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Speakers
Apr 21, 2022
VP/GM Maritime & Strategic Systems, GD
Apr 28, 2022
PolioPlus - World Immunization Week
May 05, 2022
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Upcoming Events
Paul Harris Dinner
Country Club of Pittsfield
May 14, 2022
 
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Stories
All Eyes on Ukraine
Jeff Hassett reported the amazing news that the Club raised nearly $12,000 in fines and pledges from last week on top of the $5,000 the Board voted to forward to RI for Ukraine relief. The giving got going in earnest following a challenge by Tom Sherman. All funds will be directed to RI for their continuing help in the war-torn country. 
Following the lively and very productive session from the Fine Masters, we were brought back to earth with the sobering news of daily life in Ukraine. 
 
Adrienne DeBlieux Speed brought us the story of a recent Zoom presentation with the Kiev Rotary Club. The compelling story detailed the struggles of the "8 year war" with Russia, the urgent need for help and supplies and the great works of RI in and around Ukraine. Joining the Zoom was a Rotarian from a Club in Slovakia. This club is just 100 miles from the Ukraine border. Rotarians throughout the region are taking refugees into their homes as they can. Each day a train brings supplies from Slovakia to Ukraine and returns with 600+ refugees. Residents are worried Putin's war may spread into other parts of Europe, causing considerable angst among the citizenry. Dogs could be heard barking on the Zoom call, in response to bombs dropping nearby. God be with all these brave souls. 
 
 
Funding Options Supporting Ukraine
Options to donate agencies supported by RI who are on the ground helping Ukraine:
  • CARE.ORG: With families at risk fleeing Ukraine violence, CARE provides humanitarian aid, with food, water and hygiene kits to the most vulnerable in Ukraine.
  • AMERICARES.ORG: Through their Ukraine Crisis Fund, AMERICARES will help deliver medicine, medical supplies and emergency funding to support families and people affected by the Ukrainian crisis.
  • UNICEFUSA.ORG: On the ground helping Ukraine's children.
                        
 
Meeting RSVP
Please RSVP your intent to Joan DiMartino (joan.dimartino@gd-ms.com) by 12:00 noon Tuesday so she may give Mazzeo's a head count. 
Kindly note, Zoom WILL NOT be available this week.
Rotary Day of Service 4/9 Update
Rotary Club of Pittsfield will be doing a first responder appreciation as part of the District 7890 Day of Service challenge this Saturday - April 09.
We will be distributing coffee, doughnuts, or other treats for local police (headquarters), fire (five locations) and ambulance services (two locations).
Joan DiMartino and Jeff Whitehouse are seeking volunteers to assist in distribution to these eight locations.

2022 Auction Update

It's time! The Auction is this Saturday, April 2nd, at Berkshire Hills Country Club. Please gather up your items and get them to Molari's so they may be entered into the database in preparation for our best auction ever! Robert Harrison announced the Auction Committee has garnered about $80,000 worth of items for this years Auction! As of last week, the committee was still awaiting about $16,000 in pledged items. Please please get the items to the committee ASAP.
Please note, proof of vaccination is no longer required.
Notes & Asides
Erik Ungewitter sent an email letting us know that he is trying to put a group of 6 or so club members together to help with the United Way meal packing event on April 23rd. Please let him know if you can help out that day and he will try to coordinate a group time that works for everyone interested.
 
Our fearless acting President Alex will will be heading to Serbia May 5th through 10th and would welcome suggestions for gifts to be given to the Rotary Clubs he will visit. I believe he is still welcoming anyone who decides they want to join him.
 
Our April student from Taconic, Jenna Gustafson, introduced herself.  She is an aspiring large animal surgeon hoping to attend Tufts. 

Invocation Duties

Vin Marinaro 4/14
Jay Marion 4/21
Kelly Marion 4/28
Phil Massery 05/05
Joe McGovern 05/12
 

Birthdays & Anniversaries

No birthdays this week and for Club anniversaries this week:  
Ellsworth Sammet 50 years as of  Apr 13 1972
Theodore Potter 33 years as of Apr 14 1989
Congrats to all!
Club Lottery
With no winner at our last meeting, the pot is now at $1,246 with only 5 cards remaining in the deck! 
Unbelievable!