meeting Guest Speakers

Guest Speakers -  Nicole and Gerard Esposito

The Espositos talked about the foster system as it exists today in NJ. They are foster parents themselves and know the difficulties foster families confront when a new child is brought to them. Nicole and Gerard have organized and launched a shop, "The Village Foster Closet", located in Forked River where families can get clothing, diapers, school needs, etc.   The Village South Foster Family Closet is dedicated to meeting the needs of Foster Kids, Teens and Families in the Southern Ocean County area. 

Thank you Nicole and Gerard for speaking to us and for the significant contribution you are making to make lives better.  Visit The Village Foster Closet Facebook page.  

Guest Speakers -  Kayla Fitzpatrick, Katrina Conti & Julia VanZant

RYLA, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, is a leadership experience organized by Rotary Clubs worldwide, where students develop skills in communication and problem solving while having fun and making connections.  Our club sponsored three LTHS students this year who attended the 4 day program at Stockton University.  We are a believer in this program, and we sponsor students every summer.  Our 2024 RYLA participants spoke at our 8/13 lunch meeting to share their experiences.  They will be leading our Interact Club at LTHS this school year under the guidance of our faculty advisor, Ms. Keena Frechette. Our RYLA leaders this year are Kayla Fitzpatrick, Katrina Conti, and Julia VanZant.

For more information on RYLA, go to Rotary.org, our programs, RYLA.  Also see Rotary.org, get involved, Interact.

Guest Speaker - Renee Risden 

Advisor - LTHS Special Olympics

Guest Speaker -  Ed Seeger,  Lacey Township Tax Assessor

Ed spoke on the topic of Tax assessment as it applies to residents and commercial properties in Lacey. 

The focus was primarily on the future of taxes in regard to the Power Plant closure and how that will affect possible increases to property owners.   Ed also enlightened us on the status of school taxes and discussed affordable housing now being build in Lacey and how they will be assessed once they are occupied.

Thank you Ed, you were with out question, an interesting and informative speaker.  Thank you for giving of your time to Rotary.

Guest Speaker -  Joseph Faragi,  CEO of Faragi Group

Joseph spoke with us about structure, management, protection and allocation of personal assets  applicable to both pre-retirees and current retirees.  Joseph was an informed and energetic speaker who shared interesting information including financial strategies, investment options,  and protection of principal.  His presentation was well received by Forked River Rotarians.  Thank you Joseph for being a guest speaker at our Tuesday Lunch Meeting.  

Guest Speaker -  Kelly Louth, Owner and Founder of Social Stamina

Kelly was a very informative and interesting speaker.  She spoke about social media and personal device secruity.  We learned the risks imposed by connecting our devices to public charging stations and public WiFi as well as sharing some tips on how to stay secure.  There were many questions and we all benefited from what we learned from Kelly.

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Guest Speaker -  Mayor John Baccione

Mayor Baccione spoke about his vision for Berkeley Township which includes his passionate desire to bring a Corporate Center to Berkeley.  The Mayor also discussed his philosophy of operating Bekeley Township as a business with concerns for financial wellness and service to residents. 

Guest Speakers -  Sam Pennisi and Julia Farnung

Julia and Sam provided us a very interesting and informative talk on the Senior Employment Assistance Program offered by the St. Francis Community Center.  The program is designed to assist seniors who are 55 and over who are looking to reenter the workforce or to start a new career after retirement.  It is a free program and offers one-on-one career guidance and support designed to boost confidence with interview preperation, resume building along with career and technology training.  Thank you Sam & Julia.

Guest Speaker -  Donna Setaro

Donna is the mother of NJ Trooper Marc Castellano who lost his life in the line of duty when he was struck by a passing vehicle on I-195 on June 6, 2010.  Since the tragedy of Marcs death, Donna has been campaigning for more highway signs and lecturing throught the Nation to bring public awareness to the  Move Over Law which safeguards first responders on our highways.  Donna's message to Rotary was passionate very heartfelt.   Learn more about the M.A.R.C. Campaign.  Thank you Donna for sharing your message with us.

Guest Speaker -  Mayor Ken Baulderstone

Mayor Ken Baulderstone joined us at our Tuesday lunch meeting.  He was a most interesting and highly informative speaker.   He shared with us some interesting early Waretown history and went on to inform us of recent and anticipated commercial and residential growth occuring in Waretown.  We also learned about many of the recreational opportunities, parks, and resturants available in the Township.   

