This Week's Meeting
Evenfall Restaurant

September 30, 2008

Tickets Raffle The Board of Directors fully supports another Sports and other tickets raffle this year. Chuck Marvin and Julian Rich have agreed again to coordinate it. If we can get enough donations, we'd like to do it in the fall this Rotary year, instead of February 2009. It will then be in time for holiday gift giving. We really need to get going ASAP. Can you help? Tickets to any of the major Boston or even New England sports teams. Don't forget the major college teams would be great too!; the more the better. With early donations, we will have more time to add value by pairing limo/Towncar and restaurant packages. We also want you to know that tickets to art, music and museums and shows will interest and attract a more diverse group of enthusiastic raffle ticket buyers. We will set a date and ticket price soon, but first we need donations. Please remember "Service Above Self" and help in any way you can. See Julian or Chuck to help us out. Thanks!

The Haverhill Mural Project I was proud to represent the Haverhill Rotary Club on Sunday at the annual North of the North End Festival downtown. Under the leadership of presidents Darlene and Vin, the Club has supported grants last year and the year before to help support the mural project. Come to think of it, Vin and Darlene, you guys should have been there more than me! Actually, I think Darlene may have been there for the unveiling of the first mural that came about through a donation during her leadership. But, Vin, you shoulda been there. I may have dropped the ball here. Sorry, big guy! After all, it was during an Italian event! Not that I felt uncomfortable there. My great grandfather came over from Italy to the US on a boat around the late 1800's. He came from Genoa. Did you know there is a city near Genoa called Cuneo?

Anyway... We had a part in at least one of the three year 2007 murals depicting colonial men sipping beverages in a tavern. Hmmmm...What is this saying? Did we pick exactly which one we supported? That mural is at the Riverwalk Alleyway on the side of The Tap. This year, our donation shared in the support of a beautiful large mural facing directly out onto Washington Street. Titled "Trompe L'oeil Historical Window" it offers an interesting array of scenes and persons from Haverhill's past including the HHS 1936 championship football team, the Whittier Homestead, an early painting of Mitchell's Falls, a portrait of Mr. Moses (the father of Haverhill's shoe industry), Maggie Cline, a famous Haverhill-born vaudevillian who was the pride of Haverhill's Irish community, and John Greenleaf Whittier himself serves as the window greeter. This "Window of the Past" Mural is right next to the Garibaldi Club. The Haverhill Mural Project is one of Team Haverhill's initiatives. It was great to see our own Ken Smith from Pentucket Bank, a big supporter of the project, at the unveiling, as well as Jefferson Davis and (one of?) his kids. I know Haverhill Bank and Gold Leaf Fine Jewelry are also among the 2008 sponsors. It's also really great to see our own Tim Jordan with such a leadership role as co-chair of Team Haverhill. Congratulations on a great job!

Non-Profit Members in Action I met with non-profit members last week after lunch to talk about their potential role in a duck race fundraiser. Basically, for a direct share in the proceeds, they and their members would help sell the duck adoptions for $5 per duck or $25 for a quack pack of six. After all, our goal will likely be to sell 10,000 ducks or more and we need a lot of partners to do that. What better partners than the charities who will directly benefit. There are details to hammer out, but I was encouraged by the mostly positive response from stalwart organizations such as Haverhill Community TV, the YWCA, Home Health VNA and several others.

I was also encouraged that some of our member charities are interested in submitting a proposal for a District Simplified Grant. As I mentioned last week, these grants commit up to $1740 in Haverhill Rotary Club funds to a District-approved project and are matched with up to $3260 from Rotary International and the District for a total of $5,000 to the charity or group of charities in the event of a collaborative proposal. I should be clear that although the Board has not yet voted on it, I think the Club should not also provide an additional regular annual donation this year to any charity that receives such a District Grant. I do not anticipate this being a major issue, since I believe no charity received from the Club anywhere near a comparable amount in any of the past several years. For lots more information about, examples of successful projects and an application for this year's District 7930 District Simplified Grant, please go to http://www.rotary7930.org/DSGFundedProjects.cfm. Then, before doing anything further, please contact me. I found the FAQ section pretty confusing and designed more for clubs and district volunteers, but not potential applicants. Not everything you read may be exactly right. But do not delay! Applications are due in just two weeks by October 15th. A few details I learned at the District Foundation Membership meeting two weeks ago: Project funds cannot be used for "bricks and mortar" or for regular salaries. They can be used for furnishings. They cannot be used to fund an already existing project, but can be used for a new expansion of an existing project. A tie to the Club is always positive, if not essential. This year the District hopes to recommend five projects to RI.

That's it for now! See you Thursday...where? At Evenfall!

John

Ticket Donations

Do you know a company or an individual who has season tickets to one of our great Boston teams? Does your company have tickets to any theater events? This is the time to ask for a donation. We plan to hold a Sports/Theater Ticket Raffle and it is difficult for us to do without any tickets. Last years raffle was well received and contributed significantly to Haverhill Rotary's fundraising goals. Make a call today and let Julian Rich or Chuck Marvin know what you can get your hands on. If the tickets are of significant value I'm sure we can work out an appropriate amount of publicity for the donating company or individual. Let's Make a Deal!

This 1925 photo shows the first group of Haverhill Rotarians visiting at Camp Tasker Rotary Boys Club Outing.
Courtesy of Ken Smith.

District Governor Nominations 2011-2012: We are accepting nominations for District Governor for 2011 - 2012. The application deadline is October 23, 2008, The District Governor must be a Rotarian in good standing, been a member of Rotary for at least seven years (upon taking the position on July 1, 2011) and of course be willing to accept the responsibilities and duties of being Governor. I recommend applying for this position to any Rotarian who meets the criteria and who believes in our organizations mission and is looking for the Rotary experience of a lifetime! Nominations need to be sent to me at the address below and need to include a letter of nomination from your club, a letter of application from you and a resume. If you have any questions feel free to contact DGE Ingrid Brown, Past District Governors Julia, Donna and/or me.
District Governor Nominee Form

Thomas R. Elliott
District Governor, 2008-2009
Rotary District 7930
6 Spring Street
Danvers, MA 01923

Keep up with what's happening in Rotary District 7930.
You may download a copy of the June 2008 Newsletter or visit the web site:http://www.rotary7930.org

Christopher Ciceri, Executive Director of The Lowell Devils Hockey spoke to us last week. He gave us some interesting insight into the American Hockey League and how the Lowell Devils fit in. Mr. Ciceri donated an autographed hockey stick from this year's team which we thankfully accepted and will use as a gift in an upcoming fundraiser.

October 2 - Diane Lewis, Paint Your Canvas for your Golden Years
October 9 - Robert Thibodeau, Free Flow Power
October 16 - Grace Martins and the Rotary Group Exchange Team to Brazil
October 23 - John Katsaros
November 6 - Casey Sherman, Best Selling Author
November 13 - Reverend Crabtree, Zion Bible School
November 20 - Amy-Jayne McCabe, USA Cares

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
Monday 12:15PM Exeter Country Club
Tuesday 7:30AM The Village Pancake House in Georgetown
Tuesday 12:15PM Glenn's Galley
Tuesday 12:15PM Caffe Paradiso in Lowell
Wednesday 12:15PM Angelica's Restaurant in Middleton
Thursday 7:30AM Cochichewick Lodge in North Andover
Thursday 12:15PM Redhook Ale Brewery in Portsmouth
Friday 7:30AM Rockingham Park, Belmont Room in Salem NH
Friday 12:15PM Sweetheart Inn in Methuen