Rotary Club of Owego, NY ROTATELLER
Tuesday, April 5, 2005 Gary Williams, Editor

Attendance: 35

Guests:

Jose, Andres, Lois Bingley, and our speaker, John Shafer

Music:

We sang “America”, and “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in “honor” of the recent flood victims. When Harry arrived we sang “Happy Birthday” to him. Rumors were flying that he is 60.

Exchange Student Reports:

Jose is back from the District Youth Exchange Albany Trip. Andres is back from a trip to Palo Alto, CA.

Inducton:

Joe DiCosimo, sponsored by Mychael Willon, was inducted into the club. Joe is the principal at the Apalachin Elementary School.

Announcements:

1. Attending the Zone 31-32 Training Session held at the Owego Treadway were: Al Bingley, Faye Rafferty, Gwen Smith, Terry Steenburg, and Annette Schweiger for the Part 1 session. Carl, Orv, and Judy attended the Part 3 session.
2. Al Sunderwirth announced that sponsors and volunteers are needed for Bike Tioga to be held on August 13 & 14th.
3. There are $5.00 off coupons available for the next Tri-Cities Opera performance.
4. Carolyn Galatzan announced a meeting of the Paul Harris committee to follow the lunch meeting.
5. The District 7170 Conference will be held the first weekend of May at Callicoon.

Fine Report:

Faye Rafferty quizzed us on Alexander Hamilton our first Secretary of the Treasury. Born in 1755 in the West Indies, came to the U. S. to be educated in 1773, Princeton refused to admit him.

Happy Dollars:

Many people were very happy, especially Carolyn Galatzan. The water has gone down from 2 ½ feet to 4 inches in her basement. She was able to shower at the Bingley’s.

Classified Ad:

Jose would like to do odd jobs for any Rotary Club members to earn money for the U. S. A. trip. He is willing to work.

Program:

Richard Schaal introduced the speaker. John Shafer was a Paul Harris fellow for 1997. He is a native of Owego, married, and has three children who have all returned home to live. He is blessed with a grandchild who also lives with him.

John has been delving into the history of the Presbyterian Church in Owego. In 1790, missionaries were sent out including the frontier town of Owego. The churches first met in barns and taverns. In 1810, the site was at the Jailhouse Restaurant area. (Trivia: Main Street used to be known as Back Street. Gary Williams’s house possibly began life as a storage barn for the church.)

The Congregational Church split from the Presbyterian Church due to differences on the abolition issue. They rejoined this century at the urging of Washington Gladden. Thus the name, Presbyterian Union Church. (Trivia: Washington Gladden helped found the Negro College Fund. He also wrote hymns.)

Harriet Beecher Stowe and family came to Owego when her brother was installed as a minister.

The tracker organ was installed in 1972. It was saved from a church before demolition in Oswego, NY. (Trivia: Wilma plays a tracker organ at the Newark Valley United Methodist Church that was saved from a Syracuse church one day before demolition)

The Arts Council will soon host a guest organist who heard that this is the largest tracker organ in New York State.

Doyle Gibbs won the 50/50.

Upcoming Speakers:

LeaAnn Tinney from the Industrial Development Agency will be the speaker at the breakfast meeting.

Ron Dougherty will be the next lunch time speaker.

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