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 No, this not a coup. President John is in South Africa, leading District 7930's GSE (Group Study Exchange) Team. I spoke to him as he was literally boarding his jet at Logan Airport last Friday. I know everyone in our club wishes John and his teammates well and we look forward to hearing all about it when he returns. We ought to be very proud that one of our own was chosen to lead this year's group! With John away (he'll return to our club on April 2nd - no fooling!), it gives me "practice" to write you this message, although I cannot promise that my messages will be as interesting as those of my predecessors have been. In fact, I am feeling some trepidation and anxiety - much more so than I have ever felt from the pulpit! Perhaps that's because from the pulpit, I can gauge the listeners' reactions to what I am saying by looking at faces, or more often, see how many people are snoozing rather than listening. Writing something that I am going to send into cyberspace without knowing how it will be received is intimidating. I guess I'll find out how this is received by the way you folks will say, or perhaps NOT say, "Hello" to me on Thursday. Also with John away, PP Vin and I will share the duties of chairing the meetings in March. Vin will chair this week's meeting and again on March 12th. I'll chair the following two meetings. That, too, will be a first for me! I want to thank Cindy Ryan for once again organizing the Thesaurus project. I hope that many Rotarians will be there at the Pentucket Bank Community Room on Merrimack Street, Tuesday, March 3rd at 2:00 P.M. to help label the more than 650 Thesauri that will be distributed to Haverhill's 6th grade pupils (students, learners). One of the things I've enjoyed as the Program Chair this year has been the tremendous support that our membership has given me and helping me fill every date. As you can see, we are all set with speakers through the middle of April. But please, please continue to give me suggestions for programs. Those that I have not been able to schedule due to either lack of dates available or inability of a speaker to make a particular date, I will forward all your suggestions to Julian, my successor. This week, our guest speaker is a dynamic and enthusiastic Rotarian who lives in Groveland. No, it's not Bill Adams! Rachel Williams, who is a member of the Ipswich club, is Chair of the District's Literacy program. I met Rachel in October when she hosted a dinner at her home for the group of Muslim and Jewish teens from Israel as part of the Friends Forever program. I know Rachel will deliver a splendid presentation on Thursday - don't miss it! There's a lot happening in our club during the next few months. With John away, the greatest gift we could give him would be to further our work on the Duck Race which John has worked so hard on bringing it to Haverhill as a new means of raising the funds for all our community recipient organizations that we support. After all, isn't that what Rotary is all about?!? See you Thursday. Rotarily Yours, Ira   Rotary Youth Exchange Update: What makes Rotary International Youth Exchange such a great program? First it is the contact with the Rotary Clubs and the district network of clubs (different from some other organizations where students arrive and land with one host family and are reliant on that family's good will only). Second, it is the orientation that takes place before the students come, and right after they arrive and the "check ins" that continue throughout the year. These orientations for host families, the students and YEO's and Counselors are detailed and also involved up to date state standardization of rules that we adhere to that keep the students safe and protected while they are in our care. These same rules apply to our students going out. That is the beauty of a Rotary International. High standards that are maintained world wide! Third, it is the calendar of terrific opportunities that Rotarians organize, Rotarians chaperone, and Rotary Clubs sponsor that engage the group of students in our district with one another throughout the entire year. For example, in early March Ana will join in with 40 other Rotary Exchange students for our district and two other districts in Vermont for a ski weekend. Lift tickets, equipment rental, and one lesson are free (thanks to a Rotarian who organized this). The students are housed with local Rotarian families for two nights! They will be eating in a large room at the resort and they will also have a room for a big dance! We are always looking for local club chaperones or drivers for these kind of day and overnight trips. Fourth, it is the Clubs who sponsor in coming and outgoing students! And we are proud to be counted in this growing number of clubs in our District! Next Exchange Update: Funding for Exchange students - who pays for what! District News Check out the district newsletter. Haverhill Rotary has made a big showing this month!  Harry Fleet Liked Bagpipes After the disastrous fire in Bradford, Fleet Plastics relocated to the former Wason-MacDonald Dairy building on Primrose Street in Haverhill, Massachusetts. By this time we had left New England Telephone after the government had broken up the Bell System. For thirteen years we did commercial telephone systems service work as a private company. Harry Fleet wanted to update the Primrose Street telephone system and he had engaged our services. This installation included the telephones in the office and throughout the plant. There was also a loudspeaker paging system all over the premises. Harry liked bagpipes and I knew this, so on the day that we turned on the new system I plugged a tape of bagpipe music into the loudspeaker system and turned it on.Harry came out of the office with a big grin on his face. We always tried to give the customer more that they expected, Harry was going to be no exception. Remember, I never claimed to be normal. 
Proposed for Membership Speakers
March 5 - Rachel Williams, District 7930 Literacy Program Coordinator Attendance An attendance record of 50 percent is required to remain an active Rotarian. Any missed meeting must be made up within 14 days before or after the regular meeting. To accommodate busy schedules, there are various opportunities to make up missed meetings: Monday 12:15PM Danversport Yacht Club |
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