2007 MEETING ARCHIVES

Wed Jan 24 - Michael Ciriani, who is the Principal/Director of the Culinary Institute which is located next to the Asbury Park High School and which is a joint program of Brookdale Community College and the Monmouth County Vocational School District. He will discuss the program provided to secondary and post-secondary students from the County.

Wed Feb 7 - Laurel King, Agency Relations Coordinator, of The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties will be our speaker.   Laurel will be sharing about the amazing outreach of the Food Bank.  Check out the Food Bank's website.

Wed Feb 14 - Rotary Cancelled because of ice storm.

Sat Feb 17 - Valentine's Day Dinner at the Manchester Inn in Ocean Grove - Tell your sweetheart that you have a date with them that night.  Friends are welcome too!  Please bring a finger food dessert to the party as dessert is not part of the menu.   Robin will be sending a sign up sheet around at Wed's meeting.  Cost $24 pp.  6:30 pm.

Wed Feb 21 - Club Assembly. No speaker planned.

Wed Feb 28 - Geri Schleich, the NJ Chapter Program Director for the Pajama Program, will be telling us about their fascinating work with children. www.pajamaprogram.org

Thur Mar 1 - Vince Lombardi Awards Dinner.  This is a wonderful annual event where a High School Football Lineman from each Monmouth County team is honored for his outstanding Sportsmanship and Academics.  Held at the Eatontown Sheridan. Please see Gary for details and tickets.   Cocktails at 6 pm.

Wed Mar 7 - Charles Spitz - he will speak on the question, "What do Deal, NJ and General Motors have in common?"

Wed Mar 14 - David Legg - The former President of the Tinton Falls Rotary Club will be speaking on Rotary Membership. He is one of the leaders of District on this topic.

Wed Mar 28 - Nancy Hoffman from the Madonna House, will speak on this non-profit's care of needy children in the area

Sat Mar 31 - Highway Clean-up - Meet at 7 am IHOP.  Clean-up starts at 7:30 am

Wed Apr 4 -

Wed Apr 11 - Shantel Garner and Jodi Krutzel from Foster and Adoptive Family Services out of Monmouth Junction.  They will be providing information about the NJ Foster Care Scholars program. Check-out their website:         www.fafsonline.org

Wed Apr 18 - Club Assembly - Tom assigning jobs for his 2007-08 term.   (Russell Anderson our Rotary Assistant Governor-elect spoke about a program that all Rotary clubs in his area will support. "Pure Water for the World", and he has a worthwhile program to present to us.)

Wed Apr 25 - Robert Taylor from the Boy's and Girl's Club has some upcoming projects and updates to share with us.

Fri-Sun Apr 27-29 - District 7500 Convention in Williamsburg, VA.  Mike Fornino attended.

Wed May 2 - Dr. Richard Fernicola will be speaking on the US Lifesaving Service and the 1854 shipwreck off of Asbury Park of the "New Era".

Sat May 5 - Hi-Way Clean-up

Wed May 9 - Professor Frank Freyre from Keane University will be speaking about his book on Batiste and Cuba.  (Frank is President-Elect of Freehold Rotary)

Wed May 16 - Chief Anthony Amodio of the Ocean Township Police will speak on a topic dealing with law enforcement.

Wed May 23 - Dr. Brian McAndrew, Superintendent of the Monmouth County Vocational School District will speak on the programs offered throughout the County by the District. 

Fri May 25 - Wine Tasting Dinner at Deal Golf & Country Club 6:30 pm  

Wed May 30 - Assemblyman Steve Corodemus, Esq, who is retiring from politics, will be discussing corruption/ethics in New Jersey government/politics.

Wed Jun 6 - Jim Gober of Create Tomorrow will be with us.  He is a business coach and he will be talking about how to handle difficult people.  Check out his website at Create Tomorrow

June 13th;    Nicole Sonnenblick, Board Member of the Child Advocacy Center

Wed Jun 27 - John O'Neill from the Carrier foundation.  His topic will be Mental Health and Addiction in the Work Place

Sun Jul 1 - Installation Dinner at Deal Golf and Country Club   5pm

Wed July 4 No Meeting/Celebrate our Country's Birthday safely.   Installation Dinner will be Make-up

Wed July 11 - Tom Price lead a Club Assembly to review his plans for the Rotary year.

