PROGRAM THIS WEEK
 

     Dara Heidt

Dara Heidt is the Director of Estate and Gift Planning for the American Cancer Society in the state of New Jersey. She is responsible for building and stewarding relationships with donors and with estate and financial planning professionals to provide information about the ACS’s programs and services pertaining to cancer control.  Let's find how we can help cure this dreaded disease.
 

DATES TO REMEMBER

Holiday Party -- The annual and famous Asbury Park Rotary Holiday Party will be held Saturday, December 17, 2016 at the Belmar Fishing Club in Belmar.  The past events there have been noted for great food and drink, spirited singing and wonderful Rotary fellowship.  Charlie Brown will be entertaining.  It starts around 6 pm and costs $45 per person.  Sign up at the Rotary meeting.

Polar Plunge -- Our annual fund raiser to provide sight to a poor person from an underdeveloped country and support a local charity will be held Saturday, January 28, 2016 on the Asbury Park beach.  The charge to the sea begins at 11 am. Save the date.

ANNOUNCEMENTS   

Committee Sign Up -- President Brenda reminds all club members to sign up for a committee for this Rotary year.  The sheet is passed around at the meeting.  Pick something that interests you or even try something different. Remember: "He profits most who serves best."

Adopt-A-Family -- For this holiday season, we will participate in a gift giving project sponsored by the Salvation Army to buy presents so needy families in the area to have a joyous Christmas.  Sign up online at the link below. Bring your assigned gift by December 14th to the Rotary meeting or drop at President Brenda's office: State Farm Insurance, 3329 Sunset Avenue, Ocean, NJ.   Sign up:   http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084aaca622aaf85-christmas

Computer Donation Project: Our Rotary club was approached by a computer-fixer-upper man who asks us to find people to donate his restored computers to.  There are both desktops and laptops to be donated.  If you know a needy person who would benefit, let Brenda know.

 
WELCOME NEW MEMBER
 
Michele Grady was inducted into membership in the Asbury Park Rotary Club.  Michele is the branch manager of the TD Bank on West Park Avenue in Oakhurst and will hold the classification BANKING -- RETAIL.  She was sponsored by Robin and was part of our Fantasy Football membership drive. Michele commented, "Rotary is a great fit for my personality."  That means Michele must be a great person.  She has been married for 11 years and has a 4 year old boy.
 

Robin pins Michele into the greatest service organization in the world
 
 
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
 
The end of November marks the end of The Rotary Foundation Month, but that's no reason to stop learning about and supporting our wonderful charitable organization.  Remember, we will continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our renown nonprofit throughout 2017.  In 1996, Paulo V.C. Costa of the Rotary Club of Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil said in a address to the Rotary Convention in Calgary, Alberta, Canada:

“Rotary International’s masterpiece is The Rotary Foundation….It transforms our most daring dreams into the most splendid realities….The Rotary world and even the political world are already aware that The Rotary Foundation is the most generous expression of Rotarian generosity — a generosity that not only brings benefits, but also brings help and cooperation to solve the problems that affect mankind….Only God achieves the impossible, but The Rotary Foundation achieves the best that mankind can possibly achieve.”  
 
 
HAPPY DOLLAR EXTRA
 
Sometimes a Rotarian's happy dollar deserves more than a one line mention. Here are two such cases:
 
 
Roy proudly announced that he was one of 29 men and women who became certified Master Gardeners at a ceremony held November 16, 2016 at Jumping Brook Country Club.  He is now a certified gardening expert because he has completed a course of classroom and hands-on training in plant biology, propagation, soil science and disease and pest control.  He can now begin sharing his knowledge by conduction garden lectures, demonstrations, school and community garden projects and answering calls on the County's "horticulture helpline."  Great job, Roy!
 
 
Denise R recently returned from a special 3-day conference for leading scholars in Boston called "Learning and the Brain."  The object of the event was to assist school leaders and teachers who are committed to enabling students to acquire critical and creative thinking in their lives. Denise noted that a point was made that there is a need for greater emphasis on service with compassion in today's schools.  This sounds like an idea for a future club project to instill Rotary's Ideal of Service into our area's educational systems. Thanks for the info, Denise!

 

JOKE OF THE WEEK

 

Near Death Experience

A boss asked one of his employees, 'Do you believe in life after death?'

'Yes, sir,' replied the new employee.

'I thought you would,' said the boss. 'Yesterday after you left to go to your brother's funeral, he stopped by to see you.