Pledge: President Pat Devito
Prayer: Guest Ralph
The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do
First... Is it the TRUTH?
Second... Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Third... Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Fourth... Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Card Game Winner: Gail F
Raffle Winners: Patty D, Nathan, Pat D
Happy Bucks: PD $5 happy; GF for our speaker and being here, her Art Show committee and all they have done; JM for our guests; GM $10 happy for being back from vacation trip, guest speaker; NM club donation to Alzheimer fund; JA happy for the day; MD Gary back from vaca; AS: guests; BM welcome Don, beautiful day
Presidents Items
- Amber asked that we pay for 2 students to attend Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a very popular 2-day program. The cost is $275 per person. The Interact club co-presidents will be going. Club approved
- Our participation in the annual turkey drive is on hold pending more information from Kathy Callinan concerning the changes in how funds are distributed.
- Acton Library grant for new computers is pending
- Pat passed around the OS/Westbrook football program which we supported with an ad
- ARCO grant is still pending
- Gazebo Project: Gary and Pat spoke to First Selectman Carl Fortuna about the club's support. Carl was asking for a donation to help pay for the electric wiring service which Gary was not inclinded to do thinking thats a town budget item and not a visible show of our support. Other ideas (i.e. landscaping, shrubs, etc.) are pending. The present gazebo is scheduled for demolition/removal Oct. 24.
- Commodities Exchange: still in process of preliminary work. The retaining wall is not finished. The project is moving at a slow pace. Pat thought it would have been completed by now but government projects tend to move slowly
- Evergreen Walk: The Evergreen Storywalk is a way for adults and children to share reading a story together while enjoying the outdoors at the same time. The theme of the story includes woodland animals, the seasons and friendship.Only fifteen registered Old Saybrook businesses are invited to decorate an evergreen tree on the Acton Library lawn reflecting the themes of the story. The tree trimming takes place on Sunday, November 20,2022 from 11 am to 2:00 pm. The trees will be displayed from November 21-December 31. Participation is free, trees and lights will be provided. Participants bring the decorations. The event is outdoors, so dress accordingly. The sponsors for this first annual event are Acton Public Library, Friends of Acton Library and the Old Saybrook Garden Club.
- Officers for next year: please let the nominating committee know if you are interested in taking office and keep the continuity of leadership going!
- District Conference: Nov. 5, Pres. Pat is on the Planning Committee. The conference will be held at the Hartford Downtown Marriott. Let Pat know if you'd like to attend.
Speaker: Don DeCesare, owner of WLIS/WMRD radio stations.
Bill McLaughlin introduced Don. They have known each other for at least 26 years going back to Bill's days at the Chamber of Commerce. Don has been active in the TV world as well, helping roll out digital TV. Now he wants to do the same for radio. We are one of the few advanced countries that do not have digital radio. This is because, if we were to institute digital signals, all radios would cease to work and there is a lack of political will to make any changes to the current system. The FCC is self funded, getting its funding from licensing fees. The airwaves belong to the government and without regulation there would be chaos. Why do we need radio? For 102 years, radio has provided a valuable community service. Amber alerts, silver alerts and more go through radio. TV will continue to evolve. People are going back to antennas and getting away from cable which has a high cost. 8K streaming is coming and this will produce an far superior picture. The cable industry is a hodgepodge of providers and is not regulated but will be.
Upcoming Projects and Events
- Arts & Crafts Festival: Sat Oct 1 10-5pm, Sun Oct 2 10-4pm - Gail Fahey thanked her committee for the work they have done to date. 6 Interact kids will be helping and sponsors are covering our costs. Please sign up to help or let Gail know when you are available to man the booth. Click here for more information
- Golf Tournament, Monday Oct. 3: Charlie Renshaw - at next weeks meeting we put the "ditty bags" together. Let Charlie know if you available to help the day of the tournament (Oct. 3). Gary, with help from Pam, will coordinate the raffle prizes and get them ready. We will sell tickets at the check-in table. Each card has 25 tickets and the prizes will be laid out for raffle selections. Winners will be picked before dinner to save time and winners can pick up their prize. Last year we had 47 sponsors, so far we have 30 committed. Last year we had 76 golfers and so far we have 36. We don't need money right away if someone commits to playing or sponsoring.
Sandi Taylor made a poster of Brent to be displayed at the tournament. Sandi will say a few words about Brent. Her daughter Stephanie will be playing.
The town electric sign is working and the Chamber of Commerce will run the application/brochure on their newsletter. - Macaroni Dinner, Sunday, Oct 16. Ticket sale are starting to pick up. Its important we get an approximate head count so if you purchase your tickets and give them away, try to find out if the tickets will be redeemed. Tickets will be sold at the Arts & Crafts Festival and the Golf Tournament. John G. reports that the price of meat has gone up hence the ticket price increase from last year.
Outreach Committee: Joan reports the donation for Bikes for Kids has gone through.
Speakers: Bill reports we are doing well for speakers. There is an opening for our Oct. 19 meeting.
