President Carol noted there were no visiting Rotarians present. She also shared that she recently attended a District event and picked up some very interesting information.
President Carol informed Club members that there were no news articles in the local press about Taunton Rotary during the past week.
Carol asked us to mark our calendars for Thursday evening, April 13, 2017 at Stoneforge for an evening meeting with the Interact Club, their parents, Rotary District dignitaries, and guests.
President Carol reminded the membership that we have a joint luncheon meeting with the Kiwanis Club on April 18, 2017 at La Familia Restaurant on Winthrop Street in Taunton. This will be a Tuesday luncheon instead of our regular Thursday luncheon for that week. Sign up sheets were passed around. If you were not at this past Thursday’s meeting and wish to attend the Kiwanis-Rotary joint meeting on Tuesday, April 18th, please RSVP President Carol via Email .
Next up, President Carol touted our raffle fundraiser already underway. We are selling $10.00 raffle tickets for a chance to win one hundred $10.00 scratch tickets. All Rotarians are encouraged to pick up at least 10 tickets from the Sergeant-at-Arms desk and begin selling them. Our raffle fundraiser will run through Pancake and Family Fun Day on June 17, 2017.
Finally, thanks to Mike Tabak for all his help with Bulletin this week!
Rotary Raffle ongoing until Pancake and Family Fun Day.
Dinner with Interact Club, Thursday, April 13.
Joint meeting with Kiwanis, Tuesday, April 18 at La Familia. John McCaul will chair the meeting and the guest speaker will be Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye.
Beer and Wine Tasting, date to be announced.
Pancake and Family Fun Day, June 17, 2017 at Taunton High School.
Some dates of note from our District Governor:
April 28-30, 2017, Multi-District Conference, Providence RI
May 15, 2017, District International Night
June 10-14 2017, Rotary International Convention, Atlanta GA
Did you know that your happy and sad bucks help the club make a donation to the Rotary Foundation?
Dick S. threw in some sad bucks because his beloved Alma Mater lost in the NCAA tournament. The University of Kentucky lost to North Carolina in a nail biter: only 2 points. Dick editorialized that it was a great tournament not withstanding.
Christine K. donated $5 Happy Bucks, $1 for our guest speaker, $1 for her son's school acceptance, and $3 for the general fund.
Dan L. contributed some Happy Bucks and read an email from Linda Quinn announcing Marian Manor’s upcoming Bethany House OPEN HOUSE.
Russ M. donated a Sad Buck in memory of Chris Mendros,brother of George Mendros.
At our most recent meeting, Thursday, March 30, 2017, President Carol introduced Christine Kelly, program chair for the day. Christine was pleased to introduce our guest Speaker, Christopher Rappold, the founder of Personal Best Karate. Christine and Chris are high school classmates.
Chris Rappold began his talk by telling us something about himself. He said he has three families: 1) his wife and 2 kids; 2) his Karate family; and 3) his Business family, Personal Best Karate. At 14 years old Chris dreamed of becoming the #1 Karate champion in the world and through a disciplined life style he reached his goal when he was 25, and again at 27 years of age. He retired but reentered the sport and once again became a world champion at 37 and 40. To achieve his personal best, Chris credits training, sleep, diet, and the ideas, strengths, and teachings of those who came before us.
At 21 years of age Chris founded Personal Best Karate which now has six schools and another to open soon in Raynham at Occasions. His Personal Best Karate business allowed him to found a non-profit organization that provides food for needy families, and over the last 22 years has provided Thanksgiving Dinners to over 25,000 families. In addition Chris founded a “Good Citizens Scholarship Award” program for high school kids going on to college.To date his scholarship program has donated over $1 Million in need based scholarships to young people. Chris also gives anti-bullying training in public and private schools.
What weaves all of this together? Good habits, making oneself happy, good dietary habits, at least 8 hours of sleep each night, elimination of anxiety and stress through a well defined exercise program, drinking water, accountability, and meditation. Each of us should have a mentor, someone who has expertise and is above us, someone to look up to. Weaving all of these things together will make for a person’s personal best. Stay in the game, and do things to achieve your personal best.
Q & A followed. A great program, many thanks to our guest speaker and to our program chair Christine Kelly.
Our next meeting will be Thursday, April 6, 2017. Our speaker will be Cedric Cromwell, Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council.
