Pledge: President Joan
Prayer: President Joan
Song: Led by Bill McLaughlin
Brents's Flim/Flam: High hand won by Mark from JAMMS with 3 Aces. Proceeds
graciously donated back during Happy Bucks. Thanks Mark.
Raffle Winners: Al Lindquist, Joan Michaud and guest Heather Gagnon
Guests: Christine Burnham, Heather Gagnon and Kirby Kloter.
Happy Dollars: Many for our guests, also for golf partners at our tourney, Christine Burnham
for going to the Yankees game (hope she is a Red Socks fan), John Donnelly for family
returning safely from Ghana and a good trip, Ed Pinn for son graduating from Medical
School, Mark for winning poker hand, Carroll Bowser for joke on hobby of turning wine
and beer to pee, and last but not least a sad dollar from Jess Wenzel for leaving the
Old Saybrook club and Essex Savings Bank to start a new job with a bank in Norwich,
he'll be sorely missed and we wish him the very best in his new endeavor. He will still
be associated with Rotary in the Norwich area.
Student of the Month: Tony Carrano, Ass't Principal of Old Lyme High School introduced
Bill Rader, P.E. Instructor who told us about his choice for Student of the Month Tory
McKnight. Besides being a good academic student, she is on the All-State soccer and
track teams. She has 6 college applications pending and is hoping to attend Providence
College in the fall.
Program: Donna Lash introduced our speaker today, Greg Thompson who is and teaches
genealogy while his day job is manager of the O.S. Starbucks. Greg teaches a beginners
and an advanced course in genealogy through the O.S. Historical Society. Interested
parties can contact the Society or Greg at Starbucks.
Greg indicated that most people get interested in genealogy when they're older but may
miss some opportunities to talk with older family members as they pass away (or memory
fades). He also indicated you will probably find some surprises among your ancestors,
some may have been schondrels or you name it. There's always a story behind the
research. Greg can trace his lineage back to 14 passengers aboard the Mayflower and
going back to Charlemagne (could be related to Brent). There are also ties to Pocahontas
and the Griswold family in Old Lyme. Greg uses the Family Tree Maker software program
to organize and keep track of is family tree. Your editor also uses this and it can produce
some significant reports in many forms. Resources to help you get started are of course
family members, town hall and church records, the State Library and the Mormon Church
at it's Family History Centers. They are a great resource and can offer assistance in
getting started. Ellis Island is also another resource if family members came through
there in it's hay day. There are also many on-line resources, some free and some fee
such as Ancestor.com, Family Search, Genealogy Bank, U.S. Genweb, Cindy's list
and still more. Get started and have Fun!
Announcements:
Bill McLaughlin is looking for speakers for the coming months, let him know of
interesting programs we can present.
Bill O'Shaughnessy reminded us that we should all be thinking about a contribution
to the R.I. Foundation. This can take the form of a Paul Harris Sustaining membership,
or any amount you can afford to help this great foundation. They give back to us through
the Districts and to our club to fund cooperative projects we have mounted. See Bill for
more details to contribute.
THE FOUR-WAY TEST
of the things we think, say or do
First...
Is it the TRUTH ?
Second....
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Third....
Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Fourth....
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
asl
