Club News

Before our opening ceremonies, the Club observed a moment of silence in memory of the 2,403 Americans (including 57 civilians) who died during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years ago … as well as the 402,996 who also paid the ultimate price during World War II and the 103,284 members of our Armed Forces who have been killed from Korea to Iraq and Afghanistan.

We also took note that today was the 229 anniversary of Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7th, 1787.

Michael Giacapzzi, founder and owner of Body by Michael G in Yardley, related his inspirational story of growing up in Allentown, PA …

Former Club President Fred Edelman and friend of Michael

being bullied during his formative years … descending into a 20 year cycle of drugs, being knifed, shot and beaten and periodically living on the street … nearly loosing his life in a horrific automobile accident … and finding “religion” and a new hope for a second chance in life.  His message is, “whether it’s overcoming physical hurdles, emotional ones, or even spiritual, I’m here to say that it’s never too late to change your life.”

The Club next awarded Clarise Fedor an Honorary Membership for her always friendly attitude and years of providing professional and excellent care of the members at its breakfast meetings.

Clarise, Dick Newbert and Stan Cohen

 

Camera-shy but decked out in their red-and-white Santa hats Stan Cohen and John Sauer helped the Salvation Army’s Kettle Drive ringing the bell outside Macy’s today!

District 7450 Governor Dave Haradon and Assistant Governor Chris Potter joined us for our weekly breakfast meeting this morning.

Current Club Secretary Lou Hatfield was honored by her fellow members for her “outstanding performance service … preparing and distributing detailed minutes of our weekly meetings … as well as her participation in and valued contributions to the Club’s many activities.”

A similar presentation was made this afternoon to one of the Club’s founders and its long time Club Secretary, Charles Hinton.

Dave Haradon gave a very detailed presentation on both the greater Rotary International organization and the many areas of service in which clubs around the globe are involved … as well as how the local District 7450, of which our Club is a member, functions and can assist member clubs.

David then presented special Governor’s Citations to:

Alan Agree

Alan was and continues to be the driving force behind our Club’s relationship with and commitment to the William Dick School.  Through his vision and efforts, our Club is proud to assist this desperately in-need school and play a small part in helping children who have so many challenges to overcome … minority status, economic disenfranchisement, lack of basic clothing and nutrition,  neglect by the City, etc.  His commitment to this cause is incredibly commendable!  Alan also coordinates our quarterly visits to Hope Lodge and the service we provide for its cancer patients.  Further, he served as an outstanding, extremely hard working and effective president of our Club for two years. 

Phil Huber

More than a year ago, Phil fell and was subsequently diagnosed with a condition which severely impaired his ability to walk.  He went through many sessions of physical therapy and has only recently felt secure enough to begin attending meetings.  Despite his disability, club members paid regular visits to his home just to visit socially and cheer him up.  Meanwhile, Phil not only continued to pay his Club dues and financially support many of the Club’s fundraising projects, but proactively sought out jobs he could do for the Club from home.  Phil is an example of the  unwavering dedication and commitment all Rotarians should strive to emulate.

and

Irv Perlstein

Irv, a past Club president, is our Club’s answer to the “Energizer Bunny” and an example of giving of himself for the benefit of others on a regular basis.  For years he has chaired and been the prime “mover and shaker” for our annual charity golf outing, which is the Club’s most complex event to pull off and  largest annual fundraiser.  He also steps up to participate in visits to the William Dick School, serving dinner at Hope Lodge, rings the bell for the Salvation Army, assists with the Club’s semi-annual Adopt-A-Highway clean-up, works at our annual Applebee’s Flapjack Breakfast, coordinates our relationship with the Guardians of the National Cemetery, and the list goes on.  More recently, he has single-handily developed a program to raise monies to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to a needy veteran and his/her family. For those who have worked closely with him they agree that they have ever met anyone as committed to serving other than Irv.

Lest anyone think that a Rotary Club cannot bring people together, we were “lucky” to be able to recruit two well-known personalities to assist us in our weekly ringing the bell for the Salvation Army’s annual Kettle Drive.

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Stan Cohen and Bob Morris

This morning, the Club provided two complete Thanksgiving dinners, complete with all the trimmings, to three veterans support organizations; Heather Estes, founder of Forgotten Threads, Russ Davidson and Alan Winger of VFW Post 6393, and Gabriel Mascio of the American Legion Post 317.  They will, in turn, be delivering these holiday meals to needy veterans in the local area.

Shown:  Irv Perlstein, Alan Winger, Russ Davidson and Dick Newbert

A similar effort is planned to provide Holiday Meals for veterans prior to the Christmas/Hanukkah holidays.

Club members Fred Edelman and Alan Agree were joined by volunteer trumpeter Tony Primola outside J.C. Penny’s at the Oxford Valley Mall to “ring the bell” for the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign.

Shown;  Tony Primola, Fred Edelman and Alan Agree

This evening, the Club recognized two Maple Point Middle School eighth-graders as students-of-the-month for October and November.

October Student-of-the Month:  Alexandria Folweiler

November Student-of-the-Month:  Deanna Ratzman

In addition to receiving a certificate and a cash award, both students and their parents were presented with one-year Honorary Memberships in the Rotary Club of Shady Brook.

We were also fortunate to have Reggie Shuford, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.  Often criticized, Tit is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country under the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the laws of the country.

Of the projects he highlighted which on which the ACLU is currently focusing, the issue of voter ID generated the most controversy and discussion.

Irv Perlstein presented McCaffery’s Supermarket gift cards to Russ Davidson of VFW Post 6393.

These gift certificates were made possible by the monies so generously donated by McCaffery’s customers at last Sunday’s fund raiser.  The VFW will donate these to needy veterans to help make their Christmas holidays a bit brighter.

 

H. George Leonhauser, Chairperson on behalf of the Middletown Board of Supervisors was the latest to present the Club with a proclamation recognizing its 10th anniversary.  Accepting was Club President, Dick Newbert.

 

The Club set up a booth outside Shop-Rite Supermarket in Lower Makefield today to raise monies to provide Thanksgiving Dinners for needy Veterans and their families.

Alan Agree, Dick Newbert and Irv Perlstein

Generous shoppers donated enough money for the Rotary Club of Shady Brook to purchase six Thanksgiving dinners, complete with Butterball turkeys, vegetables and all of the other “fixings”.  The meals will be prepared by Shop-Rite’s catering department and delivered to the recipient families through local VFW, American Legion, Forgotten Threads and other veteran’s organizations.

The Club extends its grateful thanks to Shop-Rite’s Karen Bumpus for her assistance in helping us coordinate this effort.