High Gear, February 27, 2013
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Just like the man said…a rainy, raw day, and we have to continue to believe that spring is going to come! President Sheryl called upon Neal Cunningham to do the honors with our weekly invocation, most eloquently, calling for a plethora of all good things like peace and light throughout the world. And then, after Krause’s delicious offering of a beef stroganoff (but where were the noodles?), creamed asparagus and mashed patooties, the Rotary Foundation moment was presented by Danny Boy Larson. He told the story of a “vision project” in Honduras, Central America, shared with the Rotary Club of Atlanta, GA., partnering in the development of computers and latrines in a backward part of the world. Paul Harris would have been proud to hear such good things about the organization he started way back 108 years ago. That’s right, our own club shares a birthday month with R.I.!
In a surprise bit of enlightenment, Anwar Hossain
showed and told of his visit in January to the “End of the World” location at the southern tip of Argentina. An early commemoration plaque gave testimony to the work of the local Rotary club’s involvement in establishing the site. Interesting!
Sgt-at-Arms George Schoen collected generous fines for the singing of Happy Birthday to Dave Amberg and Dan Russell. And helping to fill the coffers were $’s from Ruth Sheehan (just for being here!), and Mike Derr, leaving early to catch a plane for St. Louis! Aha!
In a Caring Moment segment, Bill Saunders told of Skip Guillemette’s good measure of recovery from his 5-by-pass surgery; it would be nice to welcome Skip back among our members. (Maybe a possibility?) We were pleased to hear of progress in healing from surgery on George and Eleanor Agnelli’s son George. 
We were reminded that next week’s meeting, Mar.6th, will be in the evening, 5:30 to 7:00, at the Marco Polo Restaurant (that’s right, no noon meeting that day!). In collaboration with the E.H. Chamber of Commerce, this will be a “learn about Rotary” event, with pizza, salad, beer and wine. In the nature of a membership drive, guests are encouraged (and paid for by the club), so let Pres. Sheryl know if you can bring a guest!
And under Announcements, we learned that 1.) our Bookmobile grant is still in the works; 2.) we should read in the most recent Rotary magazine about Anne Lee Hussey (Rotarian from Portland, ME), visiting in Nigeria to help administer Polio vaccine; 3.) the Manchester Rotary is holding a wine-fest of sorts called “Swing Into Spring” on Mar. 22 at Cheney Hall, tickets to the gala only $40 per; and 4.) Pres.-in-waiting George Schoen made a pitch for what appears to be a great District Conference at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI on April 26. To date, we’ll have 23 attendees, a swingin'-in-the 60’s Hospitality Suite, and a Saturday golf outing. 
Still needed: model train makers!
Today’s Raffle winner: that hard working dispenser of beautiful flowers, Bob Buettner!
Program for the day: the long-awaited plans for this year’s super-duper Duck Race. With the enthusiastic leadership of Yvette Roming
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*Tickets-are underway, being “approved.” We’ll each be given 20 tickets to sell ($10 each), goal: 3,000 sold. Captains recruited to monitor the sales: Marc Glass, Mary Martin, and Bill Saunders. *P.R.- First News release ok’d to go this coming weekend.
*Social- No Family Day this year; emphasis on the race itself, with food, beverages, music.
*Site- “Dump the ducks” at East River Drive bridge over the Hockanum, terminus at the bridge over the lower Hockanum, just short of the Connecticut River. Generator a possibility for food & music.
*Sponsors- 5 levels: (P & W) $4000; “Starting Gate”-$2500; Food- $1000; music & entertainment- $500 each; Race Path signs- $100. More members needed here to help with Sponsors!
*Prizes- 1st: $5,000; 2nd: $1,000; 3rd: $500; 4th & 5th: $250 each
*Corporate Ducks- $50 each; a real money-maker.
*Parade with float; and need for all East Hartford Rotarians to play a vital part in the Duck Race!
A pleasure to write HIGH GEAR…………….Mary Martin next month………………………Arthur