Fri-Sat Jul 13-14 - Rotary Membership Conference - at Villanova University

Wed July 18 - Traudy and John Grande will be presenting a program that was started in California by a Rotary Club - the Rotary Eye Rescue.  John is a trustee of Tissue Banks International and is the chair of the Frederick N. Griffith Foundation

Sat  July 21 - Beach Party at Adrienne's - 2 Allen Avenue in Allenhurst.  Starts at 11 am - Food starts at Noon.  $15 per adult, kids 8 and over, $5.

Rain date is July 22.  Call Tom, Robin, or Adrienne to RSVP.  

Wed July 25 - Stephen A. Fafulas, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from Toms River  His mom now lives in Freehold.  Stephen will talk about his time in South America.

Wed Aug 1 - Habitat for Humanity. Joe Higgins or Jeff Vogel from the Local Board for Habitat for Humanity. 

Wed Aug 8 - Rotary District Governor, Kathleen "Boots" White will be visiting and addressing the club about what to expect during her administration.

Wed-Sun Aug 8-12 - Italian American Festival at Joe Palaia Park in Ocean Township.  Great opportunity for fun and fellowship. 

Wed Aug 15 - Robert Harrison will be our speaker.  Bob is the Chairman & Publisher of the Shore African American Magazine.    He is the President of Governmental Solutions Group, LLC, a lobbying group which is located both in Asbury Park and Trenton.   Bob worked as an aide for the late Assemblyman Tom Smith.  Bob presented an interesting idea to start a business mentor program with inner city high school students.

Wed Aug 22 - Bernie Olsen of Little Silver, a History Professor at Brookdale and author of several Civil War books, will be talking about his research of the Conspiracy of  Benedict Arnold and the Revolutionary War.

Wed Aug 29 - Kathy Collins, VP of Campus Development at Jersey Shore University Medical Hospital, will give us an update update on the Hospital expansion.

Wed Sept 5 - Venus Majiesky from the NJ Institute of Disabilities will be with us.

Wed Sept 12 - Richard Gardella, Neptune Township's Director of Engineering and Planning, talked about the Neptune's many Redevelopment projects including the Shark River Basin.

Wed Sept 19 - Jacquie Dalton from Monmouth Park will be with us.  She is a retired jockey and a member of the Breeder's Cup Committee.  With the Breeders Cup coming to our area in October her presentation is very timely and will provide some insight to this prestigious event.

Wed Sept 26 - Blanche Franks, a realtor with Weichert, will speak on current trends in residential real estate at the shore.

Wed Oct 3 - Club Assembly

Wed Oct 10 - Bill Rosenblatt, former Mayor of Loch Arbour, a big fan of surfing, and co-founder of the Jersey Shore's chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, will talk to us about Sustainable Coastal Management.  Read an article about Surfing written by Bill.

Wed Oct 17 - Pat Swannack - VP of Administrative Services at Monmouth University will be talking about Monmouth's growth and expansion program.

Wed Oct 24 - Lisa Cronin will talk about Food Allergies in Children.  She is an expert on the subject and will help us understand how serious the problem is for many children with allergies.

Wed Oct 31 - Cindy Margulies, the new principal of the Asbury Park Alternative Middle School, will talk about the school's mission.

Wed Nov 7 - John Lanham, a managing partner of Metro Homes, one of the city's developers, will be sharing his vision for the Asbury Park's comeback.

Wed Nov 14 - Bill Faverzani, Corporate Director of JSUMC Hovnanian Children's Hospital.  He will speak to us about Pediatric Services, and more specifically, the hospital's plans for the Resource Room that is being funded by our club (proceeds from our Wine Dinner at DG&CC).  We plan to make the monetary donation next week.

(Sun Nov 18 - Packing Boxes for our Soldiers in Iraq - At the Everson's - 1 pm - 3 pm) 

Wed Nov 21 - Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo of Howell will be with us.  Amy will be talking about "Internet Safety; Protecting Your children From Internet Predators." Amy is a Theatre Performance and Speech major at Wagner College.  She has acted in over 50 plays performed through out New Jersey.  With Amy speaking this is a great opportunity to introduce Rotary to a friend or business acquaintance.  This is our annual joint meeting with the Asbury Park Kiwanis Club.  Read the story about Amy's visit to Rotary in the 11/27/2007 edition of The Coaster.

Wed Nov 28 - Mary Louise Mateus will be speaking.  Mary is an animal rehabilitator and will share her role in animal rescue.

Wed Dec 5 - Lt. Drew LaFrance of the Neptune Police Dept will be with us.  Drew is a former member of our club.  Welcome back Drew!

