Shyanne and Mikalya, students at Newark High School, gave their oratorical competition presentations to the club last Thursday.
Opening and Invocation led by Jean Bendix
Wellness Report – Chet Poplaski, former Rotarian in the hospital in the Albany area; Grandson of June Sherman, Bradon, 16 years old, had a stroke. He is in the hospital following surgery.
Guests: Luis Alonso, Exchange Student; Shyanne Polizzi 4th place winner of Oratorical Contest, Mikalya Miller, contestant of Oratorical Contest
ZOOM: Steve & Evie Taylor
Weird Laws CT & DE
- Can’t play scrabble while waiting or a politician to speak
- A Pickle in the state of CT is not considered a pickle unless it bounces
- In Hartford CT, balloons with advertising on them are illegal
- In Bloomfield, CT it is illegal to eat in your car.
- In Devon, CT it is illegal to walk backwards after sunset.
- In Gilford, CT only white Christmas lights are allowed.
- In Hartford, CT you can’t walk across the street on your hands.
- You may not educate your dog in the state of CT
- No horse racing on Good Friday or Easter Sunday in Delaware
- In Delaware you may not get married on a dare.
Announcements and Happy Moments:
- Board Meeting will be at 11:30 on Monday, 3/18 at Parker’s
- Scott Healy — named Newark Business of the Year — Congratulations!
- Katie Pullen and Josh Arnold were named as Citizens of the Year
- Evie - thank you for sending out the lunch menu - we try to eat the same menu on Rotary Day.
- Doug Forgue - son Dane got a job!
- Gail Chambers - still appreciating the extra newspapers for the puppy Kinder who is 24lbs now
Birthdays: Bill Doebler, 3/10
Club Anniversaries: Chrissy Kent (24 years)
Queen of Hearts. Dave Doebler did not pick the Queen - the pot continues to grow. The pot is $2,286.00
Program:
Rotary District 7120 Oratorical Contest on Ethics. The contest was the brain child of PDG Eric Parker from Perry, NY in 2005. PDG Eric was able to get commitments from several area colleges – Andrew Hallagan was one of the first contestants! Then in 2010 PDG Jeff Krans of Penn Yan was able to attract a few more colleges to offer scholarships. Today there are 12 colleges who offer scholarships to oratorical contest winners subject to their being accepted and attending their college of choice. The colleges are Alfred University, Elmira College, FLCC and MCC, Keuka, Nazareth and Roberts Wesleyan Colleges, RIT, St. John Fisher, SUNY Geneseo and Brockport and the University of Rochester. An impressive collection!
So how does it work? High School Juniors who apply must write and present a speech around the assigned topic. This years topic was The Importance of Ethics in the Life I Plan to Live as exemplified by Rotary’s Four Way Test.
Don Collins from the Manchester Rotary Club organizes the contest. Don puts tremendous work into the Oratorical Project. He shared that he has received several letters from Oratorical Contest participants through the years telling him how beneficial preparing for and participating in the Oratorical Contest was to them, not only in their college careers, but also in preparing for interviews and job presentations. The contest teaches skills but also helps participants build confidence and poise. It is fitting during this month of Literacy Awareness that our club has worked to sponsor 2 very accomplished young women who represented us well. We are very proud of both of you – Mikalya Miller and Shyanne Pilozzi and wish you all the best. May you both live your lives by speaking the truth, treating others with fairness, building good will and better friendships and focusing on making a better world for all. We are excited to hear your final prepared speeches.
Mikalya Miller and Shyanne Pilozzi both were sponsored by our Newark Rotary Club. Shyanne placed 2nd in the semi-final round winning a cash prize of $350.00. She went on to tie for 4th in the final round. It was a joy to hear their speeches once again today.
President Adam closed us with this inspirational message: “Do, or do not. There is no TRY” Yoda from Star Wars.