The Forked River Rotary Club serves both Lacey and Waretown.  Having Mayor Key present at our Tuesday Lunch Meeting was well received and greatly appreciated.  Thank you Ken!

Guest Speaker -  Elaine Mac

Elaine was a fascinating speaker who told us much about the early history of Lacey and many of the founders dating back to the days of the Revolutionary War.   The Lacey Historical Society preserves artifacts, landmarks and lore of the local region, so that current and future generations can know of its past.  You can follow the Lacey Historical Society on Facebook.  

Thank you Elaine for join us and for your engaging presentation.  

Guest Speaker -  Thomas Dogas, CExP

Tom Dogas, who is a Certified Business Exit Planner, joined us to speak on the framework for business exit planning.  Tom emphasized that maximizing your business’s revenue when exiting ensures a higher selling price, and thereby increases financial security.  Tom’s talk was interesting, informative and thought provoking. 

Guest Speaker -  Bill Donnell,  Trustee for Rotary District 7505 Gift of Life Foundation

Bill joined us at our Tuesday meeting to speak about the Rotary International Gift of Life Project.  "Over 1.3 million children are born each year with a congenital heart defect. 93% are born in a country that cannot provide them with treatment. Gift of Life International provides lifesaving surgery to a child every 99 minutes by empowering doctors and nurses with the tools, training, funding and support they need to treat children in their country of birth."

Thank you Bill for your most interesting, informative and inspiring presentation. 

Learn more about Gift of Live work.

Guest Speaker -  Carl Jablonski, President

Carl is the President of the Lakehurst Historical Society and he is a very interesting and informative speaker.  Rotarians heard little known facts related to the Hindenburg and her fate on May 6, 1937.  Carl even passed around two artifacts recovered from the Hindenburg, a spoon and  a cup.  We heard some interesting history of airship use in the United State Navy as well as the past and current missions of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL).  

The Society provides free guided walking tours which include the Cathedral of The Air,  The Hindenburg Crash Site, Navy Lakehurst Heritage Center, The Ready Room, The Joint Military Service Room and the Historic Lakehurst Hangar One.  Thank you Carl for sharing your time with Forked River Rotary.

Tour Information

Watch Lakehurst Tour on YouTube

Lakehurst Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the distinguished heritage of Naval Air Station Lakehurst.  

Guest Speaker -  Bill Lissis, CPS

We were please to have Bill Lillis, CPS as a Gust Speaker from Drugs Don’t Work In NJ (“DDW”), an organization in partnership For A Drug-Free New Jersey.  Bill is the coordinator for both Parent Education and Drug-Free Workplace.  The groups programs and services are free of charge.  The organization provides NJ employers with a digital kit to help plan a drug-free workplace program and will also send a field representative to work sites to help businesses establish policies for a drug-free workplaces.  They also provide webinars which can be found on their website.  Thank you Bill for helping raise our overall awareness on this important and vital topic.   Bill can be reached by email at Bill@DrubFreeNJ.org.

Guest Speaker -  Jeremy Muermann  

Jeremy is the TV/Digital Programming Specialist 

at Lacey High School.  He is responsible to develop and coordinate digital communications programs and to assist students in the effective development and use of these digital communications.

Jeremy was an interesting speaker who told us about the work that goes into the production of documentary videos.  As an example, we played for us a video about Bob Popovica, who is a local resident and fishing fly maker.  He told us that only five minutes out of ninety minutes of video is used in the final documentary.   Another example of Jeremy's work is seen in his contribution to the documentary Legends of Lacey Township: A Tour Through Time.  

Jeremy is also working on producing a video around the Forked River Rotary as we celebrate our 50th year anniversary.  Thank you Jeremy for being a Rotary Club Guest Speaker.  

Guest Speaker - Peter Ney

Community Options is a non for profit organization that develops innovative housing and employment for those with developmental disabilities.  Peter spoke on the philosophy  of Community Options which embrace housing and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.  The participants learn to choose what type of work they would be most suited for and how to do it.  

The program offers individuals with real work for pay.  They strive to improve the disabled quality of life by integrating them into the community and making a difference in their personal lives.  They maintain a branch office here in Forked River located at 202 North Main St. Route 9.  

Thank you Peter for sharing your program with Rotary.  

Guest Speaker - Wendy Lubrecht, Executive Director.

The Mission of 21 Plus is to enable individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead fulfilling lives working in partnership with families and communities. 

Thank you Wendy for speaking to us at our Tuesday afternoon meeting.   Your presentation regarding the wonderful work done at 21 Plus was informative and inspiring.  You are doing good things.