Karin Gaffney presents Paul Harris Fellowships to Don McPherson (for Nancy), Dan Hnatio and Mary Garcia
 
 
Guests
  • Terry Hnatio, Spouse of Member Dan
  • David Ostrowski, Speaker
  • Parry Graham, Principal of NRHS
 
Announcements
  • “Best of Times” wine tasting event will be held next Thursday night, April 30th, and take the place of our regular Thursday meeting.
  • The District Assembly training session will be held April 25th, at the Holiday Inn in Marlborough.
  • Also coming up is the District Conference on May 15-17th; this year we’re hosting a hospitality suite with the Acton-Boxborough club.
  • Gabriel (our Gift of Life child) is out of the hospital but needs to gain weight in order to be released from care. He’s living with another Rotarian, Carmen Nazario, in Dedham.
  • We’ve received approval for a district grant to assist the Healing Garden in producing a new video about their work.
  • The May 21st meeting will be a club assembly; on the agenda, there are three global grant proposals for discussion.
  • Paul Harris Fellowships were given to three Club members for their work on the Power of Change event: Dan Hnatio, Nancy McPherson (Don accepted it for her), and Mary Garcia.
 
Happy/sad fines
  • Ron: happy that his son got his learner’s permit today.
  • Don: has a new eye (cataract surgery).
  • Cyndi: sad that a business partner passed on, and another has non-Hodgkins lymphoma; on the other hand, her daughter took new job, inside sales with Under Armor; and their house went on the market today.
  • Fatima: happy that she could spend time with her grandchildren; her business is growing; and she and Richard are remodeling the house.
  • Rich: demolition has begun on the house; happy they’re going to Martha’s Vineyard this weekend to see some friends and see some architectural plans for rebuilding; and had a great time at the Reality Fair.
  • Karin: happy that her youngest son will play his final college game in lacrosse.
  • Chris: his son got into UC Santa Barbara; and he rode on his bicycle on the route of the Boston Marathon.
  • Laura: sad that Carl’s mother died; happy that her son is now 21; received good feedback about the Reality Fair; hosted the wine fellowship at her home (all are invited to future events).
  • Bob: sad that there was a light turnout for RYLA applications this year.
  • Jim: happy that there was a good turnout for the Red Sox Opening Day event at the Stow COA; glad to have been part of the Reality Fair (although it was distressing to have to explain to high school students how to calculate 5% of a number); and he has his visa for Brazil to attend the RI Convention.
  • Richard: happy to be married to Fatima; happy that the Reality Fair went so well; happy that the Red Sox event at the Stow COA also went well; happy that his daughter is expecting twins; and happy for Jim as he will be a great Club President.
  • Parry: sad that his mom passed away, but glad for a wonderful celebration of her life; happy for the high school’s new Interact club.
 
Speaker
David Ostrowsky, author of Game Over or Game On, a book about what athletes do after their sports careers are over.
  • The book concerns athletes who have retired but are active in their communities. There is life after sports.
  • One example is Homes for Holidays. After a successful career in the NFL, Warrick Dunn now devotes his life to helping single parents afford home ownership.
  • Other examples: A basketball player from the Congo, Dikembe Mutombo, is helping to fight malaria; and Mo Vaughn is working to provide affordable housing in the Bronx.
  • The transition from celebrity to philanthropy wasn’t seamless; there were setbacks along the way, but but these people were able to leverage their connections, and resources to do good and help others.
  • Question: Why did you write the book? The sports aspect was interesting, but even more was how ex-athletes interact with society.
  • Question: Did you gain any life lesson from writing the book? I learned that these sports celebrities are open, respectful, courteous, and down to earth, despite their wealth and fame.
  • What got you to do it? Had been a sports writer and really wanted to write a book.
  • After taxes and expenses, the actual salary of a professional athlete is 15-20% of his published salary.
  • Media stories tend to focus on the bad. This book was an attempt to show the good that retired athletes are doing.
  • Question: What percentage of ex-athletes go into nonprofit work? Of the NFL and MBA players, most do not; about 1-2% make a new, full time career of it; many more give back in many other ways.
  • Question: what’s the level of language in the book? The book is conversational, colloquial.