July 10th, 2009
A FASCINATING FACT
Wednesday—not Monday—is the day in which many people commit suicide. If you make it through Wednesday, your risk for suicide plummets. Thursdays have the lowest rate: only 11 percent of people check out on Thursday.
A SECOND FASCINATING FACT.
Low-cal diets slow aging in monkeys.
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MEETING OPENING: Our weekly meeting was begun promptly at 12:15 pm, to the sound of trumpets, exploding fireworks, and a display of flags.
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SALUTE TO OUR FLAG, PATRIOTIC ANTHEM, AND PRAYER: The salute to the Stars and Stripes was headed brilliantly by our own Marie Fuesy. Sy Yuter followed with
a foot-stomping version of “O, Say Can You See”, and Bishop John brought things to a
riotous climax with his appeal to Our Maker for understanding and an improved attendance at our Friday meetings.
PRESIDENT’S REMARKS: President Mark Seiden assumed the club presidency today
with a display of enormous elan and gusto. He started things off by announcing that our weekly meetings would start 10 minutes earlier than they do now. He followed that up with news that we should expect a Calendar of Upcoming Events.
This, in turn, was followed by someone asserting that his clothes dryer broke when his wife tried to wash their dog. (That can’t be right; I think I must have misheard.) Shelley followed with a story about his son and the son’s grandfather’s adventures with the violin. Zen awoke long enough to alert us to the fact that three (3) new Rotary benches have been ordered and sold. Zen, in turn, was followed by Frances Chu, who reminded us of the New York Rotary’s NYC Marathon on November 1st. She, in turn, was followed by Sy Yuter’s pointed reference (Sy, we get it, we get it, you rascal!) to the upcoming Jewish Dinner, featuring a menu that would give a gourmet the Pip. This section came to a conclusion with President Seiden’s reminding us to look for the Calendar of Upcoming Briarcliff Rotary events.
Good start, President Seiden!
ANOUNCEMENTS AND HAPPY THOUGHTS: This year, there will be no Rotary-sponsored Truck Show. In its place will be an event to be announced at a future date. President Seiden declared that the 1st Friday of every month would be a Briarcliff Rotary food-collection day and that more collection sites that are available now will be needed to stock the Food Pantry.
NEXT WEEK’S SPEAKER: Our speaker on July 17th will be Anna Wyganowski, whose topic will be “How To Stay Alive On The Roads.”
THIS WEEK’S SPEAKER: Joe Lulak, Scoutmaster of the Briarcliff branch—Troop 18--of the Boy Scouts, spoke to us today about “The History of Briarcliff Boy Scouts.”
Mr. Lulak opened his talk by pointing out that the hundredth year of Scouting is coming up. In 2010, the Boy Scout organization will be a century old.
He then went on to talk specifically about Scouting, and the good that it does for its members and for society. Mr. Lulak, pointing to a board he had brought,described the seven (7) ranks of Scouting, from Tenderfoot to Eagle--the Leadership level. And he described various Briarcliff scouts who went on to important positions (Hank Kaufman and Briarcliff Rotary’s Carl Weiner.)
The Briarcliff Boy Scout troop numbers 50, and meets in the local Congregational Church. Boy Scout activities include rafting and jamborees that feature ice-climbing.
(Ice climbing! I yi yi!!) At one time, soccer was a Scout activity, but was later abandoned because it took away from important Scouting activities.
One of local troop’s many projects, has been the mapping of Briarcliff Manor, including the position of every last fire hydrant. (Speaking of which, Mr. Lulak indicated, many Briarcliff firemen, of which he is one, were Boy Scouts at one time.)
Striving to reach the level of Eagle Scout (the top level), a boy must first put in at least 50 hours of community service—not service to individuals--and be a young man of proven exemplary character.
The age of Boy Scouts, Mr. Lulak stated, ranges from eleven to eighteen, except for handicapped youngsters, who are given more age leeway.
Mr. Lulak, in full Scout uniform, gave an inspiring talk. Bravo, Joe Lulak!
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THE DRAWING: The winners of this week’s lottery, drawn by Mr. Lulak, were
first-place prize winner, Vladimir, and second-place winner, Eleanor Yuter. (Dismayed, The Right Reverend John Herzog had to be coaxed down from his jumping-off spot on the roof.)
THE FINISH OF OUR MEETING: Our weekly meeting ended with a Parade of the Hounded Husbands….There were too many parading husbands to mention.
Respectfully submitted by
Recording Secretary, Don Wilde
7/10 Attendees - Frances Chu, Antonia Conte, Dean Dykeman, Zenith Eidel, Marie Fuesy, Peter Garth, Rachel Leihbacher, Shelley Lotter, Ernest Pacchiana, Fiala Portnoy, Vladimir Portnoy, Paul Rosen*, Mark Seiden, Carl Weiner, Donald Wilde, Frances Wills, Elinor Yuter, Sy Yuter
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