The Rotary Club of Trumbull
Club No. 6755, District 7980, Region 1

President-elect Mike Redgate called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Jack Quinlan said the invocation. Jim Lang led us in singing “When You’re Smiling”.  

Attendance:  37 of 62 members attended. Marjorie Anctil, Ray Baldwin, Jr., Jim Bardon, Jim Baum, Greg Bivona, John Bogannam, Doreen Boutote, Bev Cambras, Willie Costello,  Barry Diamond, David Dunn, Joan Farley, Keith Gatling, Len Germano, Thelma Hoyt,  Phil Lane, Jim Lang, Ron Lesko, Dana Lonergan, Preston Merritt, Ted Merritt, Frank Metrusky, Kevin Murray, Jack Quinlan, Mike Rappa, Michael Redgate, John Rosati, Joe Ruospo, Ray Rzasa, Dale Seymour, Rose Marie Spatafore, Paul Squillace, Dick Stein, Steve Taylor, George Voynick, Dave Wilson, Bill Zeidenberg.

 Guests:  Mark Fries and Frank Grazynski of the Bridgeport Club. Prospective members Robert Matthews and Roger Hines, each attending their fourth meeting. Both men have submitted applications for membership.

Happy Dollars:
Greg Bivona gave several happy dollars. One was for Ray Baldwin who got a haircut and now looks like Gary Condit. Another was to welcome back our teaching professionals from their summer recess, and another to announce that he has purchased a summer home at Cape Cod. Greg also paid an advertising dollar to announce that his new summer home will be available for rent next year.

Jim Lang gave a happy dollar because progress is being made for the April, 2003 District Conference to be held at the Villa Roma Resort in Sullivan County, NY. Jim also gave a sad dollar because it is taking too long to process new member applications.

Thelma Hoyt gave a happy dollar because she visited relatives in Sweden, and a sad dollar because she just received the “Guide to Trumbull”, and there was no mention of our Rotary Club. Jim Lang then added another sad dollar for the same reason.

Ted Merritt gave two dollars for the great club effort at the Senior Picnic.

Phil Lane gave $5 because he recently survived a soccer tournament at West Point, NY with a team of young girls.

Doreen Boutote gave $8. One was because she was happy to be back, and the other seven were for completing her teaching certification program.

Bill Zeidenberg announced that he might have extra tickets available for Friday’s Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament at New Haven, CT for any members interested in attending.

 Birthdays and Anniversaries:  The club celebrated in song the wedding anniversaries of Ron Lesko (25), Jack Quinlan and Steve Taylor.

Announcements: Len Germano announced that applications are available for members to list their business with the Rotary District Business Directory at a cost of $125. This amount includes your voluntary donation to the Rotary Foundation.

Committee Updates:
Ted Merritt invited all interested members to attend our next Board Meeting to be held on September 5^th at 7PM at The Marriott. Three of the topics to be discussed are:

A.    How should our club distribute the funds we raise for charity?

B.    How can we work with the Stratford Club to welcome the visiting GSE team in September?

C.    Planning for our upcoming Golf Tournament.

Barry Diamond reported that the Senior Picnic was an overwhelming success, with 275 people eating as much food as they could, including “take-outs”. Sponsors paid for $550 of the total cost of $850, so our net cost for the event was only $300, far less than was budgeted. Barry asked Ray Baldwin and Keith Gatling to stand for a well-deserved round of applause, earned after many hours of cooking behind the hot grill. Barry also thanked Guy DeFeo and Luigi’s Bakery, for donating so many extra trays of delicious Italian pastries.

Preston Merritt reported that we need more tee and green sponsors, and a lot more golfers, to keep Tom Galla’s hair from falling out. Tom is our Golf Tournament Chairman, being assisted by Preston and other members. We need 120 golfers to ensure the success of the tournament.

Program:  Dave Wilson introduced our speaker, State Senator Bill Finch, whose district includes the entire town of Trumbull. Bill is a Trumbull native. Bill stated that two of the primary goals of this years Connecticut Legislature were improving transportation and mental health care. Bill is also affiliated with BEDCO, a non-profit organization devoted to the economic development of Bridgeport. Our own Ron Lesko has just been selected to volunteer his efforts for BEDCO. Bill  reported on the success of BEDCO in helping transform the old Read’s Department Store building (empty for 26 years) in downtown Bridgeport into housing and studios for artists. He also mentioned BEDCO’s efforts to retain three manufacturing facilities located on Crescent Street in Bridgeport, as well as the planning for the Bridgeport Intermodal Transit Center. The transit project will include a new parking garage, train station, bus station, and a new parking area for the Port Jefferson Ferry.

Bill explained that the state provided a huge increase in spending for supported health care services. Many people served by this program are now able to live in state funded and staffed homes, where they receive assistance and guidance in maintaining a productive life.

Bill also discussed the new transportation programs being introduced elsewhere in the state, but emphasized that it is hard for the DOT to focus on Fairfield County, rather than the Hartford area. Lack of focus on Fairfield County by the DOT has been an issue for area legislators for years. He then answered questions regarding the future of our region’s transportation needs. (There are no plans to add travel lanes to I-95 or the Merritt Parkway anytime soon).

Raffle:  Thelma Hoyt and Jack Quinlan drew for $520.00, with no winner selected.

                        UCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

August 31         T. R. Rowe

September 5     Board meeting at the Marriott 7PM

September 11   Monroe Rotary Club Golf Tournament at Whitney Farms

September 17   Trumbull Rotary Golf Tournament at Tashua Knolls

September 28   Tentative- District Governor John Annick

Respectfully Submitted,

Dale J. Seymour