Highlights of Jun 3 Rotary Meeting

 

 

President Terri Detrick brought the meeting to order at 12:15 PM at Shadowbrook Inn & Resort and online via Zoom.  Jill Tague led the Pledge of Allegiance; Dave Wilson gave the invocation and Sandy Lane led the recitation of the 4-Way Test.

 

 

Dave Overbeck - guest speaker

 

 

Ad Bucks:  Dave Weingust - GEM 104 will be doing a broadcast at Founders Day.  They have a special promotion ongoing for anyone who wants to advertise on GEM 104.

 

Mary Tempest – supplies for the Troops donations are going well including $100 for mailing costs.  Thursday, June 10 will be the last lunchtime meeting before June 12 District Conference to make you donations of supplies or money.

 

 

 

 

Two articles appeared in the June 2 Examiner, our donation to Camp Create and the preparation for the Fireworks.

 

 

There will be a planning meeting on Monday, June 7 at 6 PM at the Tunkhannock Public Library Community Room and via Zoom.

 

Sandy got a phone call, that one of our vendors for 9 years Kit Bauman, who sold necklaces for wine glasses, passed away on May 14.  Her husband said it was the most profitable event for her.  He will donate around 100 of these necklaces to Rotary to sell at the Festival and all profits could be used to put a tree up in her memory at Lazybrook Park.  Sandy will find out what price she was selling them for.

 

Sandy sent out vendor applications on Monday and she has already got 9 responses.

 

Ann is also getting ticket inquiries re the Festival.  A ticket sign-up sheet will be available for Founder’s Day.

 

 

A volunteer sign-up sheet is circulating for help for the Fireworks.

 

PR Chair Carol Ziomek reported that the flyer for the Fireworks is up on the Website, both Facebook pages and appeared in the recent District 7410 Newsletter.  As of 11:30 this morning, the Club Facebook page flyer has been shared by 240 people reaching over 13,700 people.  So, the word is definitely getting out there.

 

Also, the article on the Fireworks appeared in yesterday’s Examiner and Bob Baker actually inserted his own photo of our previous fireworks so the article attracts attention.  The article also mentions we are looking for sponsors and gives Mary Tempest’s contact info if anyone is interested in being a Fireworks sponsor this year.

 

Don Davis asked about security and it was recommended that security should be available from 5-11 PM.

 

Don Davis also commented that the senior class concession stand wants lines set up so that people are not crowded around it.  The Senior class is also looking for a grill for the concession stand.

 

 

50% of members have given already and Sam can help if you need help making your donation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RI Virtual Convention will take place from Jun 12, 2021 – Jun 16, 2021.  Registration is required for this virtual convention.

 

 

The Pittston Rotary Club turned 100 last year but due to the pandemic could not go through with their planned celebration.  It has now been rescheduled for Sept 25. 2021 at the Susquehanna Brewing Company in Pittston.  Since Pittston was the sponsor for the formation of the Rotary Club of Tunkhannock, it would be great if Tunkhannock Rotarians attended Pittston’s celebrations.

 

 

More than 50% of people have already paid their dues for 2021-2022.

 

Please pay for the July 1 2021-June 30 2022 Rotary year by June 15 at the reduced annual dues of $150. If you pay after June 15, the annual dues are $160.  Please make out check to Tunkhannock Rotary and give to Elaine Walker or mail to her at: 102 Shadowbrook Drive, Tunkhannock, PA 18657.

 

Note! If you pay online by credit card, it will go through for $160.

 

President Terri Detrick adjourned the meeting at 1:25 PM.

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Since Louis Marcho and Grace had a conflict today, Louis asked David Overbeck to take his place to discuss therapy dogs.

David Overbeck was our guest speaker with his therapy dog Dart. There are more requests for therapy dogs than dogs to fill those requests.  It is a 100% volunteer work.

 

Dave lives near Meshoppen and has been doing therapy work since 2005.  His grandson was having surgery at Danville. They were asked if they wanted a therapy dog’s visit and they did.  It was so good for his grandson that Dave went home and decided to do it.

 

Therapy Dogs International is the organization of which he is a member.  He has had 3 therapy dogs, 2 passed (Jake did 200 visits and Gus, who passed before Xmas did over 300 visits).  His golden retriever Dart is his current dog from his son.  His dog loves kids and other animals, he is 11-12 years old. Dart has done 50 visits so far.  Dog is trained with positive reinforcement. 

 

Jake visited Tunkhannock Methodist Manner when he started and visited Golden Living, Gracious Living in Montrose, Tyler Hospital, Tunkhannock HS Tiger House kids.

 

Gus loved Tiger house kids and also went to Blue Ridge Elementary and High School special needs kids in addition to working with autistic kids.  Dave has done Tunkhannock Public Library talks with his dog.  They have done visits at Scranton Univ, Broom County Community College, Keystone and Misericordia visits also.

 

His dogs have AKC obedience and therapy titles and they also do agility training.  Dart has given 2 perfect agility weekends recently.

 

Why do this?  There is no monetary remuneration. He is energized by successes especially with an unresponsive wheelchair patient.  The dogs particularly love working with the kids.

 

Not all dogs can be a therapy dog. His dogs are not service dog (those take 5 yr. for training), therapy dogs must have the right temperament. They must be socialized dogs, good with adults and kids. The dog must be obedient, know basic commands and no distress if handler is out of sight for 10 min. The dog also needs to walk in a crowd calmly. 

 

Dave has to take a test to be a therapy dog handler.  He needs to make sure that the people they visit, and his dog are both protected.  He needs to be able to detect stress/discomfort in his dog. 

 

They limit visits to 1 hr., so as not to stress the dog and have any incidents occur.  Each dog is covered by $100,000 in insurance in case something goes awry.

 

Funeral homes are now requesting therapy dogs to help grieving people.

 

Dog training begins at 8-15 weeks of age for daily obedience training (best socialization time).  Therapy dogs must be 1 year old.

 

David Overbeck with his therapy dog