May 7, 2008

            The April 30 lunch meeting of the Deposit Rotary Club was abuzz with excitement about the annual flamingo fest.  Rotarian Brenda Lee, now known as the Flamingo Fairy, explained how the flamingo project works.  In order to raise money for local projects, the Rotary Club will "flamingo" someone's yard by placing about two dozen of the plastic birds, usually in the middle of the night, along with a sign that says "Deposit Rotary Club was here!"  For a mere ten dollars, you can pay to have someone flamingoed.  To protect those with a fear of birds, Rotary also offers a flamingo insurance policy for ten dollars, making you immune to a flamingo-ing.  Be warned, though, as a fifteen-dollar donation by someone else can render your flamingo insurance null and void.  Once you have been flamingoed, you must pay $5 to have the flock removed.  I was very shocked to come into my dance studio on Friday only to find about 30 bright pink flamingoes milling about the yard.  Thankfully, it took only a phone call to the Flamingo Fairy and $5 for the creatures to be dissipated.

            In other news, our club has shattered each of our goals and raised $16,154 for the local Food Pantry during our Feinstein Challenge.  Our hats go off to Sue Elinsky for her hard work in organizing the challenge, and to the all of the individuals, organizations, and businesses who donated to the Pantry, and especially the dedicated staff of the Food Pantry.  Thank you for all the work you do here in our community!

            This is also the time of year for the Rotary calendar sale.  If you are interested in buying community birthday and anniversary calendars, be sure to contact any Rotarian.  Make sure to include your family birthdays, anniversaries, or in memoria to be included on the calendar.  It's great to have everyone's special days labeled!  Calendars will be on sale until May 28.

            Rotarian Shelly Ward announced that we are searching for families willing to hose the 2008-2009 Rotary Exchange Student.  His name is Ivan Holly, he is 17 years old and hails from Slovakia.  If anyone is interested in this interesting and rewarding experience of cultural exchange, please contact Shelly Ward.  

            Thanks for your dedicated readership!  More exciting news next week!