Your genial blog commissar is baak from Caleefornia. Arnold sends best wishes to Empire State Rotarians. Moving on... Do I see the compassionate face of Jaguar John Boronkay in the saddle as El Presidente (that's Spanish), pro tem? Great Caesar's Ghost! to quote Perry White. Read on and behold a gripping narrative of our last meeting. (Actually, I think this account was penned by the same Jaguar John. I'll try to get a definite clarification.Nevertheless, let the record read: Both men [Smoke Signaller Wally Ochterski being the other] write with mighty pens, as it were.) And now...

West Seneca Rotary Club

Smoke Signals Bulletin

April 16, 2008

Meeting called to order with a Double-gong by President-twice

removed Bob Rigby (Bob loves the sound of the bell).

Invocation, offered by Pete Bella, included thoughts and

prayers for Joe Sgroi and Grace Felschow. Pledge of

allegiance was led by Johnny Van, from crib-notes provided

by Joan Lillis. No Wally - No Song - instead, everyone was

directed to go around the room and shake the hand of everyone

else; an encouragement of the 'Family of Rotary'. Turned into a

Woodstock-era "hug fest" - but the only pot was the bellies.

Member News: Our update on Joe Sgroi came from Nelson Cosgrove and Tom

Wright. Joe is progressing, and now needs to be able to rid himself of the ventilator.

Please keep Joe and his family in your prayers.

Various reminders:

Bowl-O-Thon : John Cleary provided

update on the Bowl-a-Thon; from information

provided by Grace Felschow and Jack Jensen:

Volunteers should show up at noon.

Shoes and lane assignments will be given

out starting at 12:30 PM.

Bowling begins at 1:00 PM

Peter Bella will control the 50/50 tickets.

John Cleary will control the raffle ticket sales.

All volunteers will be given important assignments

Next week is 'Bring a Guest to Breakfast' meeting with special guest speaker Wally

Piotrowski, Supervisor, Town of West Seneca. Call John Cleary (662-7214) if you

are bringing a guest.

Smoke Signals'

Valued Reporter

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Slapshot - Bob Rigby ((H) 674-4003 (B) 825-0600 (C) 864-0506 ))

needs assistance transporting participants to and from the Slapshot program in Ancaster,

ON. Specifically; on Friday, 25 April and Sunday, 27 April, an adult driver and

accompanying adult, in one car, to transport three under-age students, in the same car.

Apparently we've reached the point where it takes two adults to control three kids. Really,

this is a Rotary policy, so if you can help, just contact Bob .

Juvenile Diabetes - Jack Amico ((H) 674-1119 (B) 570-1199

)) is leading a team of walkers for the Junior Diabetes Foundation Walk-a-thon at

Fantasy Island. Call Jack to do the walk or give a pledge - help this very important

cause.

District Assembly - John Boronkay (662-6185) invited any and all

members of the West Seneca Rotary to attend the District Assembly on Saturday,

May 3, 2008 at the Glendale Campus of Niagara College. The cost of

refreshments/lunch/materials is being subsidized by the Club. Carpool arrangements

will be made. The program includes specific break-out session to serve every

interest, e.g., club administration, budget, membership development, service

projects, The Rotary Foundation, public relations, youth services, and one for new

club members. The District Assembly is a chance to get connected, energized and

informed. See District Assembly Draft Agenda on the last page of the bulletin.

Peter Fenn introduced his wife, Debbie, who accepted a check from

the club in support of the West Valley student project at Heifer

International summer camp.

West Seneca Rotary Golf Outing: The West

Seneca Rotary golf outing will be held at Harvest Hill Golf Center on Monday, June

30, 2008? Volunteers will be needed on the course, so rise your hand and see Bob

Rigby or Tom Wright. Bob Rigby announced that he is negotiating with Alton's

for the dinner at this event.

Program introduced by Bob Rigby:

Ray Lipczynski from First Tee of Western New

York provided a complete and interesting

overview of origination, organization, goals,

programming and progress. It is the mission of

First Tee to impact the lives of young people by

providing learning facilities and educational

programs that promote character development and

life-enhancing values through the game of golf..

