Members Present: Alix, Harvey, Peggy, Fr. Philippe, Greg, Barb, Jessica, Frank, Sundra, Matts, Shaw, Loren
Guests: Edward Beglane and Wendy Benitez (Thomas Cornell Academy)
Highlights:
Alix opened the Meeting at 12:30 with the Pledge, a Prayer for Rotary and the community, the recitation of the Four-Way Test, and the Rotary song led by Harvey. The Meeting adjourned at 1:45.
Minutes of the 6 and 13 December Meetings were not approved because of a lack of quorum.
Happy Bucks collection totaled $25.00.
Paul Harris Fellow – Alix presented a Paul Harris Fellow award to Barbara. This is her third award.
Sam Enders – Matts reported that Sam has now established a mobile medical service. He is a new member of the Liberia Parliament and is being talked about as a future President of Liberia.
Winter Wonderland – Sundra attended on Monday, 18 December, and her table was collecting books for Camp Morty. It was a very nice event, and there were also camel and pony rides.
Salvation Army – There was an apparent miscommunication with the Salvation Army on 15 December, and the bell and bucket did not arrive until noon. Harvey suggested that, in the future, we make a donation to them in lieu of ringing the bell.
Speaker – Ed Beglane, Principal of Thomas Cornell Academy, spoke to us today regarding the track program for their elementary school. He was joined by Wendy Benitez, who runs the program. There are no track programs in the Yonkers public schools for elementary and middle school children. However, in the fall of 2015, a flyer from the Yonkers Parks and Recreation Department about track programs was distributed. Students in grades 3 through 6 participated that first year, and at the first meet all students received a medal for participating. In November, 2016, Parks Department honored Thomas Cornell Academy with a trophy as the only Yonkers school to participate. Through his contacts, they went to Manhattan College to watch their track team practice.
Track practice for the current school year began 1 August at Van Cortlandt Park and then at Tibbetts Park. Students from pre-Kindergarten through grade 6 now participate. Wendy informed us that she had researched several running programs and videos in order to teach the children the basics of running. She stresses the importance of running, not the winning results. They were recently invited to the Colgate Games at Pratt in Brooklyn.
Cameroon Dental Project – Jessica and a friend (who is a dentist) began this program, and in February 2017 it became a non-profit organization. On her recent trip to Cameroon in October, 7 dentists serviced 430 children over a 3-day period. This will be an annual event for Jessica. They service children from schools, orphanages, and prison (the latter being boys from 14-18). She has made contact with Rotary in Cameroon, but was unable to meet with them. They are currently working to get other medical professions involved. Loren indicated that he would provide Jessica with contacts.
