Logo for: Rotary Old Saybrook

OS Rotary Meeting 10/18/17

Pledge: President Rick Beck
Prayer:  Rev. Ed Cornell
Song:     Bill McLaughlin
Cards:    Pete Zucco
Raffle:    Brent Taylor, Melissa Pandolfi (guest}, Joan Michaud.

Happy Bucks: Several for the Yankees and the Yankee fans, Luke Duffy (our speaker), John Lombardo (general manager of SPI), Guests, the relief check sent to Houston, the turkeys

Announcements:

     Rick Beck is investigating OS Rotary Club donating to the Puerto Rico relief fund.

     Bill McLaughlin will be checking on donating to a Rotary Club in Florida.

     Rick announced that a Fed-Ex trailer truck will be transporting bicycles from Bikes for Kids to Houston

Programs:
     OSHS Interact Club advisor, Amber Scherber, introduced club member Luke Duffy. Luke, a cancer survivor, announced a fund raising activity that he and the Interact Club will be hosting on October 21, 2017. The head shaving event will be held at OSHS from 1:30 to 4:30. 100% of the money raised will be donated to Camp Rising Sun in Colebrook, CT. This camp is for children, age 5 to 17, who are suffering with cancer. Last summer 130 campers were able to enjoy a week of camping thanks to donations that paid for the cost of $1500.00 per camper. Luke has attended Camp Rising Sun and wants to “give back” by helping to raise funds so that other kids are able to experience a week of enjoyment. Camp representative, Melissa Pandolfi, indicated that about 20 new campers are added each year and that the kids love it based on a 97% return rate. Luke was accompanied by his parents Mike and Lisa. In Luke’s words, until there is a cure – there is a camp.

     Stephen Tagliatela, owner of SPI, and general manager John Lombardo, addressed the club on behalf of the Connecticut Tourism Coalition. Their power point presentation stressed the importance of the State of Connecticut increasing its funding of tourism marketing. Given that the three surrounding states spend over 90 million dollars to promote tourism, it is imperative that Connecticut increase rather than decrease money to promote tourism. Studies have shown that for every dollar invested, 3 dollars come back to the state in the form of tax revenue. Club members were encouraged to contact state representatives and encourage them to support increasing the budget for marketing tourism. The coalition has a website. Please visit at wwwTourismCT.com.      

L-R: Steve Tagliatela, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Frank Burns (taken from CT Tourism website)

Meeting adjourned with the four way test.

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