Pledge and Invocation:
President Mike Markovitz brought the meeting to order at 12:15 PM at Purkey’s Pink Apple with Jodi Crimmel reciting the 4-Way Test and leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Lou Divis giving the Invocation.
Guests:
Club News:
Donation to Girls Softball Team for World Series In Portland Oregon
Tom Kukuchka. talked with the families of the girl’s softball team and made a pledge to raise enough money for 39 plane tickets at a cost of approx. $40,950 costs. As of today, they raised $44,00 for airfares. GoFundMe money was partly used for Bristol Conn trip. It cost $1,000 per family, so they used up $14,000 of the $32,000 raised online. 10 days in Portland Oregon have to be covered. The team leaves Monday morning at 6:45 AM. Coaches and team are transported to Philly and get on a plane. Tommy had to use 5 different airlines to fly out the 39 family members. Now they need a bus to get them to Philly to catch their planes as a cost of $1,500. President Mike announced that the Board of Directors (BOD)approved a $1,000 donation from Rotary towards the fundraising.
Jim Welch played his horn for the girl’s team and most appropriately played “Take me out to the Ballgame”.
Other News
Dr. Bishop announced that the Pittston was having a raffle for tickets for a Penn State Game. They are selling 400 raffle tickets for $20 each.
Lou Divis reported that Tunkhannock Business and Professional Women is sponsoring an Aug 12 blood drive at St. Peter’s Episcopal church. Please donate if you are able.
Fran Turner is celebrating 68 years as a Rotarian. Harry called him by phone and we congratulated him on his anniversary.
New Members Approved by BOD
The Board approved the membership applications for Gina Suydam of the Chamber of Commerce who was sponsored by George Gay and Tony Sykes sponsored by Harry Sharpe. If no objections are received from the membership, they will be Rotarians on Aug 10.
Paul Harris Fellows – Al Noble
Al Noble presented multiple Paul Harris Fellow pins to Ron Furman PHF+1 and Samantha Maruzzelli PHF +3.
L to R: Samantha Maruzzelli, Ron Furman, Mike Markovitz and Al Noble
He also presented a club designated Paul Harris Fellow to Jodi Crimmel and announced that a similar PHF was awarded to Rod Azar.
Jodi Crimmel receiving her PHF from Pres. Mike Markovitz
Excellence in Humanity Award – Past President Samantha Maruzzelli
PP Samantha honored Jodi Crimmel with an Excellence in Humanity Award for the outstanding work she is doing in Haiti and for spearheading the onsite planning for our Rotary Haiti water global grant.
Jodi Crimmel with Past President Samantha Maruzzelli
Harvest & Wine Festival – Ron Furman
Posters and rack cards are now available for the Festival. The Insurance for the Festival has been taken care of. Please sign up for the Festival work details. We need as many volunteers as possible. There will be a planning meeting Monday, Aug 6 at 6 PM at the Tunkhannock Public Library.
Rotary Picnic – Ron Furman
Sun Aug 12 there will be a steak cookout at Ron’s cabin on the mountain. The cost will be $20 per person. If you do not have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, Ron will provide rides up to the cabin. We will meet at 1:30 PM with lunch around 2:30 PM. Please sign up or contact Ron so we can get a head count to purchase the steaks, green salad, salted potatoes and baked beans. Please bring your own beverages.
Committee Chair Needed – Pres. Mike
We still need a Public Relations Committee Chair. Please let Mike know if you are interested.
Pin Distribution – Pres. Mike
Pres. Mike presented pins to 2 individuals who were not able to attend the Officer Installation Banquet. Mike gave a new Director’s pin to Karen Fuller.
He also presented Lou Divis with a peace pin for her to wear for the upcoming Peace Camp.
Lou Divis receiving Peace Pin from Pres. Mike
Drug Take Back – Carol Ziomek
Carol and Frank Oliver met with DA Jeff Mitchell and Detective David Ide to discuss the Drug Take Back (DTB) Program and the opioid crisis in Wyo. Cty. There had been concern that at the last DTB, Rotarians were asked to serve as greeters and at least in the morning at CVS they had an open cardboard box that could have been an easy target for anyone wanting to steal the drugs being turned in. There was also no security from law enforcement. It was agreed that henceforth, off duty police will be hired to man the DTB locked black cases for the DTB. They may want Rotarians to act as greeters, but it would be with a police officer.
We also agreed to producing 5,000 rack cards that deal with safe drug disposal using the permanent drug drop boxes at the police stations and courthouse. DA Mitchell also suggest an appropriate poster to accompany any rack card display. Glenn has designed the card and will add the telephone numbers as request by the DA and will generate a poster design. They should be ready for the Wyo Cty Fair where they will be distributed at the Tyler booth and at the hospital etc.
Harford Fair Rotary Booth
If you are interested in helping man the Rotary Booth at the Harford Fair (Aug 20-25), please let Mike know so he can turn in your name, day and the time you are available.
Day of Sharing – Terri Detrick
Aug 18 is the Interfaith sponsored Day of Sharing at Lazybrook Park. Rotary will have a table there and will sell Harvest Festival Tickets. The cost of admission to the event is $10.- Popstar Drive will play all day.
District 7410 Newsletter is a good source of info on what is happening in the District.
Our next Meeting will be Thursday, Aug 9. Our speaker will be President Michael Markovitz who will talk about his recent vacation in Hawaii.
President Mike Markovitz adjourned the meeting at 1:26 PM.
Guest Speaker: Roger Mattes
District Governor (DG)
DG Roger expressed his happiness to be visiting our club. He indicated it was a joy to visit the District’s clubs and see them in action.
He recommended that Rotarians visit other clubs to get new ideas, which you can do through make-ups.
His personal theme is that we are all in this together and wants clubs in the District to work together. We have lots of small clubs and he would like to see Cluster Clubs work together and participate in each other’s functions.
DG Roger’s goals for the year:
- More Emphasis on International Service – We need to focus more on this. On an international service project, you see first hand the good that Rotary is doing around the world and it really has an impact on the Rotarian volunteer. Clubs should not just throw money at a project, but send members on a service project, especially newer members. The Abington’s Rotary have a fund where they annually put aside money for this approach. It is important to keep our members fully engaged in Rotary.
- Expand Our Youth Programs – Many school districts do not have Interact and Rotaract clubs. These programs mentor our future Rotarians. The key is to get our youth involved in Rotary and community service. Council on Legislation now says Rotaractors can be full members of Rotary as dual members. The annual RYLA program has a waiting list and some of the kids go back and start Interact Clubs in their schools after attending RYLA.
- Make Rotary Fun Again – Go out and have fun with your fellow Rotarians and families! We are asking for people’s precious free time and so we need to make it fun. The District Jamboree had 90 people participate. There was a canoe trip from Tunkhannock to Falls for a catered cookout and Jazz Band, then 2 camped out overnight. 4 non-Rotarians that participated have all asked to become members.
DG Roger Mattes addressing the Club
