Rotary Spoke
RC Lexington – Spoke Notes for 7 Jan. 2013
Thirty-one of our members (who didn’t forget that we were not meeting at Waxy’s this week, but at the Minuteman Career and Technical High School on Marrett Road), enjoyed the delicious buffet prepared by the Culinary staff and students, including salads, pasta, fish and beef. The day was sunny, and brisk. We were joined by one visiting Rotarian and five guests.
Acting President Jim Shaw (the Shaw family is well-connected with Minuteman) presided today. PP Bob S. led us in the Pledge to Old Glory, Choir Master Charlie started us off on the correct key for the first verse of America, and PDG Jack offered the Invocation
Raffle prizes were provided by Bickling Financial Services, a few banks (including at least the TD Bank and Walpole Co-operative Bank), Vail Studios and the Rotary Club of Lexington. (As usual at the Minuteman’s dining room, the acoustics were terrible, especially if you are sitting near the kitchen, and a long way from the head table. My apologies to any donors that I missed. – DBH)
Fines & Happy $s – There were some fines, but I couldn’t hear all of the banter between and about Act. Pres. Jim and PP Dave Brother.
Act. Pres. Jim introduced the first of three speakers, from the Minuteman faculty, Dr. Edward Bouquilon, Superintendent. Bouquilon welcomed us to the school, and then gave us a brief update on the school’s status. As we’ve heard many times in the past 20+ years, the enabling legislation under which Minuteman (and all the other regional technical schools in the Commonwealth) has to operate is not always “superintendent friendly.” For example, the Minuteman district comprises 16 towns, each with one representative on Minuteman’s Board of Directors. All 16 towns must approve the annual budget. Another significant challenge is that only about half of the student body at Minuteman (about 730 this year) comes from the 16 member towns; the other half live mostly in Bedford, Boston, Waltham and Watertown. These “out of district” students are required by law to have their tuitions (about $19,000 per year) and transportation costs paid by the city/town where they live, but the law does not deal with the capital costs of providing the building and facilities that Minuteman needs. Thus, capital costs are borne entirely by the district towns, and some of these towns are not happy footing the entire capital budget.
Bouquilon also discussed various efforts to obtain grant funds and to form partnerships (e.g., with community colleges, in order to better provide the kind of adult education required by the industries we now have, such as biotech and robotics.)
However, in spite of these challenges, Minuteman continues to excel in its educational role. Of their graduates, 65-70% go on to higher education, and the rest go directly to jobs or to military service. Minuteman carefully tracks the career paths of their alumni, over 60% stay in their chosen field during the first three years.
We also heard from Ron Marino, discussing Vocational Development and Coop Placements for the students, and from Minuteman’s Principal, Ernest Houle.
Act. Pres. Jim introduced the slate of officers for the coming Rotary year, 2013-2014:
Pres. Jim Shaw; Pres. Elect Dave Siekman; 1st Vice Pres. Domenic Sicari; 2nd Vice Pres. and Secretary, Sue Carabbio; Treasurer Donna Leary; Sergeant-at-Arms Connie Neville; Presidential appointees to the Board, PPs Dan Busa, Dave Eagle and Jim Freehling; and Immediate PP, Dave Sears.
The members in attendance then voted (unanimously) to elect the entire slate.
He then concluded our meeting with a couple of announcements:
• Jan. 8th, PE Jim will undergo a hip replacement operation, and expects to be on medical leave for about six weeks.
• Jan. 22, Tuesday, is our annual joint meeting with the Lions Club will be hosted by the Lions this year, at Heritage Hall, Bedford Street. 6:30PM Cocktails and Fellowship, 7:00PM Dinner
Finally, the 50:50 was won by Julie Powers.
DBH