President Liz Quinn opened our meeting with the Pledge, and My Country 'Tis of Thee and member Ron Spratt gave the prayer.  Great to see Ron Spratt and Elinor Stolar who had to walk from afar as the parking garage was full. 

Announcements:

Chair of the Nominating Committee, Jeanne Smith announced the proposed slate of officers for next year. Since no one stepped forward to take sole office of President,  there will be rotation of 4 past Presidents, serving three months.  Voting will take place on Thursday, May 29.  Please contact Jeanne Smith if you have any questions.

    President:                              Debbie Van Horn - October, November, December 2008

                                                Jeanne Smith - January, February, March 2009

                                                Jim Leder - April, May, June 2009

                                                John Ratnavale - July, August, September 2009

    President-Elect:                       Stephanie McCabe

    Vice President:                        Jeanne Smith

    Secretary:                               Patricia Tiede

    Treasurer:                               Liz Quinn

    Immediate Past President:        Liz Quinn

    2008-2010 Directors:                Gary Boswell

                                                           John Ratnavale

                                                           Dick Ruprecht

    2007-2009 Directors:                Susan Kirk

                                                          Jim Leder

                                                          Shira Oler

                                                          Debbie Van Horn

Announcements:

Pat Tiede announced that our next meeting would be a Field Trip to Imagination Stage (4908 Auburn Avenue) to view the new play Looking for Roberto Clemente.  The show starts at 10:30 and we will then walk over for lunch at Tragara's where we will also present our grant donation to Imagination Stage at that time.  The show is the World Premiere of a rock musical about baseball and heroes. We will need a definite count by Monday, May 19. The show is free. Meet George Spicer in the lobby before 10:30. Lunch will be served at 12 noon.

Happy Dollars:

Liz Quinn 3 HD, one for her son Sean who graduated from College of Charleston, one for Bill Hague's son,  J. D. Hague who graduated from Suwannee College, and one for the proposed slate of officers. Dick  Ruprecht  HD for Jim  Aylor and Jim Leder (J&J) work on Miracle League baseball. Bob Gradle  HD for J&J.  Gary Boswell HD for son’s braces are off now, HD for negative biopsy for wife Kelly.  Pat Tiede  HD for J&J and the Trustees of the Miracle League who had their first meeting on Tuesday.  Jim Aylor 5 HD for new officers and for Liz Quinn.  Ron Spratt 5 HD for speaker and for his daughter who is in the Broadway show "Cry Baby."  Elinor Stolar HD for finally finding a parking space. Chris VandeMoortel  HD for he and wife Nicole and daughter Emma  who traveled to Connecticut for wife’s 20^th high school reunion.  Scott Brewer  HD for travel to Elon College for graduation of grandson.

Speaker:

Scott Brewer introduced our speaker Theresa Maxwell from NASA. She has worked for NASA for 28 years and showed slides/video about the (ISS) International Space station. The US has the main role with Canada, Europe, Russia, and Japan also providing crew, equipment and launch vehicles. Russia has provided about two-thirds of the cargo and crew vehicles to the station. For cargo, including food, unmanned cargo vehicles are used – when the cargo is delivered the vehicle is loaded with trash and waste and then sent off to burn off in the atmosphere as it enters a lower orbit. The station is still under construction and will be finished by about 2010. It is expected to be in operation until 2016. All the crew members have to speak both English and Russian as this is the language of the controllers. No alcohol is allowed, freeze dried food is the rule and a few fresh fruits/vegetables are available for only a day or two after a cargo ship docks at the station.  What an interesting presentation. 

Bill Pennington won the 50/50.