The meeting was called to order by President, Bob Garagiola at 12:01 p.m. followed by the pledge of allegiance.
Invocation by Jack Windish
Richard Losciale led us in a rendition of “Walking after Midnight”
Birthday shout-out and song for Jay Ryan
World Polio Day:
Rick Tinucci reminded us what World Polio Day means to our club with an overview and history of Rotary’s dedication to the eradication of this life-threatening, highly contagious, and preventable disease. Over 2.5 billion vaccinations have been given since the first Rotary sponsored inoculation in 1979. We heard form Virginia Epstein, a polio survivor, now 103 years old, who shared with us her gratitude for the Rotary’s initiative to stop the spread of polio.
CALL TO ACTION: A small number (88) of polio cases have been reported globally in 2019, there is still work to be done. Rick asked members to make a pledge/donation to the polio fund with an added incentive that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match 2:1!
Announcements:
Young Citizen Awards are next week, October 31, many thanks to the committee and mentors who make this event possible.
Veterans Day Program with the MAC is scheduled for November 7
Bob Sherrill called for the nominations of board officers. Election ballots are due December 28. He also shared a heartwarming updated about Nom, a child whom the club sponsored and supported during a life-changing surgical procedure that has allowed Nom the ability to walk with a walker.
There is a community service opportunity this weekend, October 26, at the Jewel Box in Forest Park. Our team will plant Tulip bulbs and we will all be awaiting their bloom in the spring.
Rolling for Rotary, our club fundraiser, is scheduled November 24. All are encouraged to attend.
Dan Conway, Sergeant at Arms, introduced many guests and two visiting Rotarians.
St. Louis Browns History:
Matt Weiss introduced speaker and author, Ed Wheatley, who shared with us the dynamic and colorful history of the once, not so great, St. Louis Browns Major League Baseball team.
The team originated as the Milwaukee Brewers and moved to St. Louis in 1902. Their performance in St. Louis, 42 losing seasons in 52 years, has made them one of the least remembered teams in history but not in St. Louis, a city that embraces the love for their baseball wholeheartedly. Furthermore, Ed’s award winning book, “St. Louis Browns: The Story of a Beloved Team” has been made into a movie, forever memorializing the team.
We learned many interesting facts, such as
• The STL Browns Fan club boasts over 700 members
• Only 9 original St. Louis Browns players survive today
• George Sisler was the first MVP in 1922 and had a 0.42 batting average
• Many other baseball statistics were shared and are available for review in Ed’s book
• An attempt was made in 1941 to move the St. Louis Browns to Los Angeles
• The Browns won their only pennant in 1944 and then lost to the Cardinals in the series
• Some Browns players had catchy names like Heine Meine, Bobo, and Dizzy
• The Browns were innovators of integration, signing Hank Thompson and Willard Brown in 1947
• Roy Sievers was Rookie of the year in 1949 and his bonus was a pair of shoes, spikes actually.
• The team relocated in 1953 and became the Baltimore Orioles.
Wrap:
A book will be donated on Ed Wheatley’s behalf. The 50/50 drawing winner was Ralph Decker, drawing the 9 of Clubs.
President Bob adjourned the meeting at 1:06 p.m.