Newsletter for Rotary Club of Newton, Massachusetts

1. 2009-2010 District No. 7910
ROTARY CLUB OF NEWTON Club No. 6580
719 WASHINGTON STREET BOX MS295
NEWTONVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS 02460
MEETS TUESDAYS; 12:15 P.M. BRAE BURN COUNTRY CLUB, 326 FULLER STREET, NEWTON, MA
President Vice President Treasurer Sergeant-at-Arms Director Director
Marie Presti Laurisa Neuwirth Peter Mahler Bill Garr Dick Bowen Justin Sallaway
617-620-6948 617-291-0572 617-630-5289 617-969-5906 x116 617-969-9134 617-244-0065
President-Elect Past President Recording Secretary Newsletter Editor Director Director
Jeff Tucker Marc Epstein John Hurney Scott Lewis Jeff Chin Tony Bibbo
617-340-1263 617-244-1212 617-332-7412 617-293-6371 617-965-1988 781-237-1144
THE SERVICE GEAR
Volume LXXXVI No. 19 November 17, 2009
“P resident Marie Presti hit thegivenwith a bit
more authority today, having been
bell
a newly
minted wood gavel, fresh from the workshop of
John Hurney.
Marie then asked Paula Kirrane to lead us
in the Pledge of Allegiance, with Paula’s mother
and grandmother at her side. Dennis
Prefontaine offered an invocation; Susanne
McInerney led the Club in a chorus of America
the Beautiful.
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Garr reported that “If I had a hammer”... Well, now she does! President
25 Rotarians were present, plus a few guests. Marie calls the Club to order with a brand new gavel
Paula Kirrane’s guests were her mother, Ann made by our own John Hurney, who noticed Marie hitting
Kirrane, and grandmother Madeline Field, the bell with spoons, knuckles, and anything else at hand
lately.
today’s speaker. John Hurney was joined by his
wife, Beverly Hurney. Soon-to-be-inducted
Lauren Hyken was present as well. NEXT WEEK: ANNUAL FOOTBALL LUNCHEON
See details on Page 3
President Marie thanked today’s Greeters,
Dennis Prefontaine and Paul Kerrissey. CONTENTS Page
Building on recent tradition, our greeter handed ANNOUNCEMENTS 2
out flashlights and, in honor of our speaker, lapel SERGEANT-at-ARMS 1
pins commemorating the 50th anniversary of THIS WEEK’S JOKE 2
Alaska’s statehood. HAPPY DOLLARS 4
SPEAKER/PROGRAM 5
RAFFLE 5
MEETING GREETERS NEXT MEETING:
Dec. 1: Jim Means and Dick Hardaway
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 1

2. ANNOUNCED FROM THE PODIUM
Holy Molars!
Birthdays: Noting Bert Martinson’s pres-
A 4 yr old would accompany her mother ence today, the club sang a chorus of Happy
as she delivered meals to the elderly. Canes, Birthday! Many more, Bert!
walkers, wheelchairs-all intrigued her.
One day her mother found her staring at Membership: Laurisa Neuwirth reported
a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. Ready hosting a Fireside Chat fearlier in the day for
for a barrage of questions, imagine her some prospective and pending new members.
surprise when the 4 yr old whispered to her Any member with a guest to suggest or invite for
her, “The tooth fairy is never gonna believe an upcoming Fireside Chat (next: December 15,
this!” 2009 at 11:00 AM) should contact Laurisa, who
would also like help conducting these events.
Nominations: Paul Kerrissey, chairman,
and his Nominations Committee, are tasked with
preparing a slate of officers and directors for
2010-11 in a few weeks. It will be necessary to
fill at least a couple of seats. Volunteers are
preferred, but draftees will be considered. Are
you ready to lead? Contact Paul, please.
Musical Instrument Drive: Bill Garr
reported that everything is go (pending School
Committee final approval) to conduct the Used
Instruments Drive December 7-12. See flyer at
end of this newsletter.
Death by Chocolate: Paula Kirrane
reminded us that silent auction items are needed,
and can be dropped off at her store, Icing on the
Cake, or at Signal Graphics, or at an upcoming
Rotary meeting. Sponsors ($250 and up) are still
needed as well. Next planning meeting Thursday,
Dec. 3 at 5:00 PM at the Crown Plaza Hotel.
PAUL M. KERRISSEY
Attorney at Law
277 Auburn Street
Suite B
Auburndale, MA 02466
Office: (617) 964-5800
Fax: (617) 969-9850
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 2

