Newton Rotary Club News

1. 2009-2010 District No. 7910
ROTARY CLUB OF NEWTON Club No. 6580
719 WASHINGTON STREET BOX MS295
NEWTONVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS 02460
MEETS TUESDAYS; 12:15 P.M. BRAE BURN COUNTRY CLUB, 326 FULLER STREET, NEWTON, MA
President Vice President Treasurer Sergeant-at-Arms Director Director
Marie Presti Laurisa Neuwirth Peter Mahler Bill Garr Dick Bowen Justin Sallaway
617-620-6948 617-291-0572 617-630-5289 617-969-5906 x116 617-969-9134 617-244-0065
President-Elect Past President Recording Secretary Newsletter Editor Director Director
Jeff Tucker Marc Epstein John Hurney Scott Lewis Jeff Chin Tony Bibbo
617-340-1263 617-244-1212 617-332-7412 617-293-6371 617-965-1988 781-237-1144
THE SERVICE GEAR
Volume LXXXVI No. 23 December 15, 2009
P resident Marie Presti called the meeting to
order and asked Justin Sallaway to lead us in the
Pledge of Allegiance. Dennis Prefontaine of-
fered an invocation with a “peace on Earth”
appeal; Susanne McInerney led the Club in a
chorus of God Bless America.
After thanking Paul Stone for serving as
the day’s lone Club Greeter, President Marie
called upon Susanne McInerney to receive the
Club’s December Rotarian of the Month award,
citing Susanne’s many committee contributions,
great singing ability, and, most recently, her
leadership organizing the Club’s December 7
Holiday Party at Gregorian’s Rug store.
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
Relieving Sergeant Bill Garr of his usual
duties in order to expedite things, Marie ac-
knowledged soon-to-be inducted Lauren Hykem, President Marie awarded her December
and other guests among the Student of the Month Rotarian of the Month award to Susanne
entourage from Mt. Alvernia High School (see McInerney, especially recognizing Susanne’s
great success organising our December 7
Page 3).
Holiday Party,
CONTENTS Page
ANNOUNCEMENTS 2
SERGEANT-at-ARMS 1
MEETING GREETERS NEXT MEETING:
THIS WEEK’S JOKE 2
January 6: Bill Garr & Jeff Tucker
STUDENT of the MONTH 3
HAPPY DOLLARS 4
SPEAKER/PROGRAM 5
RAFFLE 5
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 1

2. ANNOUNCED FROM THE PODIUM
Two Bear Scientists Bill Garr reported during our Annual
A Russian scientist and a Czechoslova- Meeting (see page 5) that 1,000 dictionaries have
kian scientist had spent their whole lives been ordered, for volunteer Rotarians to deliver
studying the majestic grizzly bear. Each year to every Newton 3rd Grader at each elementary
they petitioned their respective governments school, and that about half of the cost was ex-
to allow them to go to Yellowstone to study pected to be picked up by District 7910 as a
these wondrous beasts. Community Service grant.
Finally, their request was granted and Bill also mentioned that 33 instruments,
they immediately flew to New York and then mostly clarinets and flutes, had been donated to
on west to Yellowstone. They reported to the the Club’s Instrument Drive. Other Community
local ranger station and were told that it was Service Projects coming up may include a Senior
the grizzly mating season and it was much Safety Day, the EcoTeam Project, and/or a
too dangerous to go out and study the ani- Hospitality Homes project to help families
mals. visiting Boston with sick children.
They pleaded that this was their only
chance. Finally the ranger relented. The Having completed successful fellowship
Russian and the Czech were given cell events that include the Boston Harbor boat ride,
phones and told to report in each and every hiking at Nobscot Reservation, and the Holiday
day. Party, Dennis Prefontaine reported that two
For several days they called in, and then more Fellowship events will be planned: Irish
nothing was heard from the two scientists. Night and Italian Night dinners!
The rangers mounted a search party and
found the scientists’ camp completely rav- UPCOMING...
aged. No sign of the missing men.
They then followed the trail of a male January 6, 2010: WEDNESDAY Meetings
and a female bear. They found the female and begin at Brae Burn
decided they must kill the animal to find out
if she had eaten the scientists because they January 31, 2010: DEATH by CHOCOLATE
feared an international incident. Fundraiser at the Crown Plaza Hotel
They killed the female and cut open the
bear’s stomach… only to find the remains of
the Russian. One ranger turned to the other
and said, “You know what this means, don’t
you?” PAUL M. KERRISSEY
Attorney at Law
“Of course,” the other ranger nodded.
“The Czech is in the male.”
277 Auburn Street
Suite B
[ As Read on Car Talk ] Auburndale, MA 02466
Office: (617) 964-5800
Fax: (617) 969-9850
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 2

3. STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Juliana King
Mt. Alvernia High School
President Marie (leftmost) shares
a moment with (from left) Mt.
Alvernia HS Director of
Guidance Maureen O’Rourke,
Community Service Coordinator
Sister Julie Franchi, Ed
Casavant, Student of the Month
Juliana King, and parents Diane
and David King.
Ed Casavant introduced Mt. Alvernia High dancing with Boston Ballet and performing in
School Director of Guidance Maureen O’Rourke productions of Annie, Oliver, and Godspell.
to talk about Student of the Month Juliana King. Athletic activities include fencing and kayaking.
She quoted Herman Melville, who wrote “We Juliana, said Ms. O’Rourke, reminds us of Dr.
can not live for ourselves alone; our lives are Suess’s Lorax, who admonished “Unless some-
connected by a thousand invisible threads [along one like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is
which] our actions run as causes and return to going to get better. It’s not.”
us as results.” Taking the podium, Juliana explained that
The sentiment expressed could describe the she was adopted from Russia, and she described
activities of Juliana King, who has logged over some of her own service commitments, including
1,500 hours of community service work, tutoring knitting shawles for her 7th grade Linus Club to
and helping both the elderly and the very young. donate to Rosie’s Place. She also knits hats and
Juliana’s extracuricular activities also include booties for hospitalized premature infants.
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 3

4. HAPPY DOLLARS
Bill Lowery was happy to collect Happy greet Luren Hykem, and that 18 members were
Dollars, starting with his own, in honor of present today. Bob Staulo was happy to meet
today’s Student of the Month (SOM) and the SOM Juliana King.
December 7 Holiday Party (HP). Bill also paid Tom Keery was sad to have missed the
a $5 cell phone fine. Jeff Chin was happy for Holiday Party, opting instead to take a hot
the HP, and Santa Claus’s appearance, shower after a long bike ride. He was sadder
strangely reminiscent of Paul Kerrissey. Jeff still to recently close Frost Motors after 75
Tucker was happy for the HP, and to see Ed years of service, but happy to report that daugh-
Casavant and Bob Staulo. ter Anna had been accepted to Elon University.
Paul Kerrissey was proud to have served Ray Desaultels was just happy. Paul
with the HP committee, Nominating Commit- Stone was happy to be the Greeter, singing
tee, and the Football Luncheon Committee, and “who could ask for anything more?”
was all committeed out! Ed Casavant was happy for SOM, as was
Bill Garr was happy to report that the President Marie, who was also grateful for the
South African Singing group who performed Holiday Party and that Santa discovered son
for us December 2nd, had a very successful Brendon’s desire for a Mickey Mouse bike.
World Aids Day Concert. He was also happy to
PAULA KIRRANE SCOTT LEWIS HOME DESIGN
Uniquely Designed Cakes ADDITIONS
230 Adams Street RENOVATIONS
Newton, MA 02458 NEW HOMES
Tel.: (617) 969-1830 HISTORIC RESTORATION
fax: (617) 969-5852 12 Bencliffe Circle
Auburndale, MA 02466
www.theicingonthecake.com (617) 293-6371
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 4

5. ROTARY CLUB OF NEWTON - ANNUAL MEETING
Marie Presti, President
December 15, 2009, at Brae Burn Country Club
President Marie explained that the Club The Officers and Board Members for 2010-
would first convene the Annual Meeting of the 2011 shall be:
Newton Rotary Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable 2010-2011 Officers:
organization recognized by the Internal Revenue
Service. Jeff Tucker, President
Marie referred to Peter Mahler’s emailed Laurisa Neuwirth, President Elect
Treasurer’s Report, and called upon Paul Justin Sallaway, Vice President
Kerrissey to describe the Club’s Emergency Bill Lowery, Sergeant-at-Arms
Fund, the funds for which are held by the Foun- Peter Mahler, Treasurer
dation but accounted for separately. John Hurney, Recording Secretary
A motion was made “that the Board Mem-
bers of the Rotary Club of Newton also serve as Board of Directors:
the Board of Directors for the Newton Rotary
Foundation.” The motion was seconded and Tom Keery, Director
passed unanimously, completing the business of Tony Bibbo, Director
the Foundation’s Annual Meeting. Jeff Chin, Director
Peggy Lepore, Director
President Marie then convened the Club’s
Annual Meeting and again called upon Paul President Marie called upon Committee
Kerrissey as chairman of the Nominating Com- chairpersons to report on their specific activities
mittee, who presented the Committee’s slate of and plans, some of which are summarized on
Officers and Board Members, and asked if page 2 of this newsletter.
anyone cared to offer a nomination from the Bill Garr reported for the Community
floor. With no such nominations forthcoming, the Service Committee. Jeff Chin reported for
Club voted unanimously to accept the Vocational Service. Marie Presti reported on
Committee’s slate, amended to include President behalf of Laurisa Neuwirth for the Membership
Marie to serve on the Board of Directors next Committee. Dennis Prefontaine (Fellowship),
year in her ex-officio capacity. Marc Epstein (Gift of Life) and Jeff Tucker
(Fund Raising) also reported before the Annual
Meeting of the Club was adjourned.
RAFFLE
With the jackpot approaching $500, Stu-
dent of the Month Juliana King picked the lucky
ticket, which was held by Jeff Chin. Jeff found
only the Four of Diamonds, though. So we’ll
start the new year with 32 cards next time! Could
be a very Happy New Year indeed!
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 5

6. Photo (from left) , President Marie congratulates Student of the Month Juliana King. Jeff Tucker
presented her with a savings account, compliments of The Village Bank
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 6