President Marion Beckerink called the noon meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Caitlin O’Reilly leading the National Anthem and reading a poem by William Stafford about the environment for the invocation.

President-Elect Michelle Jones announced there were no guests or visiting Rotarians, so she took the opportunity to announce she had taken our exchange student Heath to the Lucille Ball Little Theater for their presentation of Blithe Spirit this past weekend. Michelle encouraged members to invite Heath to share their activities whenever they are doing something that might interest him.

Michelle also mentioned that she attended the District Conference this past weekend and heard some amazing speakers and visited with old and new friends.

Sue Jones was the substitute editor today as Ken Omeruo was called away to take his wife to the hospital. We all hope everything is okay and the family is back together at home soon.

Emily Cama announced that the winner of the $35 50/50 prize was John Bauman. Emily also announced the May 5 Club Social will be a Bowling evening at Game Time Bowling on Foote Ave. The cost is $9.00 for two games including shoes and you may purchase drinks and food as you wish. The activities will begin at 5:30 and family and friends are welcome too.

President Marion explained that the previously mentioned Hospitality weekend has been pared down to a one-day September event featuring the RTPI, the Jackson Center and the National Comedy Center. Instead of the entire District, we will limit invitations to several clubs. More fleshing out of details still needs to be done and Marion is open to suggestions. Hopefully, bus transportation from a central location will be provided.

Ruth reported on activities from the District Conference – of special interest was the opportunity to meet with a representative of the Clubrunner app which is being completely updated to make more user friendly.

The Club will participate in Hands on Jamestown, May 17 by paying special attention to the area from the North Main St. welcome sign to Love School, where we will finish by planting flowers. A sign-up sheet will be passed.

Foundation Chairman Joni Blackman asked that we be sure and read the Rotary magazine article on fund or friend-raising. She announced the April birthday celebrants:

Sally Martinez, 4/4; John Lloyd 4/14; Lisa Goodell, 4/24; Sharon Hamilton, 4/26; JoElle Washer, 4/24; and Randy Kerman, 4/30. The only celebrant present was Sharon, so we sang to her, and she won the free lunch!

John Healy did a yeoman’s job as substitute sergeant-at-arms. He fined Rotarians whose photo was in the paper for the Women’s Giving Circle and Greg Jones couldn’t come up with the name of our first women president Jane Cleaver-Becker, so he paid a buck. Fines were levied for St. Luke’s congregants as their church sponsored a recent organ concert. Becky paid for the BPU announcing there would be no planned rate increase. All the Swedes paid for this past weekend’s celebration of all things Swedish and finally fishermen paid for the opening of fishing season.

Happy Bucks were paid by Max Eimiller who is welcoming a new niece, the first girl in the family in two generations; his upcoming trip to Germany to visit his little brother; and the up-coming Rotary Golf tournament July 14.

Dan Heitzenrater paid a buck acknowledging a kind gentleman who gave his daughter $5 to offset the purchase of a set of Pokemon cards and urged everyone to pay it forward just as Dan did. 

And…
Caitlin announced that the Membership committee will meet at 10:30 Monday morning and the Vision committee will meet by Zoom at 8am on Thursday.