Next Meeting
When............ May
18, 2010 at 12:00 p.m.
Where........... The
Franklin Hotel
Program....... Alzheimer’s
Disease Assistance Coalition – Joanne Burns
Upcoming Events:
May 25 – Rome Rotary
Student Scholarships – The Franklin, 12:00 p.m.
May 27 – Rome
Chamber Annual Meeting – Rotary to Receive Award for Cultural Vitality, The
Beeches, 7:00 a.m.
June 1 - Rotary
Meeting – a Business Meeting, The Franklin, 12:00 p.m.
Attendance: Total Membership: 99. Please note that the newsletter now lists those present, not those
absent from meetings: PRESENT: Adamo, Bahr, Baker, Bird, Bottini, Butters, Cantor,
Cole, DeMatteo, Donovan, Evans, Fay, Fusco, Gray, Hairston, Haritatos, Herrmann,
B., Herrmann, V., Latimer, Martin,
Matt, Mattacola, Normand, Occhipinti, Packer, Rapke, Simons, Toukatly, Tracy, Trela, Tuthill, B., Waters,
Waters, Winberg, Wolf.
Guests: Sandra Engel, Ms. Khan, Judi Mullin, George DiFabio, Karen
Miller, Sherry Lubey, Paula Gilroy, Danielle Wilcox. Barb Vacca, Cathy Gratch, Leonard
& Betty Gratch & numerous other supporters of our Teacher of the Year –
Leonard Gratch.
Visiting Rotarian: None
After Work Meeting 5/6/10: Information not available at time of newsletter.
Make-ups: All Make Ups submitted were recorded in
the attendance records.
Quote of
the Week: “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” Hunter S. Thompson
Rotary Stuff
Did you know that six German Clubs were
formed after Hitler came to power and came under pressure almost immediately to
expel their Jewish members?
Announcements
and Events
The
Rome Area Chamber of Commerce annual breakfast meeting is May 27 – Rotary is
getting an award from the Chamber at this meeting for its community
accomplishments and contributions – please consider attending this important
meeting to support the Chamber and Rotary. Please call the Chamber at 337-1700 to rsvp.
On
May 20th, our Interact Club at RFA is hosting a dinner to raise
funds for the Sudan Lost Boys, tickets are $10 and the dinner will be held in
the RFA cafeteria.
We
raised $425 selling Duck Tickets at the Home Show – great job Debbie Adamo and
all those who volunteered.
Don’t forget to vote on the
school budget on May 18.
Board Meetings will be Third Monday of the Month at Savoy Restaurant at
5:15 p.m.
Teacher of the Year Program
Debbie
Adamo ran the program for our Rotary Teacher of the Year award. The recipient was Leonard Gratch, Kindergarten
teacher at Denti Elementary School.
In her nomination of him, Leonard’s Principal, Sherry Lubey stated that
Leonard was the most inspiring teacher she has encountered since coming to the
Rome City School District in 1999.
She talked about his quiet dedication to his children and his ability to
encourage the children to think for themselves and strive for excellence. Superintendent Jeff Simons spoke
glowingly of Leonard as well. It
is very clear from Mrs. Lubey’s and Mr. Simons’ words and the turnout from his
colleagues and former principals, that Leonard Gratch has the deepest respect
and admiration of those he works with.
In his acceptance speech, he thanked his former principals, many of his
colleagues and the teacher he student taught with, George DiFabio. He also spoke with love about his
students, his family and the many blessings he has been given. It was a stirring and emotional speech
and even more proof that this award very well deserved by Mr. Gratch. Well done Leonard, well done.
