Sparks, August 5, 2021 (Jul 30, 2021)

Paul Harris Dinner
Berkshire Hills Country Club
Sep 18, 2021

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July's 5th Thursday at Berkshire Hills

July was a fifth Thursday month, so an evening social gathering on the back deck of Berkshire Hills Country Club happened under threatening skies, but the attendees stayed dry and enjoyed two hours of great fellowship.

Help Wanted: Paddler

Rotary Club of Pittsfield's award winning Josh team is seeking a reasonably athletic Club member to compete as a paddler in this year's Josh Billings Run-Aground. While canoeing experience is not necessary, must be competitive and willing to train with existing crew. An ability to communicate with hearing impaired is desirable.

2022 Auction

The Auction Committee met on July 20 to begin preliminary planning of our 2022 auction. Because the Holiday Inn is being used by the Courts, that space will not be available to us, so the Committee’s first task is to secure an alternate location – perhaps Berkshire Hills CC? RI’s theme this year is “Serve to Change Lives,” so the Committee is considering that as our auction theme as well, perhaps by adding “Bidding to Change Lives.” We are committed to the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center and the Boys and Girls Club of the Berkshires. It is unclear at this point how each of these agencies will be engaged with the auction.

Rescheduled District Governor’s Visit

The previously announced visit by the District Governor on 09/30/2021 has been rescheduled to 10/14/21. The first date was a 5th Thursday, and president John realized there would be mutiny if our evening social gathering was canceled. Fear not! Small disaster averted.

DG's Rotary Foundation Message

From DG Joanne Alfieri, this week's Rotary Foundation Moment. With the goal of better educating Club presidents and our membership on the value of the Rotary Foundation, she notes the written objective of the Rotary Foundation since 1945:

The promotion of the Rotary Foundation fellowships for advanced study;
The fostering of any tangible and effective projects which have as their purpose the furthering of better understanding and friendly relations between the peoples of different nations;
The providing of emergency relief for Rotarians and their families wherever war of other disaster has brought general destruction and suffering.

The Rotary Foundation continues to do "good work" today. How does Rotary Club of Pittsfield do good work in our own community and in the world?

Dues Bills have been sent

Jeff Hassett has sent all dues bills via email. If you want a paper copy just let him know. Also, if you would like an invoice that includes pre-paying for 44 lunches, please let Jeff know and he will send you a revised invoice.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

There are no birthdays or Club anniversaries to celebrate this week.

Invocation Duties

Ben Parhizgar 8/5

John Perreault 8/12

AlexReczkowski 8/19

John Reynolds 8/26

Eric Schaffer 09/02

Brooks Sherman 09/09

Chase's Calendar This Week

This week we celebrate INTERNATIONAL CLOWN WEEK (annually, first Week each August). First proclaimed by President Richard Nixon in 1971, for the past fifty years this week has recognized clowns as ambassadors of joy and goodwill. So take a moment this week to acknowledge the joy our own clowns, Crash and Burn, provide for the Club.

Club Lottery

There was no winner at our last meeting, so there now $339 in the pot, with 37 cards remaining in the deck.