September 23, 2011 Briar Crier

BRIARCRIER

Sept. 23, Friday Noon, The Briar's Rest.,  N. State Road, Briarcliff Manor NY Rotary Club

TODAY IN HISTORY

1939: Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis, died at age 83.

MEETING LEADER: Dean Dykeman

PLEDGE: Dean Dykeman  PATRIOTIC SONG: Sy Yuter   PRAYER: Bishop Herzog

HAPPY THOUGHTS: Peter, daughter-in-law wrote novel; Anne, grand nephew has new baby; Paul, new club in Buchanan; Elinor and Sy, happy we are back from 10-day vacation; Speaker Lauren Morrissey, first Rotary meeting.

GUESTS: Eileen Mandell, journalist writing article on Rotary; Bishop John Proger

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Walter Law Statue hearing on Tuesday.

SPEAKER AND SUBJECT: Lauren Spector Morrissey on divorce mediation.

SUMMARY OF TALK

New York last state to adopt no-fault divorce. Can be based on relation broken for over six months. About half marriages end in divorce. A strain on the family especially if includes children. Regular divorce fees can be as much as $100,000. There is a Bill of Rights for children. Mediator asks parties to find solution. If agree, they sign agreement, especially concerning custody of children. Mediator suggests retain attorney if sign agreement. Financial expert can be helpful. There is a web site to choose collaborative attorneys like Lauren Morrissey. Divorce mediation much cheaper. Sometimes cannot sell house so both live apart in house. Collaborative mediation avoids trial and judgment.

Elinor Yuter, Reporter

Rachel Leihbacher, Expediter

New Arrival

Our European hopping member Etrusca brought home a lovely banner from Viareggio Varailia club in Tuscany Italy.

Sept.9th 2011 Briar Criar

BRIARCRIER

Sept. 9, 2011, Friday Noon, The Briar's Rest.,  N. State Road, Briarcliff Manor NY Rotary Club

TODAY IN HISTORY

1830: Charles Durant flew a balloon from New York City across the Hudson River to Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

MEETING LEADER: Dean Dykeman

PLEDGE:  Sy Yuter       PATRIOTIC SONG:  Sy Yuter       PRAYER: Dr. Bob Amsterdam

HAPPY THOUGHTS: Rod, his son married; Shelley, the Club's ball field opened and she had a great visit at Bishop John's church; Bishop John, Shelley is now an Anglican; Kris on two books; Anne Cargill, after tutoring, her grandson got great grade on exam; Dean with the weather; Ken passed advanced amateur radio exam to get his amateur radio call back.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Welcome back Eric Messer. COMMUNITY DAY SATURDAY

SPEAKER AND SUBJECT: Assemblywoman Sandy Galef  On What's New in Albany

Summary of Talk

Government reform is in the forefront of Sandy Galef's objectives for the 2012 legislature. Governor Cuomo has been a strong governor so the budget was enacted easily. The Village and Town of Ossining's courts have been combined. She is dedicated to providing the best representation possible. She wants to make New York more competitive to live and work. Among the bills she has sponsored or supported are: Fiscal Reform; Tax Cap Bill; Mandate Relief; Local Court Consolidation: Regional Economic Development and Paper-Free Legislature. Also, environmental matters including hydrofracking moratorium and completing streets to improve traffic.

Elinor Yuter, Reporter

Rachel Leihbacher, Expediter

This Friday's talk at The Briar's: From Leader to Luminary, Andrew McGill, 516-581-4899

Please select your entrée as you enter

September 2, 2011 Briar Crier

BRIARCRIER

Sept. 2 , 2011, Friday Noon, The Briar's Rest., N. State Road, Briarcliff Manor NY Rotary Club

TODAY IN HISTORY

1789: The United States Treasury Department was established.

MEETING LEADER: Dean Dykeman

PLEDGE: Sy Yuter   PATRIOTIC SONG: Sy Yuter  PRAYER: Bishop John Herzog

HAPPY THOUGHTS: Dean, with Irene and tree work; Zen, after five days let there be lights; Anne Cargill, daughter getting married; Ken Reng, son Stephen starting 9th grade; Kris, how club can get a presidential citation, and adding new and younger members. Happy Birthday Ken.

GUESTS: Stephen Reng and Rotarian Tim Allport.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: COMMUNITY DAY SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10.  

SPEAKER AND SUBJECT: Anne Cargill, My Trip to Scotland. (Will finish her talk on November 18. This was the first meeting and first talk at The Briar's, with good choice of food.) 

SUMMARY OF TALK

After elementary, high and college at Edinburgh Scotland, came to this country from South Scotland 25 years ago and got bachelor's and master's degrees here. Taught and tutors math and English. Also in the pharmaceutical consulting business. Went to Scotland to meet old boy friend for five days, Ken Wilson, and together attended an historic gala event. Visited Edinburgh Castle, military bands and Scott regiments. Drove right-drive rented car on left side of narrow village roads occasionally hitting bendable rear view mirrors. Posted map of Scotland and posters including famous views of Scotland. Enjoyed 400 mile lake and birds. Scots don't care much for English. Talked about Queen Elizabeth 1, who chopped off the head of a possible successor. Also talked about the Tudors, Ivanhoe, McDonalds, and Campbell's,  and how Henry VIII changed allegiance from The Pope to Church of England 250 years ago. Mentioned Sean Connery and Scotch whiskey.

Elinor Yuter, Reporter

Rachel Leihbacher, Expediter

Aug. 26, 2011 Briar Crier

BRIARCRIER

August 26, 2011, Friday at 12:00, former Briarcliff Rec Dept, Briarcliff Manor NY Rotary Club

TODAY IN HISTORY

1883 – The island volcano Krakatoa began cataclysmic eruptions leading to a massive explosion the following day.

MEETING LEADER – Dean Dykeman

PLEDGE  -  Paul Rosen  PATRIOTIC SONG – Sy Yuter  PRAYER –  Paul Rosen

HAPPY THOUGHTS  -  Rod happy Ted Kuhn is speaking; Ernie has 12 grandchildren, some from his wife’s family; Dean – tree work from Hurricane Irene.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – Blood drive being held by Rachel on August 31^st at the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department from 3 – 7:30.  Friday, September 2^nd will be our first meeting at the Briars Restaurant and we will be ordering from a menu.  Community day is September 10^th.  Set up is at 2 pm and food starts at 4 pm.  Sign up sheets are being done by Ernie. 

SPEAKER AND SUBJECT – Ted Kuhn – Music appreciation at Sing Sing Prison

SUMMARY OF TALK

The first thing that Ted Kuhn told us about was how violent the inmate population is.  They have plenty of time to reflect upon their situation and what they could do for the next 20 or 30 years.  Finally some accept the idea of further education and take courses.  Some are fine students and support each other. The inmates are a captive audience and there is pressure to succeed.  Recently 200 inmates received a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from Mercy College.  A popular course is music appreciation.  Some like jazz or classical music.  The two hour class was singing Gregorian chants. They are taught the identification of musical instruments.  Ted Kuhn plays the violin but could not bring it in because the inmates would have the ability to pull off a string and endanger someone.  There are many religious conversions in the prison.  Rachel’s father has performed many weddings within Sing Sing prison.  At their graduation, the actor Tim Robbins, of the movie Shawshank Redemption, gave a graduation speech and Harry Belafonte spoke, being given an honorary degree.

Elinor Yuter, Reporter

Rachel Leihbacher, Expediter