Logo for: Rotary Old Saybrook

OS Rotary Meeting 12/2/15

Pledge: Pres. Kathy Callinan
Prayer: Gerri Lewis
Song: Rick Beck
Brents Card Game Winner: Rick Beck

Sergeants Report: Joe Arcari
    Raffle Winners: Donna, Gerri, Kathy
    Happy Bucks: Bucks were given for the Turkey Drive which was very successful!, black Friday is over, Charlie N was happy to be back after a 2 week absence, Braiden Sunshine is still alive in the TV show "The Voice", the holiday season, Henry Lee will be at the OS High School today, the rain which we need.

Announcements:
    Charlie Norz talked about the Dictionary Project and was looking for help distributing them. Starting at 9am at St. Johns then on to Goodwin. Old Lyme is next week.
    Gerri: The Chamber of Commerce is having their holiday dinner on Tuesday Dec. 8 at 6PM -9PM at Saybrook Point Inn. $50 per person. So far Gerri and Bill are going.
    No meeting Dec. 23, there will be a meeting on Dec. 30.
    Marty: Torchlight Parade is Saturday Dec. 12. Volunteers are needed to host the hospitality tent on the Town Green - this is our 28th year! Please call Marty if you can help, 860-388-1437 (Office), 860-391-3539 (Cell).
    Kathy: As we head into the winter months, be advised that if school is called off, the Estuary is closed and we will meet instead at Mirsina's on 162 Main St. In case of a school delay, regular time and place applies.

Program: Kathy introduced Dave Lemay of Essex Financial
    Dave used handouts and spreadsheets to show where our investments were and how they were doing. We spent about $53,000 so far this year ($37K Foundation, 11K Outreach, 5K Club). The market had its ups and downs. We are currently recovering from a fall at the end of October. We are doing relatively well, overall we are down about 1%. Our ROI over the past 3 years is 6.5% and over the last 5 years 6.3%. One of our investments is the Maingate MLP which is a pipeline fund. Maingate makes money when something (anything) is flowing thru the pipeline. Unfortunately for the fund, it has not done as well as expected due to the price of oil being low. As the price goes up however, this fund will give better returns. Bonds have not performed well due to the sluggish economy's effect but stocks are doing very well. They rallied in October after a tough Aug/Sep. Marty Drobiarz, Chair of the OS Rotary Foundation, commended Essex for the fine job they are doing and pointed out that in this important time of year for fundraising, we do well so that we don't have to spend any principal and thus lower our return on investment. 
    The meeting was closed with the club reciting the 5-way test (4 plus 1).

Unofficial Five Way Test of the thongs we think, say, or do. 
    1,) Is it the truth?
    2.) Is it fair to all concerned?
    3.) Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
    4.) will it be beneficial to all concerned?
    5.) Is it fun?


md