Wed Dec 12 - Robert Skowrenski will speak to us about the sub-prime mortgage mess and offer ideas for good mortgage planning.  Robert is Sean Gromney's boss.

Wed Dec 19 - Andrew Brannen is Ocean's new Township Manager.  He will be talking to us about his function at Town Hall and share highlights about his career.

Wed Dec 26 - Harv Straus and John Stanton of Global Recycling will be our speakers.  Global Recycling holds the contract to run the Monmouth County Landfill.   Should be a very interesting topic.

The Starlite Chorale, directed by Dr. Tony Godlefski, will present a wonderful Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 16th 4:30 pm at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, Main Street, Ocean Grove.  This is our Annual Fund Raiser for our Scholarship Program, Third Grade Dictionary Project, and other Giving Projects. 

Admission is $10 and only $8 for Seniors.  We also have sponsorships available to support our Scholarship and Giving Projects.  Simply fill out our Sponsorship Form and mail to PO Box 512, Asbury Park, NJ 07712.

Club Distributes Dictionaries

Our 2nd year giving dictionaries to every 3rd grader in area schools.  Read the story...

Let's warmly welcome 4 new members into our ranks.  Our newest member is Sean Growney, a Mortgage Broker from Tinton Falls.

Fatima Camacho, Manager at the Manasquan branch of Investor Savings Bank on Rte 34.  Penny McDaniel, Manager at the Deal branch of Investor Savings Bank on Norwood Avenue.  And finally, welcome back Renee Green - Manager at Two River Bank on Asbury Avenue.  Renee had been a member years ago and was in line to become President in the early 90's before her bank merged.  All three ladies reside in Neptune.  Thank you for choosing Rotary as your avenue for giving to our Community.

Rotary Pride

Pakistan President Musharraf honors Rotary's quake relief efforts.  A devastating earthquake struck Pakistan in October 2005.  Read the whole story

Rotary Honors Scholarship Winners

At our December 27th meeting we awarded our 2006 winners by presenting them with their scholarships.  Read more...

Joan Meets Rotary International President

At October's Vocational meeting, our contingent of Rotarians had the opportunity to greet Bill Boyd, Rotary's 2006-2007 President.  They also met up with our good friend Jozsef deKovacs, District 7640 Governor-Elect.  See the pictures...

We are part of District 7500 and Rotary International. 

Enter previous Asbury Rotary Website

Asbury Park Rotary in the News

This one is a little old, but both the club and the Wonder Bar get recognition in the April 13th, 2006 article in the Asbury Park Press.  Read about 2/3rds into the article.

Did an Asbury Rotarian help win WW2 for the USA?

    Well, the story goes this way...

Vince Lombardi Dinner - Mar 1, 2007

Here's Tom Price, our next President, enjoying the festivities at the Vince Lombardi Awards Dinner.  See more photos from Monmouth Health & Life.

Our Club Today

Members of the club have always been involved in the business and social fabric of Asbury Park and its surrounding towns.  Today, the club continues to thrive with a strong membership that's committed to helping our community and it's residents.  Collectively, with the other 32,000 Rotary Clubs in the World, we're making a big difference.  For instance in 1985 Rotary led the charge to eliminate polio in the world by the end of 2009. 

Over 60 Attend July 1st Installation Dinner

A special evening was had by all who came to witness the installation of our new Officers and Directors for the coming year at Deal Golf and Country Club.  Our new District Governor, Kathleen "Boots" Rife White, administered the Oath of Office to Tom Price, our incoming President. 

Following Tom's swearing in, our new Board was installed.  Additions to this year's board include Jeff Bassett and Bob Johnson as new Directors.

Finally, our outgoing President, Joan Desmarais "passed the Gavel" to Tom Price as he takes the reigns of the club. 

It's a wonderful honor to be a Rotary President, but there is a lot of work and responsibility too.  Here's what is found on the back of our charter.

                          "Passing of the Gavel"  

"Our club is steeped in history and traditions.  As President of the Rotary Club of Asbury Park you are expected to continue to build on the foundation laid by past community leaders who have held this office.  You have faithfully served our club for years and now you are ready to take your place in its history.  Proudly display our club charter in your home or office and when your year is complete, 'pass the gavel' along with this charter to your successor and join the ranks of Past Presidents who have given their time and talents advancing the great principles of Rotary International and keeping the traditions of the Asbury Park Club alive for the future."

A very proud moment for the Price family, especially for Tom's dad and mom, Joe and Mabel, who watch their son take his place in Rotary history.

