Mark Leavitt presided over the meeting in President Chris’ absence.

 

 

Mark invited Hawthorne Hotel staff to the podium to express our Club’s appreciation of how well they take care of us each week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Viktoria stated that the calendar sales are going well with Dick Lutts selling 63 of them on his own!  Next week will begin the new 2015 Calendar drawings so get your stubs in!  All calendar stubs should be submitted by January 13^th, otherwise an invoice will be sent.

 

Viktoria mentioned that the next Lifebridge Dinner will be on January 7^th.  Victoria Davis is heading it and there are enough Rotary volunteers.

 

 

 

 

Next week, Salem’s Health Agent Larry Ramdin, will speak about contagious diseases.

 

 

 

Joanne Scott reminded Rotarians about the Polar Plunge on Saturday January 31^st.  Please click on the flyer for information on how to participate either by plunging or supporting those who are.  Joanne struggled a bit to remember who is plunging; apparently her brain is already a bit frozen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark said that the Club received Holiday cards from the Stephen O’Grady Foundation, The Plummer Home and the Red Cross.

 

The Red Cross Breakfast will be held this year on March 19th.  Salem Rotarians have attended this event over the last couple of years.

 

The Rotary Auction will be held on March 27^th.  There will be a special tribute then to Juli, who will be leaving for the west coast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year our club achieved 100% participation with our donations to the Rotary Foundation.  As you know, Rotary International uses the funding for great causes throughout the world, and in three years, 50% of your donation comes back to our district to be invested in local causes through the district grant process!

 

You can make a donation in three ways:

 

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Salem Rotarians are saddened by the loss of one of our extraordinary members, John Quinn, who passed away on Christmas day.  In fact, all have missed John tremendously since his stroke last January that prevented him from attending meetings.

 

John was president of the Salem Rotary in 1956-1957 with a perfect attendance record for 66 ½ years!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several members gave tribute to John.

 

 

 

Dick Moore said that his Dad was president immediately after John.  The Quinn and Moore families were close, often spending vacation time together in the mid 50’s. In fact, John was also the treasurer of a travel group.  When asked once what would happen if someone contributed to the travel group but died before the trip, John responded, “Well, they can’t come!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Fisher and Rotary members at his table spoke about John and his somewhat strange sense of humor.  John said that he spoke with John a couple of weeks ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Rob Lutts was president he gave John his pin for 50 years of perfect attendance!  John continued for more than 16 additional years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Leavitt talked about how helpful John was for him when he first became a Rotarian.  He was so willing to share his great knowledge of Rotary and explain the Rotary way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malia said that she was blessed to have known John and to be able to call him a friend and mentor who continuously inspired her.  John lived his 94 years to the fullest, encouraging others to do the same.  In fact, he chose when to enter hospice and was there less than 24 hours when he died.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dick Lutts remembered the beautiful wooden birds that John made, saying that he won two at past auctions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Shaw talked about John’s wonderful friendship with Essex Camera Shop owner Peter Saharis.  They came to the Rotary meetings together and Peter would anonymously donate camera equipment to the Rotary Auction.  John Quinn was the author of the Spoke for many years and Brenda said he didn’t understand why it took a committee to replace him at that job!  John continued to be the Club photographer.  John Neely said that he knew John’s hearing was worse than his, so John must have fabricated many of the Spoke stories!

 

Mark continued about John stating that he always drank virgin Bloody Mary’s and wondered why he needed to split the liquor tab with the rest of the Rotarians who imbibed stronger, and more, drinks!  John’s deep and sincere interest in the Rotary was apparent to all.  In fact, his family is asking that donations in his memory be made to the Rotary Scholarship Fund.  John’s burial will be private.

 

Mark ended the meeting wishing all a Happy New Year!  See you next year!