High Gear, July 11, 2012

And so it begins…. Another Rotary year, another Club Presidency, another legacy in the making.

It begins with a beautiful July day, warm but without the oppressive humidity that can mark this time of year. It begins with a crowded room, bursting with energy, with Nick Cecere pumping hands in greeting and Tom Westbrook handing out Rotary Dues bills.

It begins with newly installed President Sheryl ringing the bell crisply, demanding attention from the slow to quiet gathering, and introducing Brian Liss for a new feature on our agenda – the Rotary Foundation Minute. (See below). Brian is followed by an appropriate grace from new member Hope Firestone.  It begins with a buffet lunch featuring some anemic looking chicken parts and complementary salad, baked beans, corn on the cob and potato salad. An apple crisp tops off the refueling.

It begins with President Sheryl reading some military related aphorisms including the classic “nothing is so productive of good morale among the troops as occasionally seeing a dead general.”

It begins with a bevy of guests including Past President and Paul Harris Fellow Mary Martin and her husband, the newly retired town Purchasing Agent Jack Martin. Both Mary and Jack are rewelcomed and welcomed, respectively, to membership in the Club.  Also gracing us with their presence are Shani Small, a curious about Rotary college student, and the “Williams” contingent – former member Mike Williams, Uncle Lou Williams, son Greg Williams (our speaker) significant other D’Anne Purcilly, and friends Jim Shelmerdine, Kath Canbinrto (?) and Y. Zhang (?) (If anyone has worse handwriting on Attendance Cards than our sitting Judge, I have yet to encounter it!).

It begins with Sgt at Arms Jay Stewart welcoming back Mary Martin and bemoaning the fact that Jack tagged along. (It’s just beginning for you, Jack, as well.)  Our new President paid to thank Art and Charlotte Bradbury for the endearing duet at the Installation Dinner. Jack Sayre paid to brag about his model granddaughter who has apparently cornered the  “cute little girls in TV commercials” market – she must take after Jan. . Art Bradbury is marking 44 years in Rotary and Mary Sullivan is happy – worth noting. Dan Firestone paid to ask for the use of two mountain bikes for a few days. And Jay, herself, paid for the joy of announcing that her daughter-in-law, after enduring surgery and chemo, is now “cancer-free.” .

It begins with a sad note, as well. Lois Lysik, the wife of long time Rotarian Joe Lysik, passed  away last week at age 95. Mo Moshovos is home from his hip operation and is currently gimping around the house. Andy Andreo’s wife, Peg, is home at the beach house as well. And old friend and former member, Fred Campbell, is hospitalized near his home in Florida.

Of course, it begins with announcements; there are always announcements at our meetings. First, Gil passes on a check for $260 from the Rock Cats representing our cut of the ticket sales for our recent baseball outing. Next, Neal implores members to get in shape for the Monday, July 23 softball game at Glastonbury. Be sure to come for the game and a big slab of roast beef and bring you able bodied and athletic offspring with you. George Schoen urges us to move on from thinking about Ducks to thinking about Golf and Golf Sponsors in particular. Our beneficiaries of Golf proceeds include the STEM school program at O’Brien School, the proposed Bookmobile, and the usual scholarships, donations, etc. There is a Golf Committee Meeting set for next Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. And finally President Sheryl reminds us that the District Governor’s Visit is scheduled for August 22 – be there or be square.

It begins, quite appropriately, with renewed member, Mary Martin, winning the raffle. You don’t have to shovel too deep to find the Empress in there somewhere.

The new Rotary year begins with a terrific program. Greg Williams, EHHS Class of ’75 and Maine Maritime Academy graduate, brings us the story of the Merchant Marine and its role in supporting our war efforts particularly in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He graciously provided a summary of his presentation which I include here:

In  WWII, the United States Navy did not move cargo.  Given that

America fought on every continent across the globe; every bullet, gun, bomb,

helmet, uniform, boot, tank, jeep, truck, tent, c-ration...virtually everything to

support the soldiers moved on  merchant ships crewed by civilian sailors of the

United States Merchant Marine. 

Throughout history, battle strategies have always included significant

efforts to cut enemy supply lines.  German U-boats, banded together in

Wolfpacks, roamed the seas slaughtering hundreds of merchant ships who

were attempting to supply the Allies with much needed war materials to fight. 

One  of  every  26  civilian  sailors  were  lost resulting in the

greatest loss per capita of any of the services during the war.

    (USMC 1:36 - US Army 1:64 - US Navy 1:144)

In 1941, over three times as many merchant ships were sunk than were

built and in 1942, for the entire year  – an average 33 ships per week were 

sunk by the enemy.   By  1945,  the  trend   was   completely reversed with 3

times as many ships launched than were sunk and over 9,000 tons of cargo  being loaded and shipped  overseas every hour 24/7.  

The SS Lane Victory is a living memorial to the thousands of civilian

seamen and Armed Guard who rest eternally at the bottom of the sea.  Their

effort  and sacrifice to “Deliver the Goods” in World War II, Korea and Vietnam will never be forgotten.

Greg’s presentation was a little like putting a 10 pounds of sugar in a five pound sack but it was enlightening and entertaining. We could have used another half hour to do it justice.

The meeting adjourned at this point.

And so it begins….God’s in his heaven, the Yankees are comfortably in first place, the Sox are struggling to sustain mediocrity, we have a new Club President, and all is right with the world.

Rotary Foundation Minute:

In 1917, RI President Arch C. Klumph proposed that an endowment be set up “for the purpose of doing good in the world.” In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than $5,000, it was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International.

Five Trustees, including Klumph, were appointed to “hold, invest, manage, and administer all of its property . . . as a single trust, for the furtherance of the purposes of RI.”

Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of $500 to the International Society for Crippled Children. The organization, created by Rotarian Edgar F. “Daddy” Allen, later grew into the Easter Seals. (from www.rotary.org)