Let's Welcome Our Newest Member

Traudy Grande of Long Branch became our newest member on August 22nd.  Traudy and her husband John are securities brokers for Raymond James in Oakhurst.  Traudy actually came to Rotary as a speaker a few weeks back.  She was aware of the Rotary Eye Rescue program started by a club in California and was so impressed with our group that she decided to join.  Her husband John serves as a trustee for Tissue Banks International and is the chair of the Frederick N. Griffith Foundation.  Welcome Traudy !!!!

Special Rotarian Visits

We were surprised when a Rotarian from Watsonville, California stopped by on July 11th.   Katie Hutzley Gallegos is visiting her brother Jason Hutzley of Wayside for a few weeks and decided to come by for lunch.  Why is Katie special?   Well, she is the grand-daughter of one of our past members, Richard Morrell, and the daughter of Bill Hutzley, who was also a member of the Asbury Park Club. 

Here you see Katie and Tom Price exchange club banners.

Click on any picture for larger view.

Rotary Ambassitor Scholarship Winner Visits

Steve Fafulas and his mom stopped by in July.  Steve won a Rotary Ambassitor Scholarship to study in a remote area of Argentina.  He shared his wonderful experiences with us.  What a fine young man and a great Ambassitor for our country.

To add to the commitment, Asbury's 5K Race is run on Saturday morning and traditionally there are 8 to 10 of us volunteering at the mid-point water station for the runners.

Wilfrid Wilkinson, President of Rotary International greeted our club contingent at the Vocational Assembly in early October.  In the photo are Sandy Brown, President-Elect,  Gary Siciliano, RI President Wilfrid Wilkinson, Tom Price, our club president and our good friend Jozsef deKovacs, Governor of District 7640.

In May, the Club made a $500 donation to the Jersey Shore Arts Center on behalf of our long time member, Bill Kresge, who was honored by the Arts Center.  From left to right are Mike Fornino, President Joan Desmarais, Andy Wilson, and Herb Herbst, head of the Arts Center.

(Click on picture for bigger view.)

Bill Rosenblatt, former Mayor of Loch Arbour and co-founder of the Jersey Shore's chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, recently spoke with us about Sustainable Coastal Management.  Bill is an avid surfer so keeping the ocean pristine and cleaning our coastal water bodies are high priorities for him.  Pictured are Bill surrounded by our Rotary Surfers. From the left; Debbie DeLisa, Matt Taylor, Tom Gilmour, Hunt Parry, and Bill Rosenblatt.

Yes, that's our own Debbie DeLisa with Bruce Springsteen before one of his practice sessions at Convention Hall.  This picture appeared in the September 20th edition of The Coaster.  Remember, Debbie's Wonder Bar is closing on Sunday, the 30th.  Let's all try to be there to support her and say our farewell's to another famous Asbury Park landmark disappearing to redevelopment.  

Hey Debbie, did you ever pay your happy dollar for this picture?                                (Click on picture for bigger view.)

At a recent meeting, Jacquie Dalton-Fiorito, a former champion jockey, shared with us the exciting details surrounding the Breeders Cup coming to Monmouth Park.  The Breeders Cup will be an economic boom for businesses through out the Jersey Shore area.  Jacquie also informed us how the Horse Racing Industry in NJ needs this world-wide recognition to show State Legislators the importance of horse racing to the New Jersey economy.   In the photo Warren Beebe and "Tiny" Tom Price welcome Jacquie to lunch.            (Click on picture for larger view.)

Kathleen "Boots" White presents Tom with this year's Rotary international banner.  The District Governor visits every club at least once a year.  

(Click on any picture for a larger view.)

Fun, Fellowship, Family, and Fundraising at the Festival 

For four years now our club has had fun working a game trailer at the 5 day Ocean Township Italian American Club Festival.  Held every year during the second week of August we sure have a good time together even if we may not raise a lot of funds.   And almost everyone in the club participates.  It's a time when families can work together.  Check out the Overstreet kids and grand-kids as well as the entire Stein family.  On the nights the weather was good, the crowds were big and they were not afraid to take a chance. 

Even the candidates running for office came to visit.  Here is Mike Fornino talking with Dave Rible and Mary Pat Angelini who were elected in November to the state assembly for our district.

(Click on any picture to see a larger view.)