3. ANNOUNCED FROM THE PODIUM
...continued from Page 2
District 7910 Public Relations: Tony Annual
Bibbo reported that the District PR Committee FOOTBALL
will be conducting a contest to select a new LUNCHEON
slogan for use on signage. Prize will be six
bottles of wine. Any ideas? November 24, 2009
UPCOMING... Brae Burn
Country Club
November 24 - Annual Football Luncheon Noon
with Brookline Rotary and the two high
schools. Guests encouraged ($15/guest; It’s here! Next Tuesday will be this
prospective members for free) year’s annual Gridiron Luncheon, hosted
again by Newton Rotary. Enjoy some great
December 1: South African Singing Group speakers, fellowship, a raffle - who knows,
you may even walk away with some colossal
December 7: Holiday Party at Gregorian’s tickets to the December 14 Bruins-Flyers
game at the Garden. The auction package
December 8: No Regular Tuesday Meeting at now includes more than the tickets.
Brae Burn The high bidder will also get a $50
certificate good for dinner at JOHNNIE’S ,
December 15: Club Annual Meeting at 138 Portland St. Boston! Johnnie’s is
located 2 blocks from TD BankNorth Gar-
December 22 & 29: No Regular Tuesday den. “Great Food. Great Drinks. Great
Meeting at Brae Burn: Happy Holidays! People.” proclaims Tom Keery. Website see:
http://www.johnniesontheside.com
January 6, 2010: WEDNESDAY Meetings Special keynote speaker will be Paul
begin Stewart, veteran NHL player and long-time
NHL referee.
Please let us know that you’re coming,
and how many guests you will have by email
to slewis1953@msn.com.
Your ad could be here!
Business card size ads cost only $100/year for Rotary
members, $125 for non-members. The distribution lest
of people who see our club news grows every week.
Shouldn’t they see you, and your support of our club’s
good works?
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 3

4. HAPPY DOLLARS
Susanne McInerny was happy to collect age 92, was “just happy to be alive!”
Happy Dollars, starting with her own, in Bill Lowery was happy to be present.
honor of Tony Bibbo’s great committee work, John Hurney was happy to be joined by his
and Jeff Chin’s web site efforts. Tony Bibbo wife Beverly. Dick Bowen was happy to have
was happy for Susanne’s praise. Jeff Chin recently visited with Carl Bartel. Bert
was happy for his three children, and for his Martinson had $5 happy dollars in honor of
17th wedding anniversary. the hard work of so many club members.
Bill Garr was pleased to meet Paula Peter Mahler was happy to hear that Bert
Kirrane’s mother and grandmother, and for his Martinson’s driver’s license was renewed. Tom
own daughter finding a job. Marie Presti was Keery was sad to have arrived late and miss
happy to welcome Jeff Chin to the Board of being greeted by Mssrs. Kerrissey and
Directors, voted on at last week’s Board Prefontaine. But he was happy for the good
meeting. work of the Football Luncheon committee.
Paula Kirrane had $20 happy dollars in Marc Epstein was $3 happy because his
honor of being featured on Billy Costa’s family’s long search for a suitable pet dog
NECN TV Diner show on cable TV. She was seems to have ended with appearance of a 1-yr.
also happy to be joined by her guests. Ann old “rescue dog” from Shelbyville, Kentucky.
Kirrane was happy to be with us today, and Marc’s last dog was named Shelby!
for the great work of Rotary. Madeline Field,
PAULA KIRRANE SCOTT LEWIS HOME DESIGN
Uniquely Designed Cakes ADDITIONS
230 Adams Street RENOVATIONS
Newton, MA 02458 NEW HOMES
Tel.: (617) 969-1830 HISTORIC RESTORATION
fax: (617) 969-5852 12 Bencliffe Circle
Auburndale, MA 02466
www.theicingonthecake.com (617) 293-6371
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 4

