High Gear, December 5, 2012

THE GALLERY, Glastonbury, Connecticut - It's great being in a place "where everyone knows your name". Well, at least Chris the bartender does!  We entered the Banquet Room to pleasant music provided by Goodwin College, thanks to Guy LaBella.  The bar was open, and the hors d' oeuvre table was flush with a variety of cheeses, meats, olives, and breads.  If that wasn't enough to satisfy, stuffed mushrooms, scallops with bacon, and cocktail franks were abundantly passed. Rotarians and guests enjoyed this opportunity to exchange holiday greetings.  Enough of the preliminaries!

President Sheryl called the meeting to order with our usual ritual.  For the Foundation moment she called upon Sue Klock , who mentioned the importance of "Doing good in the World" and the opportunity to share the luck of our bounty through our gifts to the Foundation.  She ended with a report that Dick Seidman was very seriously ill in Maryland with a major bacterial infection.  He needs our thoughts and prayers.  Mike Barnett DGE delivered the Invocation with a poem centered on the children of the world, both those who enjoyed the best as well as those who were much less fortunate. We need to pray for "all of the children in the world".  Sheryl then mentioned a family in East Hartford whose house was completely destroyed by fire.  Our Club and the YMCA are adopting them to provide a Christmas.  A sign-up was provided.  If you would like to pitch in give Brian Liss a call at the Y.

Moving on to our sumptuous repast.  Pam, the owner of the Gallery continually amazes.  We started off with a delicious cream of tomato soup, followed by a fresh bacon-endowed salad. Then the entrees - baked stuffed shrimp, chicken marsala, or half a cow, I mean prime rib!  Jack Sayre's beef was about 3 inches thick.  Needless to say, much was taken home to be enjoyed on another occasion.  The dessert was a hefty ice cream pie followed with your choice of coffee or any of several after dinner liqueurs.

The meeting was reconvened and the introduction of guests included DG Eileen and Bob Rau, DGE Mike and Linda Barnett, Ass't G Marty Finns and Carol, and GSX participants Lauren Alex and Liz McKlusky. In keeping with our club's tradition, The Welcome Song was led by Larry Frazier and Art Bradbury.  Announcements included a report on our Hurricane Relief challenge for residents of Suffolk County which now stands at $3778.  Still time to contribute!  Our Social Services toy drive netted fewer toys, but more cash -$360!  Thanks, Mary Martin and Fred Issakani.

Sheryl then moved on to the Highlight of the evening, the presentation of our Paul Harris nominees.  First the Community nominee -Joe Carlson, Chairman of Board of Managers East Hartford YMCA and active community citizen.  Next, the two club nominees -Brian Liss and Yvette Roming, two most deserving individuals.  Both have left their imprint on our Club in the short time they have been members.  Our congratulations go out to all three individuals.  Not to be forgotten our raffle resulted in George Finch winning the coveted "Lottery Tree", for which he netted $24.  We had hoped some of those $10,000 tickets bore fruit. I guess they didn't!  Being the holiday season, several other prizes were drawn and Guy LaBella,  Jeanne McCarthy, and Yvette Roming went home with something to show for their ticket!  In a last order of business, DG Eileen Rau presented our club with a Polio Plus Citation from RI.  Jack Sayre is looking for a bell ringer 3 -4.  Call him if you can help.

The meeting adjourned to dancing, smoozing, congratulating, and whatever else people wanted to do!

FYI - THERE WILL BE NO MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26TH!!!!!!!

That's all there is - til next time.  Bob Wood