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The Nine Core Values of First Tee are: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect,

confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. Currently,

programs are offered at Cazenovia, Harvest Hill and Concord Crest - other facilities

often offer their space as the need develops.

Installation Dinner: Bob Rigby announced that the installation dinner

will be held on Friday, June 13, 2008. Kloc's Grove will be the site for the swearing

in of next year's officers. Please mark your calendar for this traditional event.

International Picnic at Letchworth State Park - Wally Ochterski

asked for fun loving members to coordinate a picnic on June 21, 2008 for 10

Rotarians from Melbourne, Australia. A shelter has been secured and there will be

no out of pockets costs. Bring some hot dogs and other dishes to show these "downunder"

folks what a good old Yankee picnic is like. Make some new friends, an

experience you'll treasure for years. Learn to sing "Waltzing Matilda" with

authentic Aussies. Please give your name to Wally (674-4557).

Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner: The first date for this wonderful

dinner merry-go-round is cast in concrete: June 7. Hosts names will be pulled from

the hat. Signed up at this time are: Joan Lillis and Mimi Piciullo, Peter Fenn,

George Chernowski, Bob Rigby, Larry Rose, Wally Ochterski, Mike Fabian,

Jim Liegl, and John Nash . Tom Wright, Grace Felschow, and Jack Jensen will

be included in the next date.

Finemaster: Finemasterwithoutemail Kenneth Kellner, using questions provided by

Wally "Where does he get this stuff" Ochterski, extracted $2 from each Rotarian - no one, not

even Paul Rudnicki, knew the answers.

Card Game: With just 43 cards to pick from the card game was played by Nelson

"This game is too slow for me" Cosgrove - after several practice swings and tours of the green,

including a cigar break, the newly returned Nelson comes up empty. The mystery (no one knows

how much money there is because Ken makes it up as we go along) and pot grow.

Trade Show at Buffalo Rotary - Remember the Trade show last year? Our

Club was very prominent at the annual Rotary Event. Contact Buffalo Rotary at 854-3397

to register your business for the May15, 2008 program.

Dates to Remember:

April 23, 2008 Membership Day - Bring a friend , neighbor or acquaintance

to breakfast as we look for new members.

May 3, 2008 Mark your calendar: The District Assembly will be held May 3,

2008 at Niagara College in Niagara on the Lake. The Club pays for

the registration fee which includes all the Rotary information

sessions, continental breakfast and a closing lunch.

May 25, 2008 West Seneca Rotary annual Chicken BBQ at Southgate.

June 7, 2008 Dinner for the Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner group

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June 13, 2008 Installation Dinner at Kloc's Grove

June 30, 2008 West Seneca Rotary Golf Outing at Harvest Hill.

July 14, 2008 State Farm Agents annual golf tournament benefitting

Cradle Beach. Brierwood Country Club is the site and

the contact is Rich Robinson

Meeting Schedule

April 23, 2008 Club Meeting -Bring a guest to this meeting

-Invocation - Mary Derk Weiss

-Finemaster - Johnny Van

Program: Wallace Piotrowski, West Seneca Supervisor, State of the Town

Birthday - No one this week

-04-24-08 - Meals on Wheels - 11:15 AM - Jim and Gloria Cafferty

April 30, 2008 Club Assembly

-Invocation - Tom Wright

-Finemaster - Ray Weimer

Program: Committee Chairs to report, and update on Bowl-o-Thon

Birthday - No one this week

-05-01-08 - Meals on Wheels - 11:15 AM - Peter Bella and Pat Depasquale

May 7, 2008 Club Meeting

-Invocation - Deb Zych

-Finemaster - Mary Derk Weiss

Program: Our own Peter Fenn will present golfing tips for the duffer

Birthday - No one this week

-05-08-08 - Meals on Wheels - 11:15 AM - Rick Gurney and Bob Rigby

May 14, 2008 Club Meeting

-Invocation - Jack Amico

-Finemaster - Tom Wright

Program: Dave Roche Branch Manager for the new Office Depot

Birthday - Pat DePasquale (May 18 th)

