Meeting of April 17, 2008

Next Meeting Time & Place: April 24, 2008 Rotary Scout and Community Cabin.  Program: Mayor Barry Tilghman, City of Salisbury

Song: “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” led by Gordon Gladden

Pledge:  President Marion Keenan

Prayer: Hank Engster

Head Table:  President Marion Keenan, GSE team leader Roland Vandaele and Committee Chair John Burkett

Guests:  GSE Team from District 1620 Belgium: Leader Roland Vandaele, Katrijn Heyndrickx, Bram Deroo, Lode Gevaert, and Brun Vermote. Sunrise Rotary Club: Becky Haselnus and husband Larry, Bill Ferguson, Maggie Porter, Dennis Weller, Karen Lemon, and Kathy Kiernan. Wicomico Rotary Club: Cam Jackson (host family) and Area DG Don Hackett and son, Don Hackett, II. Snow Hill Club: Doug Glascox. Sabine Boggs, Sonya Spery, James Gillespie, Terri Bernstein, and Lynn Taylor.

Announcements:

  • Thanks to Chris Layton and Simpson Dunahoo for last week’s Wild Game Night—a new tradition has started!
  • Bob Brown updated us on the water system project with Rotary District #2241, Club #69354 the Danubius Giurgiu Club in Romania.  To date the group has received $2800 in donations and needs $6000+ as well as one laptop, hygiene supplies, and PB & J.
  • Matt Maciarello thanked us for the use of the Scout Cabin for the cub scouts.
  • April 25 & 26: Salisbury Festival Wine Booth. Kathleen McLain informed us that shirts of all sizes are available for $18.50 per shirt.
  • April 25, 26, & 27: District meeting in Annapolis
  • May 1: Annual Steak Fry
  • June 12: Shorebirds outing. $30 per person for buffet. Need 50 people to sign up.
  • June 19: Basket Bingo
  • Helping MD Food Bank during the month of May so bring canned goods to the meeting.
  • Rotary Board meeting June 12 at 4:30 at Perdue Stadium
  • July 3, 2008 meeting is cancelled.
  • Mark Thompson is back at the Salvation Army.

Main Program: GSE team gave an informative talk on Belgium.

  • Bram Deroo located Belgium on the European map and tested our knowledge of famous Belgians (e.g. Jean-Claude Van Damme; Justine Henin). Belgium gained its independence in 1830. Brussels is the political heart and capital of Europe.  Flemish, French, and German are spoken in Belgium.
  • Bruno Vermote talked about business in Belgium: Small County, Big Business. Belgium is in the heart of the economic power base of Europe.  Belgium is home to such companies as Barco and !nBev (think Beck beer).  For the USA, Belgium is our 5th largest trading partner.
  • Katrijn Heyndrickx updated us on several medical facts.  For example, in Belgium there is 1 house doctor for each 271 inhabitants.
  • Lode Gevaert spoke on the culture of Belgium. He noted famous painters, Rubens and Margritte; sculptures, Panamarenko; fashion designers, Walter von Beirendonck; movie stars, Jean-Claude Van Damme; musicians, comic books, and gastronomy, such as chocolate.

50/50 Winners :  Marion Keenan and George Vickers

       Enjoy Rotary!