Flag Salute: Jack Hyde
Inspiration: Maureen Merrill with the message, “I found you at Rotary.”
Song was actually a chant in rounds led by Warin Parker: “April showers bring May flowers.” Reminding us that we still need the rain to fill the underground aquifer.
There were no visiting Rotarians.
Introduction of Guests of Rotarians:
| Member | Guest | Notes |
| Dick Bishop | Madison | His personal assistant |
| Jack Hyde | Ella | Our Youth Exchange Daughter |
| Ed Turner | Leslie | His daughter |
| Susan Cole | Mardie Donaldson | American Cancer Society Windsor Relay For Life Team Captain |
| Warin Parker | Yesenia Sanchez | Windsor High School Student of the Month |
Yesenia introduced her parents, Enrique and Elia, her sister, Iris, and her teacher, Paul Kinunen.
Announcements:
Warin Parker brings us our Student of the Month. He brought up Paul Kinunen, Yesenia’s teacher in the Digital Media Academy, and Paul told us why Yesenia was chosen as Student of the Month for Rotary. She has the grades, the athletics, the service, but even more than excelling in all these areas, she has the professionalism. She has a special touch with film making that sets her apart.
Yesenia spoke and told about her love for all the arts – both studio and digital. She also loves sports and has played soccer, practiced tae kwan do, basketball, and track and field. (This reporter thinks there were even more sports mentioned, but can’t recall them!) When she found the digital arts, she knew that’s what she wanted to pursue. She has an over 4.0 GPA and a clear view of making films in her future.
Susan Cole introduced Mardie Donaldson, who is a breast cancer survivor, to tell us about the Windsor Relay for Life, American Cancer Society’s major fundraiser, which is a 24-hour walk to fund cancer research and find a cure. It will be held in Keiser Park on June 15-16. Mardie is team captain of Life Savers, and Susan Cole walks on her team. Mardie thanked the Rotary Club of Windsor for being a sponsor this year. We will have signage up at Keisier Park recognizing our contribution. Susan invited everyone to walk a lap with her, particularly at 9PM at night, when the luminarias are lit remembering those we lost to cancer and those who are survivors.
May 2 at Rotary is Teacher Appreciation Day, as Ken Moulton reminded us. It is always one of the most rich and compelling meetings to learn about the teachers who guide our children. A don’t miss meeting!
May 6 is the Windsor Day Parade from 9-11AM and Ken Moulton needs a few more volunteers to jump in and assist a bit. The parade celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Town of Windsor, and so many of our club members were involved in our town’s beginnings.
Paul Harris’ birthday was April 19.
Thursday, April 27, 4:30 PM, is a fundraiser for our Youth Exchange student, Ella, at President John’s house. Purpose is to help Ella raise funds for the Western Safari trip.
Sandy Krutz did a fine job of reminding us that the Lobster Fest is “all hands on deck”. It is our major fundraiser for the year and supplies the funds we need to do the work in the community that we love to do. Art is building a lobster trap for the gym entrance, and the decoration committee is hard at work to change it from a gym to a celebration site.
It is up to all of us to fill the tables. Put your names on a plate and fill at table. We need Silent Auction items. Think creatively. One good idea was a basket of children’s items – a basket of books, perhaps! How about a spa basket, with certificates for massage, mani/pedi, hair, facials, etc. Go out in the community and ASK!
The featured item in the Live Auction today is the movie pass, which is always a high-bidding item. Unlimited movies to the Raven, Airport Cinemas, Roxy and Summerfield. You could go to a movie every day of the year. An added bonus that got oooh’s and aaah’s from the crowd was a possible “Popcorn Pass’ this year. Yes!
Renee Hyde reminds us that we have Ella here through July and then in August we get a girl from Switzerland. We need three host families for our incoming Rotary student. Also, check with Renee and sign up for Foundation auto donations now. And fill those blue cups for polio eradication.
While we were waiting for the computers to do their thinking, Marie Coakley treated us to a special story about polio in the 1950’s. Marie was an 18-year old student at Kansas University and received her polio vaccination from Dr. Jonas Salk. Now that’s polio prestige.
Speakers: Ed Turner and Brian Ling
Ed offered a clear presentation about the two separate club entities: Rotary Club of Windsor and Windsor Rotary Community Foundation. He reported that the Lobster Fest last year had net proceed of $26,250. We would all like to see that number higher, hence the move to the Boys and Girls Club gym, which will save us a great deal of money.
Most focus was on the WRCF Endowment account, which has a balance of $313,000. And, we have still never spent any money out of the account.
Here are some of the interesting numbers that support our community work:
Operating Account:
- $680,650 = Community Service funding to date
- $94,000 = Cash contributed for Skate Park
- $50,000 = Boys and Girls Club Gym Floor
- $132,750 = Scholarships awarded to graduating seniors
- $43,535 = Youth Exchange Program
Endowment Account:
- $0 program funding from the endowment account.
- 100% reinvestment of dividends and capital gains.
- $4,989 John Lewis $$ in 2016
- $6,454 = 2016 dividends
- $11,005 = 2016 capital gains
- 86% = 2016 investment income.
Brian Ling spoke about the history of the Town of Windsor and told us about John Lewis, the father of our Club. It is because of John that we call members who contribute at least $1,000 to our WRCF, John Lewis Fellows. There were plaques for the many club members who are John Lewis Fellows.