BRIARCLIFF MANOR ROTARY CLUB MEETING
Friday, May 1st, 2009
TODAY IN HISTORY
May 1st is synonymous with International Worker’s Day, celebrating the social and
economic achievements of the labor movement. Fair enough.
But in England, May Day rites include Morris dancing, the crowning of a May Queen, and various celebrations involving a Maypole.
And you wondered why we seceded.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
The 10 post-war recessions, prior to the current one, averaged 10.4 months, the longest being 16 months. The present recession is now in its 16th month…Oy!
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OPENING CEREMONIES: Our weekly meeting was opened precisely at 12.16 PM,
to squeals of mass delight.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG, PATRIOTIC SONG, AND PRAYER: The Salute to Our Flag was led solemnly by Peter Garth. Then, the patriotic anthem was rendered magnificently by Sy Yuter, and the prayer, led by Paul Rosen, sent every spirit soaring.
PRESIDENT FULFREE’S REMARKS: President Fulfree called immediately for Community News. There was very little—but a great deal of Member News. Bob Amsterdam is going as a volunteer to Israel on secret business. Zen Eidel announced that another Rotary bench had been sold and put in a plug for the upcoming Art Show to be held at the Briarcliff Library. And Sy Yuter proudly proclaimed that his grandson had a Briarcliff T-shirt. He suggested that our Rotary Club sell Briarcliff T-shirts as a fund-raiser. Not altogether a bad idea.
NEXT WEEK: There will be no speaker next week; instead, we shall join together in celebrating our much-beloved Mother’s Day program. Be sure to wear your Rotary Shirt!
(NOTE: Our club’s fund-raising Truck Day will be held in the Briarcliff High School
Parking Lot this coming Sunday, from 11 am until 3. Be there, or be eternally steeped in shame!
OUR SPEAKER TODAY: Today’s speaker was Dr. Fran Wills, Superintendent of Briarcliff Schools, aided by Barbara, her assistant. Their topic: Briarcliff Schools Budget. Both spoke eloquently on the subject.
Dr. Wills pointed out that, in this economic downturn, she and her staff were doing all humanly possible to keep a tight rein on expenses, while at the same time providing a quality education for students.
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The good news is that N.Y. State has provided $100,000 in stimulus funds, helping to keep cuts to a minimum. In addition, school surplus funds have been utilized for the same purpose.
Recently, comptrollers took a look at the Briarcliff educational system, Fran said, and found only two troublesome issues: purchasing and encumbrances. Both were swiftly addressed by school administrators, and currently are back on track.
Dr. Wills is proud--as well she should be--for the Briarcliff schools’ strength in science and in foreign languages. For example, time was when language instruction was taught beginning in the sixth grade. Today, it is begun in elementary school. (Chinese, incidentally, has replaced Russian, as the foreign language of choice for students.) And Science is getting the continued attention it deserves.
There was more Good News—especially for taxpayers. The school tax levy is less than last year, with the yearly budget set at $5.2 million. And there has been little or no reduction in services provided by the schools. Services are just provided more efficiently.
The teaching of science remains strong, Dr. Wills continued, with excellent teachers teaching a range of scientific subjects, readying students for today’s complex world.
Fran called particular attention to the Educational Website, where interested parties can get up-to-the minute news on the latest school developments.
There are two propositions being put forward to Briarcliff voters: (1) An authorization to begin necessary renovations on the High School, and, (2) To use the Reserve Fund to update and reconstruct two Todd School classrooms and two Todd School bathrooms. More good news: neither would require raising taxes!
It was an excellent speech, delivered with knowledge and passion.
Thank you, Fran. And a tip of the hat to Barbara.
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THE DRAWING: The first cash prize in our weekly drawing was won by, I believe, (I was still thinking of Fran’s talk) Mark Seiden; the second prize, by an ecstatic Zen Eidel.
Bishop John, who was not present, called in to say that he was bitterly disappointed and was immediately enlisting in the French Foreign Legion.
MEETING CONCLUSION: The meeting was adjourned promptly at 1:32 pm, with club members parading proudly down the hill out back and Sy Yuter’s return for a crowd-pleasing reprise of our national anthem.
Respectfully submitted by
Recording Secretary, Don Wilde
5/1 Attendance - Robert Amsterdam, Barbara Briganti, Frances Chu, Etrusca Cosentino, Zachary Cosentino, Peter Fulfree, Peter Garth, Eric Leberson, Rachel Leihbacher, Shelley Lotter,Geraldine Mahoney,Ernest Pacchiana, Paul Rosen, Mark Seiden, Elinor Yuter, Sy Yuter
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