5. PROGRAM: GRANDMA GOES ROGUE!!
Madeline Field
“My year in Alaska”
school in which Myra, a school teacher, would
work for many years.
Myra’s house is a 3-story log cabin near
Fairbanks with a heated garage. Madeline
explained that most Alaskans have cars with
block heaters that are plugged into electric
outlets to keep the vehicles ready to start at 40o F
and colder. Most houses have “guest outlets” for
visitors’ vehicles.
Madeline recounted watching boat races on
nearby rivers, and taking a summer excursion on
the paddle-wheeler Discovery, along the Tanana
River. The boat stopped at native-American
President Marie poses with three generations of Paula villages and at a dog sled training school where
Kirrane’s family, including grandmother Madeline Field
9-dog teams pulled sleds on wheels.
(center), and mother Ann Kirrane (seated, front).
Other summertime memories included the
intense summer sun, little league baseball games
After a brief classification talk by Peter
lasting past 10:00 PM at night, and many mu-
Mahler, which will be reported on in an upcom-
nicipal flower beds full of wild Dutch irises.
ing SERVICE GEAR, Paula Kirrane introduced
Other excursions included Chena Hot
her grandmother, Madeline Field.
Springs, where she saw 10 moose, and Danali
Madeline explained that last year (April
National Park, where “you can’t always see Mt.
2008) she flew up to Fairbanks, Alaska to visit
McKinley because of the clouds.” What she did
with her other daughter, Myra, and family. She
see there included moose, bears, and caribou.
stayed for over a year!
“One grizzly bear blocked the road, then ran
Myra had gone to Alaska in 1970 with her
parallel to the bus for 30 miles!” Never too old
husband, a commercial construction contractor
to appreciate nature on that scale. Not even at
who went north during the oil pipeline construc-
age 92.
tion boom. His project list included building the
RAFFLE
With the jackpot approaching $400, Ann
Kirrane was asked to pick a number from the
glass bowl. She found number 604, held by
daughter Paula Kirrane! But Paula found only
the Queen of Diamonds. So we’ll be down to
34 cards next time!
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 5

6. Santa returns! Our annual Newton Rotary Holiday Party slipped off the calendar last
year, but not so in 2009! Plan on some merriment at Gregorian Rugs on December 7, 6:00 to
8:00 PM. Children and guests welcome for food, drink, and jumping on piles of rugs. Please
remember to bring a gift ($10 value more or less) marked male/female/appropriate age.
Scenes from Holiday Parties past.
c 2009 Rotary Club of Newton Page 6

7. Rotary Club of Newton Office of the Mayor of Newton
Newton Public Schools
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Used Musical Instrument
Drive
December 7 - 12, 2009
The Rotary Club of Newton, in partnership with the
Honorable Mayor, David B. Cohen, is seeking donations of used musical instruments to
support the Newton Public Schools Elementary Instrumental Music Program and the
establishment of a Scholarship Instrument Program for students experiencing a financial
hardship
ACCEPTING DONATIONS OF:
BRASS INSTRUMENTS: Baritone Horns, French Horns, Trombones, Trumpets
WIND INSTRUMENTS: Alto Saxophones, Clarinets, Flutes, Oboes
PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS: Drum Pads, Snare Drums and Xylophones
w/stand
STRING INSTRUMENTS: Cellos, String Basses, Violas & Violins (all sizes)
Donations may be dropped off at the:
Newton Community Service Center
492 Washington Street
Monday, Dec. 7th - Friday, Dec. 11th: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday, Dec. 12th, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Certificate of Donation for tax purposes will be available upon request
For more information or questions about this program
Contact: Richard P. King, Fine Arts Coordinator, Newton Public Schools
Ph#: 617-559-6149 or email: richard_king@newton.k12.ma.us