with the club matching that amount). If you wish to start another table, contact Ed a.s.a.p. Ed reminds us that our G of L started in 1975; and we anticipate that this year, the 30,000th child will be helped by Gift of Life. This is the largest single entity doing what it does. On May 17th, the District will hold its Centennial Celebration at Whitby Castle in Rye, NY. [Did you know that collectively Rotary has spent $1 Billion on humanitarian causes worldwide?!] More soon...Let's not forget that we will have our Annual Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck Spring Clean Up on May 21st, and will be joined by neighboring Rotary and Interact Clubs as well as, perhaps, by a contingent of youth from Comsewogue HS. Our chores will include painting and preparing picnic tables and mattresses for summer use. There's a tentative possibility for us to join Rocky Point Rotary for their New Officer Installation Dinner in June- perhaps at Savino's Hideaway. More soon...
***Please check out our page on Face Book- and Like Us.
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:
Betts, Judi: Toilet Paper
Bossert, Ken: Shampoo/Conditioner
Brennan, Dennis: Canned Fruit
Brennan, Sharon: Spaghetti Sauce
Berner, Cynthia: Rice
Curry, Bill: Apple Juice
Dinunzio, Ed: Diapers
Engelhardt, Debbie: Juice Boxes
Gautam, Archana: Baby Wipes
Hanson, Susan: Baby Formula
Hohler, Yvette: Beans
Jaeger, Bill: Canned Vegetables
Janhsen, Karl: Milk (Dry or Boxed)
Jurasits, Erika: Cereal (Hot or Cold)
Kopcienski, Al Cereal (Hot or Cold)
Lund, Amy: Canned Chicken
Murray, Kevin: Tuna
Rhatigan, Jim: Diapers
Sabo, Pat: Beans
Sceiford, Michael: Grape Juice Boxes
Vigliante, Paul: Milk (Dry or Boxed)
***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 the Heritage Diner 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.
...WAYNE SHATTES, whose birthday was April 1st; KEVIN MURRAY, who will celebrate his birthday on April 12th; DICK NOLAN, who has a birthday on April 25th; BILL CURRY, who celebrates his anniversary on April 5th; YVETTE HOHLER, whose anniversary will be celebrated on April 15th; DENNIS BRENNAN, who will be celebrating his anniversary on April 22nd and his 16th year in Rotary; and DALE KUHN, who this month celebrates his 35th year as a Rotarian!