-05-15-08 - Meals on Wheels - 11:15 AM - John Boronkay and Deb Zych

May 21, 2008 Club Meeting with Board Meeting to Follow

-Invocation - Peter Bella

-Finemaster - Deb Zych

Program: Maybe a short program regarding Chicken BBQ

Birthday - Bob Enos (May 20 th), Bob Rigby (May 21st)

-05-22-08 - Meals on Wheels - 11:15 AM - Rich Robinson and John Nash

Thought for the week: "Worry is like a rocking chair. You can rock all day and get

nowhere." - Katherine Dowlin

Rotary International District 7090

District Assembly

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Niagara College, Glendale Campus

135 Taylor Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, L0S 1J0

8:15- 8:45

AM Registration (Hallway outside Cafeteria) and Continental Breakfast ( Cafeteria) 8:45 - 9:00 AM Welcome and Logistics for the Day (Cafeteria)

Track Presidents-Elect Club Administration Membership Public Relations The Rotary Foundation Rotary Structured Programs and Service

Opportunities

Assistant Governors

Room Auditorium W204 W208 N101 W214 W215 W114 N102

9:05- 9:55 AM Presidents-Elect Meeting to

Approve District Budget

PDG Bob Bruce and

Don Demeo

Secretary Training - Part 1 A Must

for All Club Secretaries

District Executive Secretary

Pene Hutton

Rotary 101 -

For Newer Rotarians

Nick Norton, PDG

Being a Successful

Communications

Officer

Anne Bermingham

Foundation Programs

Group Study Exchange

Rotary and Peace Scholars

Keith Lindberg

And Panel

Putting World

Community Service

Into Your

Club Service Projects

Youth Leadership in Action

RYLA and Slapshot

Director Kevin Crouse

Assistant Governors

Training

Part 1

Jacquie Herman-Wing

DGNN Karen Oakes

10:00 - 10:50 AM Implementing your Club

Goals: Preparing for

Successful Club Leadership

Rod Hollick

Secretary Training - Part 2

Including using the NEW District

Web site

Pene Hutton

12 Steps to a Successful

Membership Plan

Membership Director

Andy Skrypnia

Win-Win

Personal relationships

In Your Club

Anne Bermingham

Our Foundation and

The Future

Richard Clarke

Regional Rotary Foundation

Coordinator Zone 22 East

Community Service

District Survey and

Determining What Your

Community Really

Needs

Chair John Crawford

Youth Exchange

Code of Behaviour and

District Governance

Chair David George

DG Bob Leek

Assistant Governors

Training Part 2

Jacquie Herman-Wing

DGNN Karen Oakes

10:50 - 11:10 AM Break Break Break Break Break Break Break Break

Room

11:10 AM -

12: 00 PM

To Be finalized District 7090.org

Using the District Web Site

Pene Hutton

10 Steps in a Successful

Membership Campaign

Andy Skrypniak

Effective Media

Relations

For Rotary

Cynthia Janzen

Polio Eradication

The Challenge

PDG Bob Bruce

Panel

Literacy Matters

In Your Community

Successful Projects

Panel

Young Rotary Leaders

Rotaract & Interact

Early Act

Kevin Crouse

Panel

Assistant Governors

Expectations and Tips

For Success

Ralph Montesanto

Karen Oakes

12:05 - 12:55 PM Presidents Elect with their

Assistant Governors

DGE Ralph Montesanto

DGNN Karen Oakes

District 7090.org

Using the District Web Site

Pene Hutton

Family of Rotary

Tips For Being a

Successful Treasurer

Marlene McGraw

Don Demeo

Unraveling the Mystery

Completing a Simplified

Grant Application

PDG Bob Bruce

Service Opportunities

That You May Not

Have Considered

.Jacquie Herman-Wing

Rotary Fellowships-

Golf/Curling Etc

Friendship Exchange

PDG Wally Ochterski

Club Presidents

2009-10

DGN Pravin Suchak

1:00 - 2:00 PM Lunch and Networking

2:00-3:00 PM District 7090 Annual Meeting -Auditorium