The Bulletin -- November 4, 2009 (#1015)

ALAN BOOTH AND KYLE BRISTER TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FOSSILIZED HARBOR SEAL BONES FOUND ON THE OLD AIR FORCE BASE BY SUNY PLATTSBURGH PROFESSOR DAVID FRANZI’S (CENTER) ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDENTS. DR. ROB FERANEC (RIGHT) IS A CURATOR OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY AT THE N.Y.S. MUSEUM.

Program: Dr. Dave Franzi, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Earth and Environmental Science, and Dr. Rob Feranec, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the New York State Museum; Fossils Among Us

As part of a landslide study in an undergraduate Geology course at SUNY Plattsburgh, several students found themselves on the shore of Lake Champlain near the old Air Force Base. When they discovered what appeared to be fossilized harbor seal bones, it created quite a stir in the scientific community.
“A lot has happened in the Champlain Valley in the last 20,000 years. The evidence of which is all around us,” began Dr. Franzi. “There is no better place to look than the old Air Force base.”

Dr. Franzi showed a record of Earth’s climate change over the last 300,000 years. The entire Champlain Valley was once covered in an ice sheet 15,000-12,000 years ago. When the glaciers began to retreat, sea water took its place making an environment where one would see animals such as the seal.

The glaciers spurred many other changes. The entire region between Chazy and Churubusco was part of a massive glacial flood that created the flat rock you see today. The flooding had a significant impact on the environment, the signs of which are still seen today. Few species of trees are able to grow in the flat rock areas, one of which is the Jack Pine found there presently.

In 1992, the idea that the glacial floods could shut down thermal circulation was under consideration. Thermal circulation brings warmth across the Atlantic Ocean to northern Europe. Large amounts of fresh cold glacial water deposited into the ocean could conceivably impact the thermal circulation and thus effect global cooling. Dr. Franzi’s research has focused on the northern region—a place he says is critical in understanding the environmental changes that occurred with the last Ice Age. Analyzing the glacial floods and establishing a correlation with global climate change has been the focus of his work.

Plattsburgh State professor David Franzi (left) and New York State Museum paleontologist Robert Feranec show off the jawbone that Franzi's environmental science students recently found near the shore of Lake Champlain. Photo: Michael Betts/P-R Photo. Caption and photo taken from Press-Republican.com; 9/07/09.

This Week:

• Hannah Hanford presented a Rotary Banner from the Amherst, Va. Club.
• Reminder: If you plan on leaving the weekly meetings early, please speak to the presenters in advance and put a dollar in the basket on the way out.
• First Thursday is at Anthony’s at 5 p.m. on Nov. 5.
• The Board meeting is Monday Nov. 16 (noon) at CCC Dining Hall (PARC) and will include a Strategic Planning session.
• New Member Orientation at West Bay Financial, Friday, Nov. 20.
• Saturday, Nov. 28 is the Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Walmart. Please sign up for a slot.

Visiting Rotarians: Hannah Hanford, Amherst VA

Guests: Courtney Chandler (Brian Hammond), Richard Reome (Vicki Marking), Amanda Palmer (John Prim), Kathleen Garenani (Mary Anne Bukolt-Ryder)

Committee Moment: Sonia Long reminded the club that November is Rotary Foundation Month. While Polio Plus is the most prominent program, there are many more. The Foundation provides health, hunger and humanity grants. Sadly, the Rotary Foundation Board eliminated this program due to lack of funding with the exception of projects for water/sanitation in Ghana, Philippines, and Dominican Republic. Let’s bring these programs back. Make your contribution to the Foundation today—$100 from every Rotarian every year.

Membership Committee: Leigh Mundy was welcomed to the club by Marsha Cook as a new member. Her sponsor is Bob Parks.

Auction Item: President Bonnie auctioned a District Conference bag for $12 to Terrianne Pavone.

Announcements:

• Kerry Haley thanked Hannah Hanford for showing her some of the ropes at her new job with the CVPH Foundation.
• Marsha Cook’s brother called her last night to tell her she made the St. Albans Messenger. He said, “I know it’s not your picture, I know you were one of the ones that did it.” Forty-three years ago, Marsha put a bra on the statue in the park in St. Albans.
• Leigh Mundy reminded us that this weekend is the Arms and Legs Auction at the Strand Theater. Tickets are available at the NCCCA.
• Ellie Murray spoke on behalf of Pat LaMariana (Ange’s daughter). Pat would like all to know how grateful she is for all the kindnessRotary has shown her and her father. A memorial service for Angie will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Newman Center, Broad Street.

Bonnie’s Bucks:

• Peter Cadieux announced a representative from Sentinel Funds will be speaking at the Chamber of Commerce at 7 p.m. tonight (Nov. 4).

Another Candle Burning For: Paul Grasso (11/13)

50/50: The pot is worth $929, and Jay Kerley drew the Four of Clubs. There are 44 cards left for next week and we are looking for the Two of Hearts.

TRIVIA
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