President Carol Sullivan began our August 25th meeting by welcoming everyone to Rotary and introducing guests: Linda Quinn from Marian Manor, Michael Duff from Pro- Home, and our speaker Jeff Walker from SRPEDD. Welcome!
President Carol passed around a Get Well card for Club members to sign for long time Rotarian Dennis Cody who is recuperating from a recent illness.
The next announcement was regarding the distribution of the 56 backpacks provided by our Club to local organizations. Carol thanked the teens from the THS Interact Club who helped fill the backpacks with all sorts of donated items and gift certificates. Carol also thanked Christine Kelley and Occasions for storing, stuffing, and distributing the backpacks. Carol was elated that her first project this year was a huge success.
Next up our President discussed “Membership.” Carol issued a challenge to each Rotarian to bring in at least one new member this year to grow our membership. In the past our Club numbered 120 Rotarians. President Carol urged each Club member to do their very best to help increase our Club membership.
President Carol reminded the Club that we will be hosting our Annual Beer and WineTasting event along with Pro-Home and Quality Beverage at a date to be announced.
President Carol informed our Club that we’ll be doing the “Scratch Ticket” raffle earlier than usual this year with a drawing to be held around Christmastime. Another “Scratch Ticket” raffle may also be held with a drawing at our “Pancake and Family Fun Day”.
On Tuesday night, August 23rd President Carol along with 20 family members represented our Club at the Annual Rotary Night at the PawSox game. Team Carol Sullivan had a great time.
Concluding her Presidential announcements, Carol informed the membership that
Phil Robertson was away hosting a family event so there wouldn’t be a “FoundationMinute” this week. Hopefully Phil will be back next week.
Beer and Wine Tasting Event this Fall, date to be announced.
Scratch Ticket Raffle, the winner with receive One Hundred $10.00 scratch tickets. The raffle will commence on a date to be announced. Save your pennies!
Sunday, September 11, 2016, Rotary District 7950 Motorcycle Run to Fight Polio. Kudos and thanks to Roger Cabral from the Fall River Rotary Club and Akee Parwaz from the Rotary Club of the Bridgewaters for helping to organize this District Event. The question remains, will our own John Beauchaine represent our Club and be riding in the Rotary District 7950 Motorcyle Run to Fight Polio? Easy John, Easy Rider.
Rotary Night at the PBruins, November 5, 2016. More details in future Bulletins!
Did you know that your happy and sad bucks help the club make a donation to the Rotary Foundation?
Dick Shafer donated some Happy and Announcement Bucks to inform our Club that the City of Taunton would be hosting the Annual Family and Fun Day (formerly Kiddies Day) at Hopewell Park on Saturday evening, August 27th. In addition Dick mentioned that the Taunton Development Corporation confirmed that the number of workers employed in the Myles Standish Industrial Park has topped 8,000. Remarkable! Further, Dick announced the dedication of an area in the Park in memory of former Mayor Charlie Crowley. Despite the heat the event was very well attended. A well deserved tribute.
Jody Fiore gave a Happy Buck to welcome Michael Duff as the new Executive Director of Pro-Home, Inc.. Michael, a former Rotarian with the Dedham Rotary Club replaces past Club member Joe Pacheco. Welcome Michael.
Carol Souza tossed in a Happy Buck because she finally had her cast removed after two and a half months of inconvenience. “It feels so good to be free of the cast.”
Linda Quinn from Marian Manor threw in a Happy Buck because she was happy to be with us.
Dan LeBrun was happy that all went well with a surprise birthday party for his lovely wife Linda. Dan was very happy that his daughter who resides in California was able to attend. It marked a few milestones, not only was it Linda’s birthday but it was also Dan and Linda’s 40th wedding anniversary. Congratulations Dan and Linda!
At the August 25th meeting, Dick Shafer was our Program Chair for the day and he introduced Jeff Walker from the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD). Jeff Walker has been the Executive Director of SRPEDD since April of 2016. For 16 years Jeff was the Regional Planning Agency Director south of Washington D.C. for the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition, Jeff was an adjunct professor in planning at the under graduate and graduate levels in Virginia. Mr. Walker received his BA in Public Policy from Duke University and his Masters in Planning from the University of Virginia. Jeff and his wife Diane are the proud parents of three boys. At present theyare empty nesters.
Jeff gave a very detailed power point presentation and handout on what Regional Planning entails. Regional planning entails multiple independent units, each with power to plan and act for part of the whole. Although autonomous entities may have a common interest in a territory, they often have different preferences, capacities and perspectives on the nature and means of addressing planning challenges.
The areas covered by a Regional Planning Agency are bicycle and pedestrian facilities planning, citizen engagement, public participation, economic development strategies, demographic analysis, GIS mapping, Grant writing, Administration, Homeland Security advisory council, Land use, Water quality, to mention a few.
In general the agency stands committed to advancing Southeastern MA, responding to area municipal needs, partnering with area stakeholders, working with civic and business leaders on issues of regional significance; and helping to preserve and protect area resources through the promotion of planning best management practices.
Thanks to Program Chair Dick Shafer and Jeff Walker for a very informative presentation.
For this week's meeting Raynham's Director of Planning and Development, Tim Inacio is our speaker. Tim will be updating us on new and ongoing development in the Town of Raynham. We hope you will attend.
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” Michaelangelo