Rotary Supports Medics of the 3-69th Armor

Care Packages for our Troops:  This year we're hoping to make Christmas a little brighter for the Medic Platoon attached to the 3-69th Armor Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division in Ramadi, Iraq.  We've adopted 32 medics who live in makeshift campsites and don't have the luxuries of permanent quarters at a base unit.  These Medics are on the front lines attending to wounded soldiers therefore putting themselves in harm's way.  We collected over 500 pounds of snacks, candy, coffee and TastyCakes, boxed them and sent them off to Iraq.  Let's hope they make it by Christmas. 

Pictures:  Above is Gary Siciliano, Rich Booth, John Everson, Debbie DeLisa and Sandy Brown getting ready to pack 39 boxes.  Left:  Jeff Bassett, Rich and John brought all 39 boxes to our local Post Office.  It took 50 minutes to process the paperwork.  Postal worker Bill Montis has been a big supporter of our adopt-a-troop projects.  And finally a picture of several members with Amy Polumbo, Miss New Jersey, offering our annual greetings to the Troops we adopted that are serving in Iraq.   (Click on pictures for bigger view.)

             Pictures of our Adopted Troops

Here are some of the soldiers from the HHC of the 3-69 Armor unit in Ramadi, Iraq where our medics are attached.  These soldiers will share the goodies we sent.

On the right is SSG Antonio Sessoms with his wife Sheila prior to deploying.

And the picture below is of SPC Jarrod Pounds recuperating in Fort Stewart's Hospital.  He was injured while attending to a wounded soldier in Iraq.  SPC Pounds has since returned to his duties in Iraq. 

WOW !!!  These guys are special and so are their wives and families !!!  

(Click on any picture for a larger view.)

Every year our Club works a kettle for the Salvation Army.  First we collect food the week before Thanksgiving at the Neptune Shop-Rite Supermarket.  Then in December we work inside Monmouth Mall on the second Saturday before Christmas.  We'll be there again on December 15th.    It really warms our hearts to see all the people, both rich and poor, support the work of the Salvation Army.  Some share their stories as to how the Army provided for them in a time of need.  Here are  Gail Matarazzo and Sandy Brown working their shift at last year's food drive just before Thanksgiving.

The Starlite Chorale, directed by Dr. Tony Godlefski, presented a wonderful Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 16th 4:30 pm at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, Main Street, Ocean Grove.  This is our Annual Fund Raiser for our Scholarship Program, Third Grade Dictionary Project, and other Giving Projects. 

We are still accepting sponsorships for our Scholarship Fund and Giving Projects.  Simply fill out our Sponsorship Form and mail to PO Box 512, Asbury Park, NJ 07712.

It was great to meet Ocean Township's new Town Manger, Andrew Brannen, on the 19th of December.  Pictured with Andrew are Tom, Sandy, and Rick, all Ocean residents.  We learned that Andrew has been a member of Rotary in Indiana and Nebraska.  Hopefully, Andrew will be able to join us after he settles into his job.

Lt. Jon M. Basham, head of the Medics at the Headquarters Company of the 3-69th Armor, has sent our Club a thank you note for the support and goodies we sent to the Medic Platoon attached to the 3-69th Armor Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division in Ramadi, Iraq.  Read what he had to say.

This Christmas we adopted a family in Neptune who needed clothes and essentials.  Club members came through with outfits, jeans, diapers, PJ's, and a warm winter coat for mom, a 5 year old girl and a 1 year old boy.  The Neptune Police Department provided some toys and a couple of warm blankets.  Great job by all.

Amy Polumbo, this year's Miss New Jersey and Miss America contestant, opened our meeting by singing a beautiful a cappella rendition of our National Anthem.  Her topic was "Internet Safety; Protecting Your children From Internet Predators."  She stressed that there is a "dark side" to the internet and that we need to monitor who our kids are talking to when conversing in chat rooms and instant messaging.   She also warned that it is very easy to post damaging information on the internet even if the information is false.  

We wish her the very best in next year's Miss America Pageant. 

Here's past-president Robin Platt-Lacey with Amy taking advantage of a photo op!!

We Made News! Read the story about Amy's visit at Rotary in The Coaster - 11/29/07.

All the proceeds from our 2007 wine tasting dinner were designated for the Adult Resource Room that will be part of the K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.  Just prior to a hospital staff meeting the Asbury Park Rotary presented the Hospital Foundation with a check for $6,384.13.  Then a week later, our own Jim Jeffries, who is retiring, matched our gift so Jersey Shore will receive over $12,000 for the Adult Resource Room in the Children's Hospital.  Good Job Rotarians!