Since today's scheduled speaker, Larry Hohler, is still recuperating at Mather Hospital, Yvette represented Hope Children's Fund, Lt. (HCF), which supports the Jerusha Mwiraria Hope Children's Home in Meru, Kenya, in his stead. She began with questions for our club members, to refresh their memories about HCF and The Home. She then elicited answers to general questions about Kenya, ie., its continent, geographical neighbors and features, national languages, and the like, and collected dollars for incorrect answers ($22 worth!), while providing the correct ones as well as some Fun Facts -ie., that noted Kenyan paleo-anthropologist Dr. Richard Leakey spends half the year teaching at SUNY Stony Brook and the other half with students at his archeological dig near Kenya's Lake Turkana; the truth about Kenyan surnames and about Kenyan "orphans"; and how to say "hello" in Swahili ("Jambo") and kiMeru, the language of the people of Meru ("Muga"), and "goodbye" in Swahili ("kwaheri"). So the children at the HCF-sponsored Home in Meru speak 3 languages by the time they complete the 8th grade: KiMeru, Swahili, and English. [One more Fun Fact: when speaking English, Kenyans sometimes transpose the letters "R" and "L" , which makes their communication with native English speakers interesting.]
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: ***NEXT TUESDAY, on May 14th, we will again meet at Cafe Spiga at noon and will welcome Comsewogue's Most Motivated Student. ***This will also be an OPEN CUPBOARD COLLECTION DAY! Please bring your goods to the meeting or drop them with a club member who will be attending.
The pot now stands at $154. This amount will grow until we have a new winner. Will it be you? Ya gotta be in it to win it!
Pat continues to do an amazing job clearing trails and cleaning up the park at Chandler Estate. Mostly needed now: continuous maintenance. Both entrances will be cleared soon. Erika's son looks forward to building a kiosk for his Eagle Scout project. Other scouts will be invited to build benches along the trails. Michael might donate an oak tree that he received in memory of his dad. Soon, Pat expects to invite the Parks Commissioner to visit and check out all that has been accomplished. Meanwhile,volunteers are invited to join Pat on Saturdays to help out. Contact him to learn the work hours and specific dates.Deb thanked the volunteers and participants who took part in the successful May 4th Mather 5K Walk raising money for and awareness about Breast Cancer. She also noted that she and Jen have selected the Comsewogue Scholarship Recipient- TBA soon. ***Will you be coming on Friday, May 10th, to join in the Celebration of Kevin's Retirement as Sr. VP at Mather- at the East Wind in Wading River. Time of the event: 6:30 PM- 10: 30 PM. Cost: $60 p/p (includes buffet dinner & gift). If you cannot attend and wish to contribute towards the gift, you may do so. Please submit check or cash ASAP to Nancy Uzo. Make checks payable to "Cash". Nancy's snail mail contact address: % Mather Hospital, 75 North Country Rd., Port Jeff, 11777. Judi shares this invitation and asks that you tell friends about thisMay 10th event: The Boy Scouts of America (Benjamin Tallmadge District) Beefsteak Dinner at The Old Field Club in Setauket. Time: 7-11 PM. Menu includes gourmet cheese & crackers, jumbo shrimp, crab meat on endive, beef sliders, lamb chops, aged Angus beef, and all you can drink "Dogfish Head" beer. There'll be a cash bar, 50/50 raffle, Chinese auction, and Makers Mark bourbon & cigars to finish the evening. Cost: Pre-paid ticket=$110. (At the door= $130) Register online at: WWW.SCCBSA.ORG/BEEFSTEAK2019 or send check to SCCBSA, 7 Scouting Blvd., Medford, NY 11763, ATTN: Bobby Rabbitt. Will you be attending the 5/16 Gift of Life Gala at Flowerfield, beginning at 6:30 PM? We hope that our members make every effort to fill a table of ten. Cost: $135 p/p (the club will cover half the cost ). Please sign up. Port Jeff Rotary will try to reach a donation goal of $5,000 (private donations most welcome) to sponsor a child this year. If you cannot attend this event, can you make a donation? We want to save a life! (Michael notes that next year's budget will probably make it easier for us to sponsor a child.) Also on Thurs., 5/16: Cindy reminds you of the library sponsored "Tea By The Sea" event. You are invited to enjoy the 1:30-3:30 PM activity at the Village Center's Sail Loft. REMEMBER:there will be NOMEETING on the last Tuesday in May, 5/28, in honor of the Memorial Day holiday.The next Exec. Board meeting: Friday, 5/17. All members are invited to attend. You are invited to compete against Kenyans on Sunday, 6/2, as a participant in the 15th Annual Kenya/USA Bi-Continental Cross Country 5K Run/Walk. The USA portion of this contest/fundraiser takes place at the Port Jeff Sta. entrance to the beautiful Setauket/Port Jeff Sta. Greenway Trail on Rte. 112 (actually beginning near the western end of the parking lot located between Enterprise Car Rental and the 7-11 on Rte. 112). Registration for the competition will begin at 9 AM. The run/walk begins at 10 AM and is open to folks of all ages and abilities. Suggested donation: $25. (Participants who secure more than $100 in pledges will run/walk for free.) All proceeds go the support of the orphans at the Jerusha Mwiraria Hope Children's Home in Meru, Kenya. T-shirts for the 1st 15 registrants/medals for all finishers. (The Kenyans will run and walk at the same time- 7 time zones away.) For more info, call Larry Hohler at 631-473-1662 or Ed Hyshiver at 631-664-0257. Bill is asking for volunteers at the Saturday, 6/8 Stuff-A-Van. Can you join him? We have a definite date for our upcoming HABITAT BUILD: Friday, 6/21! ***Volunteers are needed. The participatory cost is $100 p/p, of which our club will pay half. CONTACT JOHN PERKINS about your availability and interest in this great activity. ***Kindlysave this date: Monday, June 10th, for the 21st Annual Rocky Point Golf Tournament, to be held at St. Georges Golf & Country Club in East Setauket. Registration & Lunch will take place from 11 AM to 12:45 PM, and the Shotgun Start is at 1 PM. The cost p/p is $300 before April 30th, and $325 p/p after that date. Dinner only: $75.Cocktail Hour with appetizers & hors d'oeuvres will be followed by dinner, including a carving station, and lobster/prime rib dinner. For more info, look at our Club Calendar or contact Larry Kogel (516-380-8035 or email lkogel@optonline.net ).Another reminder: it's almost **RAFFLE TIME**! If you have something to donate as a raffle prize (ie., a foursome entry to our Winter Golf Outing or a spa weekend), let Bill Curry know, please. ***THE PAST PRESIDENTS DINNER & RAFFLE DRAWING DATE HAS BEEN CHOSEN: SEPTEMBER 19th. THIS EVENT WILL AGAIN BE HELD AT SAVINO'S HIDEAWAY. Kindly save the date and plan to attend. Sharon noted that a photo of Port Jeff youngsters at the recent Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck Clean Up appeared in a recent TBR newspaper. Judi is seeking someone who needs to rent a bedroom with private entrance. She offers such a room in her historic home near the Village's downtown. Contact her if you know of an interested party.
***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.
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.
...LISA MULVEY, who has a birthday on May 9th; MIKE BURGHARDT, whose birthday is May 11th; AMANDA ECKART, who will celebrate her birthday on May 13th; ERIKA JURASITS and AMANDA ECKART, whose anniversaries were May 6th; ARCHANA GAUTAM, who has an anniversary on May 14th; PAT SABO, who will celebrate his anniversary on May 25th; BOB HUTTEMEYER, whose anniversary will be celebrated on May 27th; and KEVIN MURRAY, who will be celebrating his retirement on May 10th at East Wind!
*MAY IS YOUTH SERVICE MONTH*
***We sadly note the recent passing of longtime Rotarian Tom Darrigan in Colorado. However, at the same time, we rejoice in the birth of Paul & Jackie Vigliante's daughter and future Rotarian, Aria.***
