High Gear, July 18, 2012
Our meeting today began with a reprise as Art and Charlotte Bradbury’s voices filled the room. Peter Klock treated us to a taped rendition of the “Do You Love Me” duet from our Installation Dinner. Nice way to start.
Biggest news today was a resignation and two appointments among our officer corps. Marc Glass has resigned from the Secretary’s position and Brian Liss has stepped up to assume the role. Seems Marc has been appointed to a big mucky muck role with the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association and finds himself foot dribbling for time. Marc has been a terrific Rotarian in his few years with the Club and we thank him for his prior and future service. Thanks also to Brian who has stepped into the line of succession and will follow Sheryl O’Connor and George Schoen as our President in a couple of years.
Another exciting piece of news is that current Treasurer Mike Derr has agreed to become Treasurer on a permanent basis. With the demands of this position, having an experienced numbers guy in the role is invaluable to the Club. Mike becomes our first “permanent” Treasurer since the late and beloved Bruce Noble many years ago.
We had a smallish crowd today with only one guest, Donna Finocchiaro from Glastonbury Rotary Club. After the Foundation Minute and a brief invocation from President Sheryl, we enjoyed a lunch consisting of a pulled pork sandwich with corn and coleslaw. Cupcakes topped the deal.
Sgt At Arms Jay Stewart fined Bob Wood for 27 years in Rotary; Ceil Collins who is fully prepared for future power losses (better hook that generator up to Frank); Anwar Hossein for celebrating the first birthday of his first grandson; and Bill Saunders for bragging about his second grandson who first won our Duck Race and now is being published in a national education journal. Steve Jacoby paid for the obvious reasons. Finally Ruthie Sheehan paid a bribe to dissuade the High Gear writer from disparaging her beloved BoSox. Ruthie feels it hurts their feelings and interrupts their digestion of fried chicken in the clubhouse during the games. So I won’t do it.
George Fitch reports that Jack Ghagan is making slow but steady progress at home and sends his greetings to all. Time to get back, Jack!
Announcements:
· A Dat
es to keep in mind: August 1, Club Assembly; August 8, Picnic at the Ambergs– no noon meeting; August 22, District Governor’s Visit.
· Steve Bates has resigned from the Club. Steve has volunteered to do the Club’s tax filings for years and we appreciate his contributions over the years. .In true Rotary fashion, Dan Firestone, PP, PH, has stepped up and will do the filings in the future.
· Ye Olde Coach, Neal Cunningham, once again cajoled the Club members to show up at 5:30 ish next Monday to take on the Glastonbury Club in softball. A joint meeting with Glastonbury will follow at 6:30 p.m. where we can expect a roast beef dinner and good fellowship. It all takes place at the Elks Club in Glastonbury and costs 20 bucks. This is our Club meeting for the week. – take Wednesday off.
· George Agnelli pointed out that 30 members were responsible for all the hole sponsorships and signs sold last year for the golf tournament. He pleaded for all members to step up for this vital source of revenue.
· PP and PDG Sue Klock encouraged the Club to seek District Simplified Grants for our projects and advertised a Foundation Seminar to be held on September 13th. Details can be found on District and Club Websites.
· Doug Willett will be taking individual pictures for the Club Directory before meetings at the Ridge in August. New members, in particular, take note.
· President Sheryl announced that the Board of Directors has authorized the purchase of an LCD projector using some of the proceeds from our share of the Rock Cat game sales (Dan Firestone will donate a stand for it).
Brian Liss won the raffle.
The meeting concluded with a series of Committee Meetings in preparation for our August 1st Club Assembly when Committee Chairs will report on their plans and President Sheryl will
present her budget.
‘Nuff said. See you Monday at Glastonbury Elks Club.
Rotary Foundation Minute
The Great Depression and World War II both impeded the Foundation's growth, but the need for lasting world peace generated great postwar interest in its development. After Rotary's founder, Paul P. Harris, died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created to build the Foundation.
That year, the first Foundation program - the forerunner of Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships was established. In 1965-66, three new programs were launched: Group Study Exchange, Awards for Technical Training, and Grants for Activities in Keeping with the Objective of The Rotary Foundation, which was later called Matching Grants.