Rotary Spoke 02 01 16

Posted by Spencer Betts 
on Feb 01, 2016
 

Koren Stembridge, Director & Emily Smith, Asst. Director & Head of Technology

of Cary Memorial Library Speak to Rotary

 
            On a spring like day, 23 Rotarians and 2 guest speaker meet at the Waxy O’Connor’s with President Domenic presiding. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Bob C, one verse of American was led by Charlie V, and PP Don S provided the Invocation. The Welcome song for some reason was led by tone deaf PP Murray A (PP Dan O would have been appalled).
 
            Happy dollars started by our President Domenic for PP Dan B not release the picture he took of him last week. The rumor is he looked like ‘Weekend at Bernie’s, Lexington Rotary edition’. Bob C is living it up in retirement was happy to ride his motorcycle to the meeting. I (PP Spencer), was happy that my Dad came up for a visit. PP Dan B gave some happy dollar for a new car and had to pay a fine for what he said was for Treasurer Donna’s crying at the board meeting. Megan gave some happy dollars for her birthday and for missing a few meetings. PP Don M gave $1,000 happy dollars/remembrance dollars for his Dad who passed away. He shared some funny stories and donated the money to the foundation in his Father’s name. 
 
For announcements, the board approved the fantastic idea of having a visitor’s day. Truly one the finest ideas ever to come out of the club. It will be on May 9th and every member will be expected to bring at least one guest/potential member. More details as we get closer to the event. President Domenic announced that our club has raised the 2nd most amount of money related to the Polar Plunge. If you have not made a donation, please consider doing so. The Scholarship Committee is looking for another member or two. If you are interested, please reach out to PP Jim F. Comedy night this year will be May 6th, please put that in your calendar. More details to follow. The Rotary Peace and Understand awards dinner is next week. If you are interested, please register online.
 
Next week’s meeting, February 8th, will be at Minuteman Tech. There will be no meeting on February 15th in celebration of President’s day.
 
Raffle gifts were donated by Vail Studios, Bickling Financial Services, Inc., Walpole Co-Op bank, and the Rotary Club of Lexington.
 
            Our speakers were from the Cary Library. Director, Koren Stembridge and Asst. Director & Head of Technology, Emily Smith talked about the library’s history and plans for the future. Cary Library was started with a $1,000 donation in 1869. It moved to its current location in 1906. The building has taken many forms and was last remodeled in 2004. The library is regular in the top 5 busiest Massachusetts public libraries. Around 23,000 people have library cards and last year the library had around 516,000 visitors. They thanked the Rotary Club for our donation of 8 MacBooks. They showed how kids are using them for animation videos. The library is hoping to transform a few of their spaces this summer. They need more areas for the teens in town to hang out and do work that is separated from the quiet reading areas. They want more small conference rooms for people to use while doing group projects. The Library also wants to expand their language lab and offer a library of things. They have raised around 90% of the funds needed for this redesign and plan to start construction this summer. They are hoping this will have minimal impact on the day-to-day activities of the library. The goal is for the work to be completed before the start of school this Fall. 
For more info go to: http://www.carylibrary.org/transformative-spaces
 
 
 
Steve K won the 50/50.  
 
SB