Director Deb from St. Francis Prayer Center

Deb Hawley from St. Francis Prayer Center came to tell us more about her work near the intersection of Carpenter Road and Dort Highway. Started by a priest in 1974, concern was focused on the poor in “the Projects” (a term with which Deb is very uncomfortable), now extending to the ecumenical “Parish” with emphasis on needy mothers and children. Help with paying utility bills, obtaining food, and especially obtaining beds (distributing 500 beds per year!), along with holiday meals and celebration keep Director Deb very busy: Thanksgiving dinners and “adoption” of 40-50 families for Christmas meals and family gifts are funded by donations and their largest fundraiser (next Saturday’s Gatsby-themed” dinner and auction. Volunteers from local parishes and schools come to pack gift boxes, pass out provisions, and pray for recipients, or to participate in retreats on the Center grounds (available for rent, with 24 beds on-site). The lovely and peaceful grounds are great for a “guided” or open gathering for those who can use a reflective experience or a break from stress and schedules.

The 19 people gathering for today’s meeting were called to a semblance of order by President Phil Holmblade, who took advantage of Art Ridley‘s return from his surgery to ask Art to lead in the Pledge, followed by Jack Proffitt‘s invocation. Mic Goulet reported that the Club will likely receive between $7000 and $8,000 from the recent Walt Widder Memorial Golf Classic. (How this can happen is a little unclear in that Mic’s guest today, Ted Kramer, is expecting his portion of the $500,000 purse that he and Mic agreed to share from their golf winnings.) All were reminded of this evening’s Installation Dinner at Ruggero’s before the fines began:

John “J-Lo” Losinski fined “anyone who showed up after his guest speaker this morning” and then paid another fine for “self-flagellation” proposed by Steve Schlott, Bill Hentgen paid another fine related to his shirt and, incensed, proposed fines against all those boring folk who did not wear their grandkids’ pajamas to the meeting. Keeping to the shirt theme, Jack Proffitt fined all who “did not get the memo” about wearing Club shirts this morning, after which Jack Medemar fined all those who had not absconded with John Farah‘s “hole sponsor” sign from the Widder outing. Jeff Dennings fined President-Elect Greg Hilliker for “harrassing” TailTwister Jack Medemar before Phil Holmblade (again) won the “50/50” pot. Speaker Chair J-Lo closed with the Creed, which starts…

“Promise Yourself…”

Until next time…