50-50 RAFFLE
POT SIZE: $193.00
Tickets drawn by Adria Leach and Mark Leavitt, but there were no winners.
CALENDAR RAFFLE
SOLD BY: Rinus Oosthoek
SOLD TO: Kate Jordan
SOLD BY: Rinus Oosthoek
SOLD TO: Jacqui Savarino
VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS
Oscar Pagent was a visiting Rotarian.
Beth Tobin from Footprint Power was a guest of Adria Leach.
Reverend Joseph Amico, pastor of the Tabernacle Church, was a guest of Dick Lutts.
FINES AND RECOGNITIONS
John Neely paid fine for the loss by the Patriots.
John also donated tickets for Bruce Whear to auction for Friday night’s Irish Tenors performance at the Lynn Auditorium.
Jane Stirgwolt won the bid.
Joanne Scott acknowledged Paul Herrick’s acceptance of a Polar Plunge Challenge. Welcome to the Frosty Team Paul! Anyone else? David Wescott also signed up for the challenge.
Deborah Greel’s in-laws, the Wathnes, moved from Brooksby Village to Montana!
Liz Bradt completed her 10-week sabbatical journey across the US. She is now certified in Yoga but will continue as a Veterinarian.
Jason Consalvo paid up for a couple of past Patriots wins and knows that the recent loss is not a concern!
Viktoria mentioned that Dennis Knight of the Salvation Army, who will become a member soon, lost his Dad recently, exactly three months after his Mom’s death. Condolences from Rotarians would be appreciated.
Bruce Whear stated, “Change equals opportunity.” Bruce owns a two-family house in Salem. His in-laws moved from the 2nd to the 1st floor and his sister moved into the 2nd floor. Also, after running his business on Hawthorne Boulevard since 1988, he recently moved operations into his home.
Good luck Bruce!
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CLUB BUSINESS
President Chris has invited Rotarians to his home on Friday, December 5th at 6:30 PM for a Christmas Party. Please e-mail President Chris if you would like to attend. His address is 6 Knights Hill Road, Marblehead. Appetizers and desserts would be appreciated.
Viktoria updated the Rotary on a number of service items:
Salvation Army bell ringing volunteers are needed this Friday starting at noon in front of Cabot Money Management. Several Rotarians are signed up. If interested contact Viktoria. Beverages brought to ringers would be appreciated!
Viktoria thanked Rotarians who stepped up to help at the meeting she missed to attend a funeral. She reported that $856 was raised to purchase turkeys for the Salvation Army.
Viktoria thanked Kathie Strout for handing out the Salvation Army angels. Please return the presents next week to the meeting or drop them off at the Salvation Army.
The DCF Christmas Party at the Salem Field House is this coming Saturday, December 6th. The set-up crew should report at 10AM. The clean-up crew should report at 2:30.
This coming Saturday, December 6th, there is a YMCA spinning fundraiser starting at 9AM.
SPEAKER OF THE WEEK/NOTES
Yvonne van Bodengraven, Volunteer Coordinator for Salem Public Schools, thanked the Rotary for a donation allowing purchase of a banner, “Lending a Hand to Salem Schools, Be a Volunteer.”
The banner will hang in the city for two weeks in February and March and in the fall. To date, volunteers for the schools have been very satisfied with their experience and have been valued by school staff. There have been volunteers from SSU, Grace Church, Remix Church, Tabernacle Church, Barnes & Noble, Geeks in Minutes and the Rotary, to name a few.
Classification Speeches were given by Victoria Davis and Rosario Ubiera-Minaya.
These two accomplished women came from very different backgrounds but each of their stories exemplify the strength of the human spirit and the daunting challenges that can be overcome with courage, hope, strong family connections and community support.
Victoria Davis
Victoria began her speech saying life is filled with opportunity, especially in this great country where anything is possible if we address it by “seizing, believing and appreciating.”
Victoria’s life started in a middle-class Tewksbury family as the fourth of five children. Her Mom and Dad were born during the depression, and although her Dad nearly finished his degree, he needed to put family first and work. When her Dad was laid off, family members lived between Wilmington and Florida. After her parents divorced, Victoria moved into a relative’s home in Wilmington, sharing a bedroom with her Mom for most of her years in high school and college.
Victoria was determined to get an education, especially after seeing her Mom’s brave struggles. Victoria took a step at a time receiving a technology certificate, Associates Degree and finally a college degree from Merrimac College. On top of the world, she was hired by a prominent Boston accounting firm, moving into her own apartment and living the good life, when again she endured one of several lay-offs. Although she had health effects from her difficult situation, she remained open to possibilities, skydiving, whitewater rafting and engaging in other adventures.
Victoria’s zest for life was noticed by a venture capitalist from England who offered her a position through Rotary International. While in Europe, she continued to seize unique opportunities and became a princess at a country-side ball, friends with wealthy race car drivers and saw the Prince play polo!
Back home, Victoria began waitressing at a restaurant where she met her husband. She worked for a while at a mortgage company, leaving the position to become a full-time Mom for five years with her son and daughter.
Calling Salem Five for a home equity loan lead to a job interview with the bank followed by a successful career there and Victoria’s ability to be independent. This was important since she separated from her husband, who later passed away from early-onset dementia. Victoria credits her late husband with being a wonderful father to her children who are now in high school and college.
In her position at Salem Five Victoria gives back as she helps people obtain loans to purchase their home or consolidate debt. She ended her amazing story by letting Rotarians know loan rates are once again under 4%!
Rosario Ubiero-Minaya
Although Rosario grew up in a different world than Victoria, their stories have many parallels.
Currently Rosario is the Director of Outreach and Enrollment at North Shore Community Health, Inc. with locations in Salem, Peabody and Gloucester. Living in Salem, mostly the Point, for most of the past 20 years, Rosario has held executive positions at the Salem Education Foundation, Peabody Essex Museum and Telemondo Television. She belongs to many community agencies such as the North Shore CDC, Essex County Community Foundation, House of Seven Gables, and a Salem Latino Coalition.
Rosario married her college sweetheart who she met at Salem High School and with whom she attended Salem State University. She and her husband have two children, Sebastian and Mercedes.
Rosario grew up in a bi-racial family in the Dominican Republic. Her Mother received a Master’s Degree in Fashion Design, owning her own store and brand and later a factory. Her Father was a journalist, lawyer and world-traveler, directing a national newspaper.
At the age of 15, Rosario enjoyed a wonderful “sweet 15” party but her world changed drastically soon after when the business into which her parents invested 100% failed and the family moved to stay with relatives in Salem on a tourist visa.
Rosario and her family became undocumented immigrants with little support and no income. They got by by becoming housekeepers. It was very challenging since they did not know the language or the system.
In spite of the difficulties, through perseverance, the example of her parents and help from the community, Rosario and her brother finished college. Rosario received her degree from Salem State in Communications with minors in Marketing and Journalism and later a Master’s Degree in Education. Her brother was able to attend a Florida college on full scholarship becoming an artist and designer. Rosario credits her husband’s support of all her efforts.
As mentioned, Rosario’s parents are influential in her life. Her Dad worked for a Spanish TV station in Boston and launched his own Spanish-language newspaper. Rosario’s Mom began as a housekeeper at LH Rogers in Boston but her skills at sewing were apparent and she became Head of Alterations there creating beautiful designs including wedding gowns.
Rosario’s Dad, at 82 years old, is retired now and living in Florida. Her Mom passed away eight years ago. Rosario ended her speech exemplifying, in separate but very similar photos of her and her Mom each at a sewing machine, how much she has become like her Mom.
