President Joel Pelzner opened the meeting with about110 members present..Total membership 439.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: George Perkins reported Bill Pickerings death, and Mike Allocca's pending heart operation. Mike Law asked for more jesters.
ACTIVITIES: Bridge, tennis as usual. 6-8PM..Chefs luncheon on June 21 and Lobsterfest on July 9. Summer barbeque on August 17, with volunteers needed. The Investment Discussion Group meets on Monday, June 18 at 10:30AM at the Community Center. Golf Challenge at Silvermine on June 20, Sterling Farms on July 10 and Fairchild Wheeler on July 24. Bicyclists on Wednesdays. Pete Stair doing a sidewalks of NY on June 13 to the 911 memorial. Mystery book group will read a Dick Francis book. Country Walkers start June 25 at Huntington State Park, meet at 8:30AM. 4F's on June 22 at Woodway Beach Club.
COUTH: see above Pete Stair.
JESTER Jack Messert gave a report on the Queen of England's flatulent horse.
SPEAKERS; "Shepherd's Program" President Tim Stuart explained the mentoring program set up to benefit bright, dedicated inner city kids through high school and hopefully college. They choose mentor/sponsors to work one on one as a substitute parent to help finance and help in every way to pull the students away from ghetto life. High School drop out rate at inner city schools is 50%, while mentored students have only 8%. The program has already served 220 students and currently doing 75-80 more. They need more sponsor/mentors.
Executive Director Norma Darragh says Connecticut High Schools are the worst of all states on dropouts. The program graduates 90%. Most are first in their family to go beyond High School.
Mentors must sign up for four years. A former mentee spoke to us about how his life was changed and is now mentoring a High Schooler.
Harry Hitch, Secretary