High Gear, June 27, 2012
What a
great day! It's what makes New England so great. Never can tell from one day to the next what the weather will bring.
Today was an 8.
The cocktail reception started at 6PM. Most arrived around that time . Ceil Collins and Stu Harris at the registration desk
saw to it that everyone got the right meals. Inside the room Sheryl O’Connor was putting the last minute touches on the banners
and tables. Our new District Governor Eileen Rau gave a fitting invocation and asked that we Rotarians move out of our comfort
zones to help achieve our goal of "Peace thru Service". Marty Fins, the new Assistant District Governor, led the Pledge. John
O'Connor and George Schoen started the welcome song. Guests were DG Eileen Rau and her husband, ADG Marty Fins and
his wife, and Past District Governor Dick Seidman and his wife.
As in the past the Gallery did a fine job with the dinners. A tomato and basil salad started thing off. Thick and juicy Prime Rib,
Sea Scallops encrusted with cheese, and Chicken Piccata with potatoes and veggies followed. Then a delicious dessert of ice
cream in fresh berries topped it off. .
After dinner concluded, soon to be Past President Peter Klock listed some of the many accomplishments of Rotary this past year:
( not in order ) The golf tournament; The veterans lunch and movie; The mystery ride; Fireside chats; Job shadowing; the Rock Cats
game; The summer picnic at the Ambergs; Money put aside for the boat launch; Scholarships; Coats for kids; Shelter boxes; and
many more. What a good year for East Hartford Rotary.
The Board of Directors for the past year was introduced: Pres.Peter Klock, President elect Sheryl O'Connor, PP Ceil Collins,
Sec. Pat Gately, Treasurer. Marc Glass, Directors Mary Sullivan and George Finch. and Sargeant at Arms Brian Liss.
Peter also talked about our successful speaker programs: The Hole in the Wall Camp, Healthy Life styles, D.M.V, the Mayor, Pearl
Harbor. Prison Education, Fidelco, Finance 101, Columbian Refugees, Guatemalan Water Project among them.
Art and Charlotte Bradbury are celebrating 65 years of marriage. ( WOW) and they sang a delightful rendition of " Do YouL love Me"
from Fiddle
r on the Roof. What a great job they did. Dave and Chickie Amberg are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Makes
me feel like a newlywed. Hope Firestone was introduced as a new member. Welcome to East Hartford Rotary, Hope .Doug Willett is
re-sponsoring Past President and Paul Harris Fellow Mary Martin for re-entry to the Club and Neal Cunningham is proposing Mary’s
husband, Jack Martin.
August 8th is the date set for the picnic at the Ambergs.
President Peter passed the gavel to incoming President Sheryl and PDG Sue Klock administered to oath of office. Newly installed
President Sheryl gave a brief outline of her goals for the coming year. While PDG Sue instilled in us that the president is the most
important person in the club. ( they are the conduit for all information going both ways), President Sheryl emphasized that the members
are the most important to her. Some of the new goals for this year: (I know I missed some, but if I wrote fast enough put them all down,
I would not be able to read my writing) Provide East Hartford with a new Bookmobile; Do a science project at the new STEM school;
Continue with the water project in Guatamala; Start a recycled soap project for 3rd world countries; Support the education of woman
world wide to promote peace; Continue building high school groups; Do a project with Goodwin College; and increase our "Peace thru
Service. Public relations efforts.
Sheryl then introduced her Board of Directors, PE George Schoen, PP Peter Klock, Sec Marc Glass, Treasurer Mike Derr, Directors
George Finch, Alex Wisz and Bill Saunders, and Sgt At Arms Brian Liss. PDG Sue presented to PP Peter TWO PP pins ( in case
he loses one) and Sheryl presented to Peter a gift of appreciation. A donation was made in Peter’s name to Shelter Box . The meeting
adjourned about 9 PM and the dancing began.