August Update
Hello Fellow Skalleagues,
I hope you are all enjoying your summer. There has been so much going on since my last post that I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on some recent SKAL happenings. I have some good news to share with you regarding SIUSA. As of the July 30th quarterly report Boston is officially the largest club in the US with 158 members. We have added 5 new members in the past 3 months and we welcomed back 2 returning skalleagues. Congratulations Joe Capalbo, Rita Fucillo, Teresa Paolini, Catherine Chaulet, Cecilia Dahl, and welcome back Mark Fisher and Robert Jordan. The next largest club has 146.
I would like to thank Bob Diodati and the entire staff of Wentworth By The Sea Country Club for there outstanding hospitality, great meal, and the use of their first class facilities and golf course for our June meeting. I know I speak for all of those golfers who took advantage of the opportunity to play this private course when I tell you that it was incredible.
I also want to thank Deb Borgwardt and the staff at the New England Aquarium for providing us with a picture perfect day for the outdoor clam bake at the Harbor View Terrace. What a fantastic venue with an unmatched view of Boston Harbor.
Late June and early July were extremely busy along the Boston Waterfront. From June 30-July 5th Boston played host the Bicentennial Celebration of the War of 1812 which included over 25 navy vessels, tall ships from around the world the Blue Angels and over 50 other aircraft.
Just prior to 1812 Celebration Boston’s newest attraction opened up in the Fort Point Channel. Congratulations to skalleague Shawn Ford and Historic Tours of America on the opening of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.
Thanks to Executive SecretaryTreasurer Holly Powers we have secured a great trip to Ireland planned for February 14th -18th. This 4 night package includes 4 star accommodations in Kilkenny, Killarney and Dublin. Private motor coach, 4 full breakfasts, and 3 dinners all for $349 dbl. Aer Lingus and Sceptre Tours will also provide air for $669.00 (all in). This is a wonderful opportunity to see Ireland with your fellow skalleagues at a remarkable price. If you have questions or need more information please contact myself or Holly.
Finally I want to recognize our very own secretary Phil Stamm and his Hyatt Team for hosting the “2012 Over the Edge Boston” event to raise money for Special Olympics. On July 20th and21st, the 104 member Hyatt team, led by Phil, went “over the edge” and repelled down the side of the Hyatt Regency Boston. They raised over $14,000 for SOMA bringing the 2 year total for this annual event to $290,000. Phil has challenged SKAL International Boston to participate as a team next year. It will be a great opportunity to have some fun, conquer your fears and raise money and awareness for a very worthy cause.
Just a reminder about our next 4 meetings.
- August 16th Seaport Hotel
- September 20th Tea Party Ships and Museum (Special Evening Reception Event - 5pm museum tour, 6pm cocktails),
- October 18th, Top of The Hub,
- November 15th, Hyatt Regency Boston.
I look forward to seeing you all very soon.
SKAL International Boston – June 4, update
Hello Skalleagues,
Happy June! First off I wanted to thank Adam Sperling and the entire staff of the Hotel Commonwealth for hosting the May luncheon at Island Creek Oyster Bar. The venue, service and food were fantastic. I also want to once again congratulate Priscilla Lee who joins Robin Brewster, Carmen Dongo, and Amanda Soucy as the 4th recipient of the Kieth Staples Scholarship Award. Priscilla was the first recipient to be awarded the $2500.00 amount and it could not have been given to a nicer young lady. Thanks also to Robyn Culbertson for continuing to administer the fund and working with the selection committee to find such worthy winners.
We had 80 guests at the May luncheon and once again your generosity is greatly appreciated. Several members took advantage of our newest technological improvement and added the purchase of raffle tickets to the on line registration fee, those tickets were waiting for you when you checked in. A few more used their credit cards on site to buy tickets and support the club. Regardless of how you contributed, together we raised another $810.00 for the May raffle. THANK YOU!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE JUNE MEETING!
As you are aware, the June meeting will be held on the 21st at the beautiful Wentworth by the Sea Country Club in Rye, NH. http://wentworthbytheseacc.com/ Our host for the day is the GM, and Skalleague Bob Diadoti. Not only will we be enjoying a wonderful reception and lunch in the Donald Ross Grill and views of the beautiful NH seacoast, but Bob has graciously invited us to take advantage of some of the clubs amenities including Golf, Tennis and use of the pool all at no charge. Tee times are available beginning at 2:30pm and are on a first come first serve basis. Please call the club office in advance to reserve golf, tennis or the pool at 603-433-3050. Also if you would like to stay overnight at the Wentworth By The Sea Hotel before or after the meeting you can make reservations by calling 603.422.7322. www.wentworth.com
The Special SKAL Rate is $199.00 per night.
One other note, this is a casual meeting so please leave your jackets and ties at home.
As a follow up to last months message I wanted to once again invite you to join the First Corps Cadets www.afcc1741.org/index.html and help support this very worthwhile museum and the courageous men and women who serve in our country’s military especially those who have fought for the Massachusetts National Guard. If you are interested in joining for the low annual fee of $50, please email me at blawler@entertainmentcruises.com and I will provide you with all of the information.
