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. Steve Hodson led us in singing “Edelweiss”.

Attendance:  42 of 74 members attended. Ray Baldwin, Jim Bardon, Jim Baum, Greg Bivona, Jayne Bolton, Tricia Brown, Bev Cambras, Carl Carlson, Sy Davidson, Bill Dunn, Don Emond, Lynn Fontana, Tom Galla, Tom Heaney, Ed Hedrick, Steve Hodson, Steve Jakab, Phil Lane, Ron Lesko, Steve Lupien, Bob Matthews, John McBride, Ted Merritt, Preston Merritt, Frank Metrusky, Bob Patragnelli, Jack Quinlan, Mike Rappa, Michael Redgate, Tim Rivers, Karen Ronald, John Rosati, Joe Ruospo, Ray Rzasa, Bob Schwartz, Russell Schwartz, Dale Seymour, Paul Squillace, Dick Stein, Bob Tolomeo, George Voynick, Dave Wilson, Bill Zeidenberg.

Guests: Prospective member Joe McBride, a guest of his brother John McBride. Five members of the visiting GSE team from Costa Rica, accompanied by many Rotarians from nearby clubs, including: Mac Leask of Fairfield, Paul Otzel of Devon, Gary Doherty of Stratford, Ann Brignola of Devon, and her husband.

Happy Dollars:

Phil Lane – 1 – to announce that the class of 2006 has started at Fairfield University.

Ray Baldwin – 1 – because he is proud to accompany Trumbull High Schools winning “We the People” team to the national competition in Washington, DC.

Lynn Fontana – 1 – to announce that the Trumbull High School database online search information is now available to Rotarians by using the handouts that she provided.

Bob Tolomeo – 1 – to announce that the “Tip a Cop” dinner will be at Vazzy’s this coming Friday at 7:00PM. All money raised will benefit Connecticut Special Olympics.

Ron Lesko – 2- because Preston Merritt arrived at our meeting before 8:00AM.

Ed Hedrick – 1 – because he recently enjoyed a seminar about lawns and golf courses in Florida, complete with a visit from Arnold Palmer.

Steve Jakab – 1 – for the success of the Trumbull “Read Aloud” program.

John Rosati – 1 – to announce his son completed baby sitter training and is now ready to sit for you. John will even deliver him to your door.

Several visitors and members also contributed happy dollars for the success of the GSE team.

Birthdays and Anniversaries:  None were announced.

Announcements:

Michael Redgate announced that:

The District Assembly will be held at the Trumbull Marriott on May 17^th, right after our morning meeting. Our club will pay for your attendance, but you must submit your name to Mike Rappa to be properly registered. All Club Officers must attend. The featured speaker will discuss the Polio Plus program. The event will be held from 8:30AM until 3:45PM. Eighteen members have signed-up so far.

Our next Board Meeting will not be June 5, 2002, but at a date and time to be announced.

The dedication of the room named for Marilyn Gordon at The Discovery Museum will be held on May 16, 2002.

Bill Zeidenberg announced that many more riders are needed for the Bike-a-thon, which will be held on June 9^th. Bill passed out registration forms.

Program:

 Lynn Fontana introduced our speaker, Tomas, the Team Leader for the visiting GSE team from Costa Rica. Lynn gave special thanks to Gary Doherty of the Stratford Club for his help with the GSE program. Tomas, an expatriate born in California, has been living in Costa Rica by choice for many years, and manages a real estate and travel agency there. Among other things Tomas said:

1.      His team, comprised of 4 young professionals, has been treated like royalty since they have been in the United States, for which they are very grateful.

2. Costa Rica is a country of 19,000 square miles located in the southern part of Central America. The population is 4 million people. It is just north of Panama, and has major ports on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, which comprise its eastern and western boundaries.

3. There are 15 Rotary clubs in Costa Rica, and the Rotary Governor is a woman.

4. There is no military, so more money is spent for education and free health care for all citizens. This has resulted in a healthy and well-educated population, especially compared to other Central and South American countries.

5. Cost Rica has a strong economy, exporting coffee, bananas, pineapples and microchips from a large Intel manufacturing facility, as well as from other technology related companies.

6. The temperature averages 75 degrees, with great beaches on the north coast. The rainy, or “green season” is from May to October.

7. There are 40 Universities and 80,000 foreign residents.

Tomas introduced the four professionals who comprise the rest of the team. They are Roberto Mena, an architect; Monica Nunez, a chemist at the University of Costa Rica; Paul Chinchilla, a computer engineer who works for ShlumbergerSema and Yeudy Rodriguez, a Forestry Engineer and natural resources teacher. Michael Redgate exchanged club banners with the team and thanked them for their participation in the program.

Raffle:  Jack Quinlan and Don Emond drew for $454.00, but no winning card was selected. 

                        UCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

May 10            Edward Krawiecki, Jr. Deputy Commissioner. Connecticut Insurance Fraud Unit

May 17            Thelma Hoyt, American Town Network, followed by the District Assembly at the Marriott

May 24            Joe Ruospo. “Rotary for Dummies”

May 31            Doreen Boutote and the Interact students who will travel to Wisconsin.

June 7              Installation Dinner at Vazzy’s

June 9              Bike-a thon at Madison Middle School

June 14            Lt. Robert Tolomeo, CSP. Communications from the 9/11 attack

June 21            Ann Henry

Respectfully Submitted,

Dale J. Seymour