Thank you, generous donors to The Open Cupboard! Also, thanks to Bill and Karl for delivering the goods to their destination!
Today, we welcomed and honored our newest Port Jeff Middle School Most Motivated Student of the Month, 6th grader Viviane Kim. Viviane was accompanied by her father, reading teacher Chuck Ruoff, and Sean Leister, Ass't. Sup't. for Business. Bob Neidig, Middle School Principal, introduced Viviane and explained why she is deserving of this award. He spoke glowingly about her tremendously high GPA (almost 100 over two quarters), and quoted a number of her teachers who helped select Viviane for this honor. Her writing teacher referred to Viviane as a conscientious student, an active participant in class proceedings, and a pleasure to teach. Her science teacher praised this student as one of the hardest workers in her class who frequently asks questions to extend her knowledge and challenge herself, as well as for her willingness to work with her peers and share with them what she had learned. Viviane's math and social studies teachers called her well-rounded, smart, friendly, dedicated, and helpful, while her reading teacher pointed out that Viviane probably reads 10 books outside of the required class reading on her own. In summarizing his remarks and congratulating Viviane, Bob stated that her amazing talents and abilities have already demonstrated that with continued persistence, she should be able to accomplish anything she sets her mind to.
We also again welcomed proposed new club member Kathy Taveira of BNB Bank, who is slated to be inducted at next week's gathering, as well as a friend of Archana's named Suzy, who very much enjoyed participating in Saturday's Winter Golf Classic, and who is considering becoming a Rotarian.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: ***OURNEXT MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20th, 2018 , 12:15 PM, at Cafe Spiga, when our visiting speaker, Deirdre Dubato, will talk to us about Local Community Parks. ***THIS WILL ALSO BE A COLLECTION DAY FOR GOODIES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE WOODHAVEN CENTER OF CARE! On February 27th, we will NOT meet at Cafe Spiga, but will, INSTEAD, enjoy an early evening social gathering at BNB Bank, 414 Main Street, from 5:30 to 7 PM. Michael thanked profusely all participants and volunteers who helped make our 1st Annual Winter Golf Classic so successful. Nancy estimates that when all paperwork is completed, we will have grossed roughly $20,000 and netted around $17,000. BRAVO! Michael also announced that we still have PJ Rotary golf shirts for sale(@$10 each) and invited, especially, our new members to purchase one. He gave out free baseball caps from Brewology in addition to some frisbees, and, at the end of the meeting auctioned off 4 bottles of wine that were donated by Bass Electronics (Yea, Jen!) Michael plans to announce each week what Rotary has done to make a difference in Port Jeff and around the world. Stay tuned....Dennis reminds us that our next STUFF-A-VAN EVENT will take place on Saturday, March 3rd, 10 AM to 1:30 PM, at the Mt. Sinai King Kullen. He expects that scouts from Troop #1776 and members of the PJHS Interact Club will help out, but welcomes club volunteers, as well. Let him know if you can take part in this activity. Will you be celebrating the 43rd Anniversary "Crusade of the Heart" Gift of Life Gala on Saturday, March 24th, at Westbury Manor? The Reception begins at 7 PM, with dinner to follow at 8 PM. The cost at this black tie-preferred event is $250 p/p. Michael reminds us that Gift of Life is responsible for having funded 30,000 life saving surgeries to date. Have you any books that you'd like to donate to a worthy cause? JFK Airport has its own Rotary Club, which is sponsoring the free delivery of a shipment of books to hurricane-torn Puerto Rico. Contact Michael for more information. Please note on your social calendars that our Annual Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck Clean-Up has been scheduled for Sunday, May 20th. Dennis hopes that this day will see 100 volunteers joyfully participating in this event.Do you plan to attend this year's Rotary Conference in the Dominican Republic?
Bob is still seeking evening meeting places, 1 per month. Contact him if you can provide a meeting site.
***Please check out our page on Face Book- and Like Us. ***Photos from our Winter Golf Classic are posted there.
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 in February:
Betts, Judi: Toilet Paper
Brennan, Dennis: Canned Fruit
Brennan, Dennis: Canned Fruit
Brennan, Sharon: Canned Chicken
Calamas, Saranto: Shampoo
Casciano, Paul: Cereal
Curry, Bill: Apple Juice
Donlon, Tom: Baby Wipes
Dzvonar, Jennifer: Cereal
Engelhardt, Debbie: Jelly
Gautam, Archana: Baby Wipes
Hohler, Yvette: Beans
Huttemeyer, Bob: Black beans
Jaeger, Bill: Canned Vegetables
Janhsen, Karl: Milk (Dry or Boxed)
Jurasits, Erika: Cereal (Hot or Cold)
Kopcienski, Al : Cereal (Hot or Cold)
Leister, Sean: Oatmeal
Lund, Amy: Canned Chicken
Mulvey, Lisa: Oatmeal
Murray, Kevin: Tuna
Rhatigan, Jim: Baby Wipes
Sabo, Pat: Beans& Brown Rice
Sceiford, Michael: Jelly
Taviera, Kathy: Soap
Uzo, Nancy: Shampoo & Conditioner
Vigliante, Paul: Soap
***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.
...MICHAEL SCEIFORD, who had a birthday on February 2nd; SAL FILOSA, who celebrated his birthday on February 7th; ERICA JURASITS, whose birthday is February 14th; AMY LUND, who has a birthday on February 23rd; BILL JAEGER, who celebrates his birthday on February 24th; DEB ENGELHARDT, whose anniversary is celebrated on February 25th; and KEVIN MURRAY, who is celebrating his 37th year as a Rotarian, while KARL JANHSEN celebrates his 17th year in Rotary this month!