SKAL Boston Travel Committee
I announced at the May meeting that we have created a travel committee to help plan one or two SKAL trips for 2012. This committee is being led by Holly Powers and we hope to have a some recommendations to the club later this month. In the meantime I invite all of you to submit any suggestions for trips especially if you have specific contacts and or industry deals that you can offer the club. Please email your thoughts to powersh1@verizon.net or blawler@entertainmentcruises.com
SKAL International Boston update April 24, 2012
Fellow Skalleagues,
I wanted to take a moment to update on some exciting news for SKAL International Boston.
First of all, I want to thank Terrilyn Haak, and the entire staff of Towne Stove and Spirits for hosting a fantastic lunch last week. We had over 70 attendees and we raised over $1500 for the Keith Staples Scholarship Fund.
Speaking of the KSF, I am very happy to announce that because of the outstanding generosity of our club and the hard work and dedication of your immediate Past President Chris Pappas the Scholarship Fund now has over $47,000. The success of our fundraising efforts made it possible for your Board of Directors to unanimously vote to increase the annual scholarship amount from $1500 to $2500 for 2012 and beyond.
I am also proud to announce that the 2012 KSF Scholarship winner is Priscilla Lee. Priscilla is a junior in the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst where she maintains a 3.258 GPA majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management. She is currently employed in the Starwood Corporate Summer Internship Program where she will be working for the W Hotel in New York this summer. She is the VP of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality at UMass as well as a member of the Isenberg School of Management Women in Business Society organization. Priscilla was referred by skalleague Christine Frazier and she will be attending the May luncheon at the Hotel Commonwealth to receive her award.
I also wanted to take a moment to mention our March fundraising cocktail party at the First Corps of Cadets Museum. This museum is truly a hidden gem of Boston. www.afcc1741.org/index.html
The mission of the Museum of the First Corps of Cadets is to preserve the artifacts and archives and to promote the history the Oldest Continuously Active Volunteer Militia Unit of the United States which is still serving our country after 267 years of continuous service. Since 1741 the First Corps of Cadets, now designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 211th Military Police Battalion, has lived up to it motto Monstrat Viam : “It Points the Way.” The Corps has always been one of the premier organizations of the Massachusetts National Guard and, while it has served in five wars, its primary Contribution to the Commonwealth and nation was as an officer-producing institution for new regiments from the Revolutionary War through World War II. The First Corps of Cadets will continue to point the way as it enters its fourth century of service.
The purpose of Association of the First Corps of Cadets (the men and women who are members) is exclusively charitable and educational and include the promotion and encouragement of public interest in and study of the history of the Commonwealth and, in particular, the history of the First Corps of Cadets and other units of the Commonwealth’s militia.
You can help preserve this museum and support this incredible group of volunteers by becoming a member. For the very reasonable price of $50 per year you can join the association and help to off set the costs of operating and maintaining this great piece of American History. If you would like to learn more or you would like an application for membership please email me at info@skalboston.com .
Finally, I want to share the list of venues for 2012-2013
2012/2013 SKAL MEETING VENUES
April 19, 2012 Towne Stove and Spirits Boston
May 17, 20112 Hotel Commonwealth Boston
June 21, 2012 Wentworth by the Sea Country Club Rye, NH
July 19, 20112 New England Aquarium Boston
August 16, 2012 Seaport Hotel Boston
September 20 , 2012 Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum**** Boston ***This will be a special after work reception
October 18, 2012 Top of the Hub Boston
November 15, 2012 Hyatt Regency Boston*** Boston ***Past President’s Lunch
December 20, 2012 Colonnade Hotel*** Boston ***Holiday Lunch
January 17, 2013 The Boston Harbor Hotel Boston
February 21, 2013 The Ritz Carlton Boston
March ?, 2013 Entertainment Cruises*** Boston ***President’s Night
Thank you and SKAL
Bob Lawler
Rosecliff in the rain is still remarkable
Almost 60 Skaleagues and their guests headed south for Skal yesterday. The Preservation Society of Newport, the Newport Convention & Visitors Bureau and Blackstone Caterers did a great job making us feel welcome in Newport.
Despite the gloomy weather we’ve had all week, Rosecliff was still remarkable….and in fact, we even saw a bit of sun before the lunch was over.
Thanks once again to those businesses who donated items for the Raffle. The proceeds benefit the Keith Staples Scholarship Fund and we’re well on our way to making the Fund self sustainable thanks to the generosity of all who participate. Please email us at info@skalboston.org if you’d like to donate items this year.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for June 16 – Skal will be at The Hampshire House. Skaleague Tom Kershaw will be hosting us….and we’ll actually have the reception on one floor and the lunch on another due to our size!
Welcome to SKAL International Boston!
We’re looking forward to a great first meeting of the new year on April 21 at the Millennium Bostonian Hotel.
Click here to register now!
Take a look at the Events tab and mark your calendar for the rest of the year!