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Host Families Still Needed We need families to host Ana for a few days previous to August 22nd, September 10-17, and for another three month period. We need you to step forward now. August 12, 2008  Rotarians at Work (NOT!) This week I'll have sign-up sheets for our Rotary Social on Sunday, August 24th starting at 1 PM. Pam's address is 58 Atlanta Street, Haverhill, which is off Hilldale Avenue, just a little short of where it crosses over 495 and goes on towards Garrison Golf. Rotarians and their family members, including the kids, are invited. It will be "pot luck." Anybody interested in grilling? Think about whether you want to bring a main dish, appetizer, salad or dessert. If it rains, we'll cancel or look for a rain date in September. I realize this is a busy time of year for many. If you can join us, great! If not, please come to the next event. If you aren't coming to lunch this week, but can let me know with a quick email whether you are coming, and estimate how many if you are, I'd really appreciate it. Ana from Georgia - steps forward and back! Last Thursday, I reported to you that we had located a host family, but might need help at the beginning of her arrival. Haverhill Rotary's Youth Exchange Officer (such a title!), Mary Gale, has interviewed the host family and forwarded her positive recommendation to the District Youth Exchange leaders. It also looks like we have a portion of her arrival covered. A generous Rotarian and his family has stepped forward to host Ana on the 24th and 25th before she joins her three month host family on the 26th. We are now seeking a home for Ana should she arrive before her Youth Exchange overnight at Camp Rotary on August 22nd and 23rd, and a home for her September 10 - 17, when the host family must be away on a trip scheduled before hosting was on the horizon. For the period before August 22nd, Ana could stay with an interim host just about anywhere, because her time at Haverhill High School will not have started. This period could be just one night or it could be several. Each day she does not arrive, the window of time decreases. So if you think you have a spare bedroom for a few days before the 22nd, should she arrive then, that you would be willing to offer to a responsible 17 year old with leadership skills, please let Mary or I know. That is our first priority. For the September 10-17 period, it must be a home in Haverhill or with transport to and from Haverhill each weekday aligned with school hours. Again, if you think you might be able to help or know someone who could, please let Mary or I know. As I mentioned Thursday, the host family is willing to have Ana stay the entire academic year and even to bring her with them to a family gathering in California over Thanksgiving if her family or another donor can pay the plane fair!. My family will host her for three months. If we are true to Rotary's program requirements, we are still seeking a third host family for more than just a week. So, tho' we have some time, keep asking around. Meanwhile, if you have been following the news, you know that Ana's country is on the brink of, if not at, war. Ana sent Mary Gale and Jon Miller emails over the weekend. One aludes to the conflict. Both refer to a visa problem that has now been referred to District Youth Exchange leaders with more experience in these matters. It may be as simple as the Georgian Embassy officials being unfamiliar with Rotary Youth Exchange or requiring our commitment to accept her. It's great to have the District support. Many folks are at work to bring Ana here. If you can help with either of the short stays outlined above, please let Mary or I know. We need you to step forward now. Just a note: Some of you may be shaking your heads that all this is not all lined up. Certainly that would be ideal and is what we are striving for. Over time our requests and appeals are generating a pool of potential volunteers, some of whom the time is not right yet, like my family last year and this Fall. But life is often hardly so guaranteed or secure...witness the conflict in Georgia. I've done enough collaboration on international exchange to understand that flexibility is key. So is Service Above Self. I hope you can help. Duck Race Organizers Schedule Conference Call with Duck...er, GAME We have scheduled a conference call with a representative of GAME, Inc., the organization which supports over 200 duck race "funraisers" annually all over the US and some foreign countries. We are working to "get our ducks in a row," i.e., to establish a better understanding of what the event will involve and whether we can do it ourselves or will benefit enough from GAME to make it worth the increased cost. The call will be at my office, 145 Essex Street, at 3 pm, after our Thursday, August 21st lunch meeting. We will meet briefly before the call and again for a bit after the call to discuss what we learn, as well as next steps. Although not everyone can speak during the call, you are certainly welcome to attend, help plan the call, listen and participate in discussion afterwards. Please just RSVP to me if you plan on joining us. Wasn't it great to have Chandler back at the keyboard last Thursday? We are so glad you are back, Chandler! Hey Fred and Chandler, Let's learn a new song! How about "Yellow Submarine?" See you all Thursday, I hope! Community Meals August 18th Please volunteer to help serve on Monday August 18th. Haverhill Rotary donates five hundred dollars towards food four times per year to support the Community Meals which are hosted at the Haverhill Citizen's Center every Monday. If you have ever attended you would take note that the people who are being served really need this meal. You might even question where do they eat the other seven days. One of the great benefits of being a member of Haverhill Rotary is being given the opportunity to help these people in a very direct and meaningful way. Once you have participated you will quickly gain understanding behind out motto "He profits most who serves best.". Don't miss out. Let Them Eat Cake Each time we pay for and serve a meal Haverhill Rotary also provides baked goods for dessert. We ask twenty of our members to be responsible for bringing a dessert to these meals. Your name will appear on the list every third or fourth meal. When it does we are expecting that you bring something homemade or store bought to the Citizen's Center between 4:00 - 4:30. If you are unable to provide a dessert when your name comes up please ask another Rotarian to take your place. You may also present and Lincoln or Hamilton to Terry Beaton and he may be willing to pick something up and deliver it for you. Here is the list for August 18th:
"...French law required bakers to sell loaves at fixed prices and fancy loaves had to be sold at the same price as basic breads...but if the phrase had been reported as 'let them buy cake at the same price as bread' we might now think better of the French nobility..." Link to complete article Great Press! 
The Haverhill Gazette featured Haverhill Rotary with a front page story this week. This is great publicity for our club and a perfect opportunity to for everyone to find a friend or colleague and approach them about membership. Hand them a copy of the paper when they as "What is Haverhill Rotary all about?". By clicking on the above photo you will be directed to the on-line version of the Haverhill Gazette where you will be able to read the entire article. District News Keep up with what's happening in Rotary District 7930. Beginning August 21st the Peabody Rotary club will be meeting at 7:30 AM at the Peabody Marriott, 8A Centennial Drive, Peabody, MA. The clubs last luncheon meeting will be at Spinelli's on Tuesday, August 12, 2008. Tom Elliott, District Governor, is encouraging all members of the District and most importantly the District Leadership Team to join him in supporting the members of the Rotary Club of Peabody in their efforts to strengthen and grow their club by attending their Inaugural Breakfast Meeting on August 21, 2008, at 7:30 AM. If you know someone in the Peabody area who would be interested in joining the Peabody club with their new meeting time and location please contact their membership chairman Steve Smith. Speakers  Joe DeMarco, of Latitude Sports Clubs, spoke to us last week about health and good nutrition. Here are Joe's 10 rules to good nutrition:
August 14 - Spiro Pappadopoulos, Diane Franz, Classification Talk 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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