President Joan rang the bell at 7:10 Sergeants Report: Bob Antoniac Treasurer's Report: Paul Moore Announcements: Marty Drobiarz spoke again about the up and coming Wine and Beer Tasting on November 26th. Tickets are starting to sell and its time to work in ernest to make this event successful. Sell tickets and get auction items. Please report your ticket sales to Marty. Pres. Joan reported that the meeting with the Chamber of Commerce went well and hopefully our club will get some new members as a result of the meeting. John Bubello presented our speakers from St. Martin de Porres Academy His starting remarks were with a question. Had anyone in the room seen the movie, “Waiting for Superman”? It shows what a mess our educational system in the U.S. is in and a must for anyone with children or grand children to see. Connecticut has the lowest achievements in school of all 50 states. That is why St. Martin Academy was started and continues to run today for the worthy under privilege students. School starts at 7:30 A.M. and ends at 5:30 P.M., 5 days a week, and 11 months a year. Present teaching staff is made up of 8 teachers who receive a pay check, free room and board and the State of Connecticut kicks in 5 thousand dollars a year. Very interesting program. Sorry some of you missed it.
P/Pres. Gerri did the prayer
Bill Mc Laughlin did the welcoming song
Brents card game won by Bob Antoniac.
Happy dollars were mostly for the Turkey drive.
Pres. Elect and treasure Paul gave us an update on the financial condition of the club. Our investments have increase nicely to the tone of $20,632.49.
Our Dictionary program is complete with Saybrook, Westbrook and Old Lyme schools receiving the Dictionaries.
Our program was presented by Mr. Ken Brown and Jay Bowes of the St. Martin academy. Mr. Ken told us that the school was started 6 years ago in New Haven. It is geared to children from below the poverty level who shows signs of wanting an education. As Ken calls it, “Breaking the Circle of Poverty. Then Jay spoke to us about the enter program and how it works.
