May 17, 2005 (Tuesday) 6:30 pm: Regular Meeting at Maria's Family Restaurant, 81-83 Essex Street, Haverhill, MA. Guest Speaker David Spaulding, owner of USAi.net. Please click here for map and directions to Maria's Family Restaurant.

• Please click here for larger photo.

• Meeting Highlights:
  • David Spaulding, owner of USAi.net spoke about:
    • The Internet and some the connectivity technologies used by his company from traditional land line bandwidth to the very latest in wireless hi-speed technology.
    • The creation of the Haverhill Cyber District that has transformed Haverhill's former downtown shoe industry buildings and properties into historic, high-tech buildings and properties that have low cost rents and high speed bandwidth.
    • How Haverhill has always been on the forefront of technology. He gave the following example:
      • Thomas S. Sanders (1839-1911), was a prosperous leather merchant in Haverhill and the principle financier for Alexander Graham Bell's telephone. Sander's oldest child was a deaf mute. Sanders had befriended Bell, a specialist in teaching the deaf, after Bell had become Sanders child's tutor. It was in Haverhill that Bell conducted his telephone experiments. Sanders invested $110,000.00 into Bell's telephone invention. In 1877, Sanders along with Bell, Thomas Watson and Gardiner Hubbard formed the Bell Telephone Company. The first business telephone call was made in Haverhill, between the home of Sanders on Kenoza Avenue, and his sole cutting business on Merrimack Street.
    • David Spaulding was invited to speak at our Club by Haverhill Past President Paul Case.
  • Haverhill Lions President/PDG John Pettis, Jr. reminded the Club about the District 33N upcoming events:
    • The District 33N Incoming Officers School to be held at the Wyndam Hotel in Andover, Massachusetts on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at 6:00 pm. Please contact Club Secretary Diane McCorry (978) 374-9533 or DianeMc17@comcast.net for more information and/or if you plan on attending.
    • The District 33N 4th District Advisory to be held at the Sons of Italy, 168 Lexington Street, Woburn, MA - 6:00-7:00 pm (social hour) - dinner at 7:00 pm. Please contact Club Secretary Diane McCorry (978) 374-9533 or DianeMc17@comcast.net for more information and/or if you plan on attending.
  • Haverhill Lions President/PDG John Pettis, Jr. led the Club in congratulating Haverhill Lion PSCT Sharon Potter who was elected District 33N 2005-2006 Vice District Governor at the Multiple District 33 State Convention on April 29 through May 1, 2005.
  • Haverhill Lions President/PDG John Pettis, Jr. reminded the Club about our Annual Street Collection on Saturday, June 4, 2005. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND PARTICIPATE. We need all Club Members to make this event successful. VP Linda Lynch and IPP Jane Sweeney volunteered to be Co-Chairpersons for the event.
  • Lion Morris Piccolo presented monies for charities collected from customers at Perk City. Thank you Perk City customers!
  • Director Eric Powell reported to the Club that we participated in the City of Haverhill's Service Clubs "Welcome Signs" Repair Day on Saturday, May 14, 2005. The Club was assigned the Welcome Sign located on Route 97/Broadway near Carlton Street to repair. Lions Eric Powell, Toby Lynch and Gary Albanese represented the Club.
  • Haverhill Lions President/PDG John Pettis, Jr. announced to the Club that the next Board of Directors Meeting would be on June 14, 2005 at 6:30 pm at Treasurer Tom Palmaccio's home. Dinner will be provided. All Club Members are invited to attend.
  • Haverhill Lions President/PDG John Pettis, Jr. announced to the Club that the next 2005-2006 Installation would be on June 21, 2005 at 6:30 pm. Details to follow.
  • The following "Out-Of State" Guests were in attendance:
    • 1987-1988 President Richard Haynes now a member of the Pompano Beach, Florida Lions Club.
    • Treasurer Tom Palmaccio's Father-In-Law from Ohio.