NEXT MEETING:           March 6, 2018

                                       La Guardiola Restaurant – 6 P.M.

PROGRAM:                Networking Session

ATTENDANCE Silvana Buccianti, Maureen Caswell, Harriet Grodberg, Janice Hall, Dawn Herring, Virginia Johnson, Hal Kawalek, Rosemary Kellner, Elizabeth Mohamed, Rev. Dorothy Patterson, Melissa Rada, Carol Trojan

GUEST SPEAKER: Our guest speaker today was Amanda Bonilla of the Department of Children and Families.  Her topic today was foster care/adoption.  Foster care is temporary from a weekend up to a year.  Ms. Bonilla informed us that there are currently 100 children in foster care in Bayonne.  The age for foster care can be from infant to 21 years of age.  A child(ren) can be removed from a home due to domestic violence, incarceration or drug abuse.  If at all possible, they are placed with family first.  There are residential centers and group homes for chldren that cannot be placed.  The very intrusive process which includes home study, training, background checks and fingerprinting and takes anywhere from 3-6 months to become licensed.  A candidate for foster care/adoption must be at least 21 years of age and can be married or single, and either rent or own.   Once a children is placed in a home, Medicaid is provided as well as boarding rate, counseling and daycare/after school care.  Ms. Bonilla stated that there is a need for foster homes in Bayonne.  Anyone looking for further information can contact her at 201-795-0423, ext. 7856.  We thank Ms. Bonilla for her service to these children and for joining us this morning. 

PRESIDENT’S CORNER:

• Our Dinner/Show held February 22^nd brought in a profit of $2,110 after expenses were paid.  Thank you to everyone who participated.

• A second fundraiser will be held on April 24^th at the Mason Hall. This will be a Pocketbook Bingo. Further details will follow.

• A Wellness Night fundraiser is still in the planning stages. Further info will follow.

• Our last fundraiser of this Rotary year will be a 50/50. The drawing will take place at the Installation Dinner on June 26^th.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS:

• March 13th - Cathy Laszkow of Investors Bank

                                   Topic:  Services Available

• March 20th - TBA

• March 27th - Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski, City Council President

                                    Topic:  Update on Bayonne

IMPORTANT DATES:

• March 15th - Academic Challenge Awards Ceremony – Horace Mann School – 6 p.m.

• March 15th - Rotary District 7490 (our district) will be having a Networking Session between clubs - Casino in the Park - 6 p.m. - $35 - we should have at least on time for this event.  Please let me know if you will be attending so I can make the reservation.  

Websites: www.rotary7490.org, www.rotary.org, www.bayonnerotary.com