Logo for: Rotary Old Saybrook

OS Rotary Meeting of 11/27/13

Pledge: President Gerri Lewis
Prayer: President Gerri
Song: Rick Beck
Brents Card Game Winner: Bob Antoniac

Sergeants Report: Kathy Calinan
    Raffle Winners: Ken (took the olive oil), Joan, Kathy
    Happy Bucks: Thanksgiving!, no snow, Bill O'Shaughnessy picture in Harbor News dancing!, Bob Antoniac back and looking like his old self again.
    Fines: Bill O'Shaughnessy

Announcements:
Gerri: If you wish to participate in the gift exchange, you can bring something in $10 value. Please prepay for the dinner, $28pp. Dec. 18 at the Hideaway Restaurant in Old Lyme beginning at 6pm. 
Amber Sherber: Interact participated in the Liberty Bank/Rotary Turkey fund. In all Rotary and Interact accounted for over $1800 which was matched in part by Liberty Bank. $25 gift cards are being distributed to those in need.
Gerri: Torchlight Parade is Dec. 14. More to come from Marty who organizes the club which prepares and serves refreshments to the marchers. Let Marty know if you can help out.
Gerri: Read a letter of thanks from Lisa Caruthers for our $3,000 donation to H.E.A.T.
Gerri: Bikes for Kids is still operating which would make founder Chuck Graib happy. Gerri asked for a motion to donation $250 and the club approved the motion.
Gerri: Next weeks meeting is the RYLA kids
Gerri: Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services are collecting toys and money for needy families. The toys will be collected by the Fire Dept. Dec. 16 and distributed to 400 families. You can go online and make a donation.

Program: Marty
    Me, my wife Elizabeth and daughter Alison just returned from a 10 day trip to Amsterdam, Edinburgh and London. The purpose of the trip was to visit my son Jon who is attending the University of Edinburgh for the semester (through a program at his school Northeastern U). He is coming back home Dec. 21. Each city had its own personality and feel. Amsterdam was beautiful with lots to do, built on a canal system. Houses, house boats and other buildings line the canals. Transportation is dominated by bicycles - they are everywhere! The city is in constant movement. You have to watch your step or risk getting run over by a bicyclist! A canal tour and a visit to the Ann Frank House were highlights of this amazing city.
    Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and there is a lot of history. There are 2 castles built on elevations (dormant volcanoes) that overlook for miles. The crown jewels are on display in one of the castles along with "The Rock" which has a history of being the seat of many kings. There are stories attached to these artifacts that date back thousands of years. We also took a trip through the Scottish Highlands stopping to see small villages and scenic points of interest culminating with a tour of the Dewers Scotch distillary. Marty and Jon (thanks to the help of Fox Hopyard Pro Ron Beck) got to play the Old Course at St. Andrews. This is one of the sights of the British Open and is where Jack Nicklaus played his last open. The scenary was spectacular and the weather held until the 15th hole when a storm blew in for about 20 minutes leaving a spectacular rainbow in its wake.
    The trip ended in London where we got to see the commercial and traditional aspects of this great city. We saw the Changing of the Guard and many historical sights like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square. The commercial district is huge with stores like Liberty and Harrods dominating. All significant global consumer brands have a presence in London. We took a ride on the Eye (like a huge ferris wheel) and saw London from a high elevation with unobstructed views. We got to see 2 shows, Monte Pythons "Spamalot" and a Beatles tribute called "Let It Be" at the Savoy Theater which provided a timeline of the Fab 4 through their music. 
md