Today's Transistor Radio

Tim Coco will join us this Thursday as our guest speaker. His talk looks at the history of WHAV from its birth 65 years ago to today's streaming Internet and cable television station. Many voices from the past will be included in his multimedia presentation.

President's Message

Our first meeting at the Haverhill Country Club was a tremendous success! The room was bright and cheery, tables set up perfectly and the staff was excellent. I noticed that Dale Rogers stole the best seat in the house!. In addition, we had a wonderful speaker and guests galore. I want to thank Dennis Sweeney, John Felci, Lauren Galimi, Darlene Rembis, John Vanderpol, Carol Vanderpol, Evelyn Ewing, Sally Cerasuolo-O¹Rorke and Mike Hart for attending our Paul Harris Luncheon this week. In addition, we had two Interact students: Maia Johnson and Sean Wren attend. They introduced themselves fluently and also worked diligently to sell coupon books to raise needed funds to help support their club. I know that many generous Rotarians bought the books and I want to say thank you on their behalf.

Last week's Paul Harris Luncheon was a very special meeting to honor our current Paul Harris Fellows and to inaugurate additional Fellows. Our speaker, Diane Shikrallah, Paul Harris Regional Chair, gave exemplary information regarding Paul Harris, the Foundation and its impact on world understanding, goodwill and peace. Diane also informed us that originally she wanted to be a member of the Haverhill Rotary, but "somehow" became a member of the Lawrence Rotary due to the "sales tactics" of Lawrence Rotary Past President, John Felci. After the meeting, I asked John Felci "Was it the truth?" He, with a huge grin, slightly hemmed and hawed that "Paul made me do it!" I have no idea who he was talking about; do you?

After Diane's speech, she inaugurated Haverhill Rotary members James Vanderpol and Chandler Noyes as Paul Harris Fellows. I am pleased to say that both were surprised and honored to receive this prestigious award. Congratulations to you both!

To be a Paul Harris Fellow, you must exemplify your commitment and support of Haverhill Rotary, Rotary International and, most importantly, your community. I am truly honored to be in a club that has so many distinguished Paul Harris Fellows.

The Rotary Foundation was originally proposed in 1917 as an endowment to be set up "for the purpose of doing good in the world" by Rotary International President, Arch C. Klumph. In 1928, this endowment was renamed "The Rotary Foundation" and became a distinct entity within Rotary International. After Rotary's founder, Paul P. Harris, died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created to build the Foundation.

Today, the mission of the Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. I can see that our club has taken this mission to heart through the many Paul Harris Fellows in the Haverhill Rotary!

I have to admit that King Davis saved the day by not allowing me to recite any of my jokes. He willingly paid a steeper price to stop my joke telling than he was to save Jim VanderPol from the frigid February water during the Polar Plunge! Michel VanRavestyn picked out the wrong club in our "Ace of Clubs" raffle and Bonnie Michaleas was determined to get a picture of Michel with the losing card! The raffle is now up to $558 and climbing.

Update from Darlene Beal's Rotaplast Peru Mission blog: By the fifth day of surgery we've evaluated 112 patients; 78 at the opening clinic and 34 as walk-ins during surgery days. Please check out Darlene's updated blog: "A Mission from Start to Finish" for additional information and great pictures.

Rotary International President-Elect Sakuji Tanaka just announced the 2012-13 theme, Peace through Service. Here's what he had to say:

Peace is the ultimate purpose of every human, country, community, and family. Peace concerns everybody. This is a great theme because peace is something deep to all of us.
Tokunao Tanaka
District 2770, Japan

ROTARY DATES TO REMEMBER

February 6, - 2012 COMMUNITY MEALSat the Haverhill Citizens Center. Please deliver baked goods, desserts, between 4:00 to 4:30pm. Please also stay to help if you can.

February 11, 2012 - POLAR PLUNG 11:30am at the Cape Ann Motor Inn on Long Beach, 33 Rockport Road, Gloucester, MA. Please consider "plunging" and joining your fellow District Rotarians for this important regional fundraiser. Together we CAN put an end to polio!

March 2 - 4, 2012 Haverhill Rotary Fellowship Weekend The White Mountain Hotel and Resort, North Conway, NH Weekend getaway. All fun, no work!!

June 1 - 3, 2012 - Rotary District 7930 Annual Conference

Community Events

The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce will host its 22nd Annual Small Business Awards Breakfast on February 10, 2012 at the Renaissance Golf Club, 377 Kenoza Street, Haverhill, MA. This event is sponsored by Haverhill Bank and many of our members will be honored. The event will run from 7:30am to 9:30am. Tickets are $30 per person or $275 for a table of 10. Please contact the Chamber at 978.373.5663 for additional information.

Rotary Music "HINT"

R-O-T-A-R-Y that spells ROTARY!
R-O-T-A-R-Y is known on Land and Sea
From North to South
From East to West
He profits most who serves the best
R-O-T-A-R-Y that spells ROTARY!

Smile
Smile and the world smiles with you, Sing a song.
Don't be weary, Just be cheery all day long.
Whenever your trials, your troubles and your cares
Seem to be more than you can really bear
Smile and the world smiles with you, Sing a song

WINTER WEATHER POLICY
Please remember the Haverhill Rotary winter weather policy:
If the Haverhill Public Schools are cancelled due to inclement winter weather, there will be no Rotary meeting that day. Also, if there is an early dismissal, there will be no Rotary meeting that day. If there is a delayed opening of the Haverhill Public Schools, there will be a Rotary meeting at the regular time, at 12:15 PM.

Contributions to and suggestions about the NAIRATOR are welcome, so please pass on any news to me or Steve Goddu.

Yours in Rotary,

Sheryl

December District News

Download a copy of our December 2011 District Newsletter to keep up with what's going on in District 7930.