President's Message

Dear Rotarians,

Another great program last Thursday. Thank you, Julian, for all that you're doing to make this year a great year!

It is hard to believe that November is half over and we are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. It goes without saying that there is no meeting on November 26th, Thanksgiving Day. But we Rotarians will once again be able to make a difference in some people's lives the week of Thanksgiving. Next Monday, November 23rd we are once again sponsoring Community Meals at the Citizen Center, appropriately located on Welcome Street.

And how appropriate it is that we are sponsoring it the week of Thanksgiving! There is no greater deed that one can perform than helping those in our community who are not as fortunate as we are to enjoy a hot meal. Once again, please check the list of those Rotarians who are being counted upon to deliver a dessert between 4:00 - 4:30 PM at the Citizen Center. The list is repeated in this Nairator. If your name is on the list, please remember to deliver it. If you are unable to do so, please ask another Rotarian whose name is not on the list to contribute a dessert instead of you.

If you are able to stay to help serve, I promise that the work will be well worth it. There is a great sense of personal satisfaction when you are there and when you see the number of people who come for the hot meal, usually in excess of 100 folks - men, women and children. We might think that most of the people who come have little to be thankful for. However, when Rotarians are there in the spirit of "Service Above Self," we know they have something precious to be thankful for - a warm and compassionate community of which Haverhill Rotary is a part.

A few years back, Jeff Jacoby, a writer for the Boston Globe, once gave an insight about gratitude and happiness. He said that most people think that when people are happy, they will give thanks; that is that happiness precedes gratitude. However, he claims that it is the other way around. Happiness comes as a result of being grateful. The first year in Plymouth Plantation was a difficult year for the Pilgrims who arrived in 1620. The winter was brutal and half the population died from illness. Yet, the Pilgrims expressed gratitude despite their losses. Their gratitude is what brought them happiness.

I believe what Jeff Jocoby wrote is true. If we can just find the time to give thanks for the blessings that are ours, then we will indeed achieve happiness.

This will be my last Nairator message before Thanksgiving. It is my hope that all of us will enjoy the day with loving family and friends and express gratitude for the many blessings in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rotarily Yours,

Ira

Community Meals

We are scheduled to sponsor Community Meals on Monday, November 23rd. Please mark your calendars and plan to help out beginning at 4:30 PM. Remember: "Service Above Self!"

The following people are requested to bring a dessert to the community meals:
Adams, William
Baker, Bernard
Beal, Darlene
Beaton, Terry
Bonanno, Vincent
Boule, Charles
Breshahan, Kathy
Carr, Pamela
Coco, Tim
Cote, Scott Sr.
Faulkner, Thomas
Fuller, Tracy
Goddu, Steven
Hart, William Jr.
Hart, Michael
Jordan, Tim
Noyes, Chandler
Rose, Fred
Ryan, Cindy
Thomas, Dave
Vanderpol, James

Please deliver your favorite high calorie delights between 4:00 and 4:30 PM.

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.

Proposed for Membership: Eric Suess

Comedy Night

Trip to Haverhill

I was a teenager and had a driver's license. One day I was going to go from our home in Atkinson to Haverhill on an errand. Two of my brothers were about ages 10 and 12. Mother suggested that perhaps the two boys might like to go along with me as they didn't get to Haverhill too often.

They were enjoying the sights as we went along. As we were going up High Street in Haverhill there were two Nuns walking along the sidewalk. One of the boys said to the other: "Hey look" and pointed to the Nuns. "What are they?" the second boy asked. "I don't know" the first boy said, "Witches, I guess."

Soon we had turned off High Street and onto Washington Street. There was at one time a Synagogue on Washington Street at the corner of Freeman Street. There was a Star of David over the outside front door. One of the boys said to the other: "Hey look" and pointed to the Star of David. "What is it?" asked the other boy. "I don't know" said the second boy, "Sheriff's Office, I guess."

When we got back to Atkinson, Mother asked if the boys had a good time. "Yes, they did", I said, "but they really should get to town more often."