High Gear, March 20, 2013
PAUL HARRIS FELLOW RECOGNITION CEREMONY
On nights like this the true spirit of Rotary, “Service Above Self”, is brought front and center for a celebration of people from our community who personify our motto. We gathered at 7 p.m. this evening at The Gallery to acknowledge the work of Joseph Carlson, and Rotarians Brian Liss and Yvette Roming, and to induct them into the group known as “Paul Harris Fellows”.
The Gallery did another stellar job of serving over 100 guests meals of filet mignon, super-sized chicken, and salmon. Dessert was not the ‘usual’ but rather a nicely warmed apple cobbler with a dollop of whipped cream on top. Many thanks go out to those in our Club who put the event together: Ceil Collins and Janice Freschlin were womanning the registration table, Larry Hangland made a special trip to pick up the night’s programs inadvertently left back home in his other car; and the night’s speakers and presenters, especially Jim Watts and Sheryl and John O’Connor. Thanks also to Irene Cone and Claudette Miller from Community Access Television Channel 5 for preserving the evening for posterity.
The festivities began with the passing of appetizers until the ringing of the bell at 7 p.m.. Actually it took multiple rings of the bell by President Sheryl to get everyone seated and attentive. No sooner were we seated than it was up again to follow Art Bradbury in the Welcome Song and then enjoy Dick McCarthy’s thought provoking invocation. “The need is great and the opportunities are many.”
Before Dick could sit down, President Sheryl asked Gil Wishart to join him at the podium to receive their Rotary “bling” -
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| Dick McCarthy | Gil Wishart |
This being a social event, there were many friends, family, and dignitaries to introduce. These included District Governor Eileen Rau and District Governor Elect Mike Barnett. This writer was personally thrilled to be able to say hello to Mary and Steve Tamiso and Kathy McCabe in person. We miss you!
Art Bradbury was up again (what would we do without him?) to direct us through a rousing “Welcome Song”. Don’t you just love to watch our guests’ faces when the whole Club launches in?
It wasn’t long before everyone’s hunger was satisfied and our attention could turn to the honorees at hand. Jim Watts provided us with a succinct description of the recognition and its importance in the world of Rotary and Foundation supported causes like the eradication of polio, or efforts to strengthen literacy. John O’Connor , our first presenter, then took the podium to introduce Joseph Carlson.
Mr. Carlson’s volunteerism through serving town needs through political party work, his unerring support of YMCA drives such as the “Strong Kid’s Campaign”, and his work in Central America both through church programs and Habitat for Humanity clearly explained why he was chosen from the community at large to receive a Paul Harris. His thank you speech was a fun and interesting look into the real life background of Paul Harris and a good indication of how people and places of the past can somehow be connected to every person’s present.
The second presenter for the evening was Sheryl O’Connor doing the honors for our own Brian Liss.
Just watching Brian and his wife and two boys at the dinner table, along with other members of his family, illustrated how much his life revolves around them, his work in the YMCA, and his untiring contributions to the service of Rotary. This was, in fact, Brian’s second Paul Harris.
The third and final presenter tonight was our Mary Sullivan doing the honors for Yvette Roming.
Mary brought her own endearing style and wit to the microphone in describing Yvette’s contributions to our Club through work on the Golf Committee and Duck Race. It was easy to see how Yvette brought her marketing background and skills to bear on raising the bar for fundraising through our Ways and Means Committee. Yvette gave an emotional thank you speech at the end that included the fact that her Father has himself been a long standing Rotarian. Nice to see a legacy.
Listening to the accomplishments of this trio and hearing their personal stories and statements of thanks really brought home the point of how intertwined the threads of family and volunteerism are in the fabric of their lives. Their diligent efforts over the years have had tremendous effect on members of societies they may never meet but whose lives will be influenced forever by their work. Bravo to these deserving recipients!
The night ended early enough that this scribe could tap out the above rendition of events before retiring for the night. It will be sweet dreams tonight knowing that folks such as Joe, Brian, and Yvette are out there doing good for humanity.
Some post scripts: please remember to bring gently used books for our book drive to next Wednesday’s lunch meeting and see Alex Wicz or Yvette if you have not received your packets of Duck Race tickets to sell.
Brian also wants us to know we are cordially invited to attend the YMCA of Metropolitan Hartford’s “Together We Are . . “ celebration at The Hartford, 690 Asylum Street, Hartford, on Tuesday, April 9 at 5:30 pm. Please RSVP to: 860-522-9622, extension 2400.
And remember that April 24 is the Senior Citizen’s Prom. Jack Sayre will update us on that next week.
OK, that’s it. Really am going to bed now. Yawn . . . . The Empress