Under the “can’t make this up” category, a throng of members were trying to free the name tag of Doug Willett from the slot in the board. About five strong were doing everything except breaking out a saw to remove the badge. Finally, after a short committee meeting, they were successful and Doug smiled. I would have paid the fine and called it a day.
Mary Martin and co-conspirator Jack were relieving people of their savings. Marc Glass was strolling the crowd handing out invoices for the 2nd half of 2017. I’m told that Mary wants these back with bit coins by June 27th or you’ll be on some list to Rotary International. This threat from the ever congenial Mary is well founded in fact. I asked Wes Willett if he was writing today in my stead but he laughed and mumbled a negative response.
Jim Watts was chatting it up with Bob Buettner about a flower arrangement he had made for a funeral. Jim was very pleased with the professional work provided. We are not surprised at all by Bob’s creative work. Dan Larson was scratching down names, money and causes for his report. I think the Sergeant of Arms should have a clipboard as Dan’s writing is illegible when submitted to this writer.
It was good to see Alex Wisz back from a few weeks. He told me he’s been busy selling raffle tickets. I also learned that he got engaged two months ago so a belated congratulations. Please talk to any happily married Rotarian for advice on how to be a happy spouse. Or, better yet, how to keep the spouse happy. There was a good buzz in the room as we were quite chatty today. Old and new friends sharing each other’s lives and activities. I am feeling good, until I hear what’s coming.
The bell rings and we sing. All voices were harmonizing and we then said the pledge of allegiance. Special meaning as we recently celebrated Memorial Day. This day was originally May 30th but changed in 1971 to be observed on the last Monday of May. This is a chance to take pause for all members of our military who have died in any war or military action. A sincere thank you for your service. Alex provided a prayer of invocation that references our pledge to serve others and make the world a better place. Well done.
And then it happened, word filtered out to this writer that a lunch of meatloaf was the offering. Now, I am not trying to be fussy, but as I am writing this piece, and you can skip this section, yuchhh! It’s the start of summer and bathing suit season so I gravitated to the salad and enjoyed my table mate’s conversation during lunch.
After Steve Jacoby showed up, we had 31 Rotarians, Frank Wargo, our District Governor, and a couple of guests including the always pleasant Bob Dugger from Glastonbury and our guest speaker Ray Tubbs. I’m told that the annual joint meeting with Glastonbury is planned, sans softball, for July 24th. More to follow on this highlight of the summer.
We love the Welcome Song and it is clear our guests do also. Caring moments for Dick McCarthy as he is on the mend and for Doug Clarke.
DG Frank was given a chance to speak and provided the grant check for our Coats for Kids program. This $2,213 check helps provides coats to 113 East Hartford children. Thanks to Chuck and Esther Clarke and Dick and Jeanne McCarthy for continuing to administer this program. And a shout out to Mary Martin for writing the grant that resulted in the District’s support.
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with Glastonbury, Steve Jacoby has tickets and parking passes to the Greater Hartford Open Golf tournament—call him, Jack Sayre celebrated he and his wife’s 60th anniversaries from Miami U. in Ohio, Peter and Sue Klock celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and we sang to them, and Nick Cecere celebrated his grandson’s graduation from Eastern CT University.
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