HIGH GEAR: March 27, 2013
It was a sunny day with a bustling lunch crowd at The Ridge today. Folks were bringing in boxes and bags of gently used books and comments on Spring Training and March Madness were in the air.
Before sitting down to a repast of an open turkey sandwich with “smashed potatoes” and cole slaw with apple crisp for dessert, Gil Wishart got our attention for the Invocation. Gil had obviously taken the time to craft a well thought-out benediction that tied together the many things we have to be thankful for in our world.
Brian Liss has been receiving make up notices from a few members. Are there more to report? It seems the traditional “snow birds” should be letting us know. Sam Leone made up on the 15th and 26th at the Northern Palm Beaches Club. The 75th Anniversary gala of the Wethersfield/Rocky Hill Club saw Ceil and Frank Collins on the 19th as did the Avon/Canton Wine Fest on the 23rd.
My apologies to Jim Watts for not catching the name of the community that was the subject of a clean water project funded by the Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation. His rendition of the “Foundation Minute” provided a good synopsis of a high impact, sustainable project involving the use of concrete filters.
President Sheryl took the podium early to thank those folks who put together last week’s fabulous Paul Harris Recognition Dinner. The efforts of Janice Freschlin, Ceil Collins, Alex Wicz, Bob Buettner, Larry Hangland, and Jim Watts made that evening a memorable one. If you would like a program or one of the lapel pins distributed by honoree Joe Carlson, see President Sheryl.
The District Conference in Warwick, Rhode Island is less than a month away! This weekend is the registration deadline. If you attend the Business Meeting at the Conference you will want to be up to snuff on some by-law changes that are proposed for amendment. In a nutshell these include changes to the nominating committee for the District Governor; changes to the existence of sub-committees (no more Group Study Exchange, for example); and wording that will stress electronic emailing of the District Newsletter in lieu of “snail mail”. Sue Klock is the person you want to speak to if you really want to get an understanding of these changes and their impacts.
Our participation in the Buck-A-Book donation program has already netted contribution of 339 books not counting the books that will be added by our CIBA Interact Club. These books will be donated to low income and disadvantaged areas in America that are unable to support local library services. The “bucks” will go to a fund that will do the same on an international level.
The morning of Wednesday, April 3rd (9:30 a.m. to be precise) is the time to participate in the “Seeds of Peace” program at East Hartford High School. If other duties call, have no fear. The “Seeds” people will be presenting a shortened version of their program at our lunchtime meeting that day.
The Senior Citizen’s Prom (those seniors not already Club members) will be held the afternoon of Wednesday, April 24 in the cafeteria of East Hartford High School. Committee members Jack Sayre, Jim Fallon, and Bob Wood are at work on the particulars and will let us know what to sign up for at next week’s meeting.
Tidbits: Dan Firestone has collected a box of used soap from the Ramada Inn; Brian Liss has distributed all Duck Race tickets but has more if you need them; our Board has voted to set aside additional funds for the printing of more pamphlets explaining what we are all about. President Sheryl is asking that we take a bunch to leave in our office waiting areas or any place where the general citizenry can happen upon them. It’s a great way to invite the interest of potential new members. 
On that note, Dan Firestone let us know that he saw Rotarian magazines with information about the Manchester Rotary Club on display at a wine tasting event in Manchester. Here’s an idea: how about we do something like that in the waiting rooms of doctor’s offices?
See Steve Jacoby ASAP if you would like to order apparel that sports the Rotary logo. He needs to know your interest, and have your payment, no later than next Wednesday the 3rd (yikes, it’s April already!).
Even though George Agnelli and Dan Russell could be heard to mumble, “he’s too young to retire”, Art Bradbury let everyone know that this Easter’s sermon will be Reverend Ted Mosebach’s last official preaching at First Congregational Church..jpg)
Congratulations to Ted on his impending retirement and congratulations to us that he will remain in our community. And effective immediately, Ted’s new email address is: tedmosebach@comcast.net ….please note it in your files.
The always charming Jay Stewart and George “Grumpy” Agnelli, led the welcome song for our guests Tim Coppage of the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce and John Mitchell from the South Windsor Rotary Club. John is almost “family” and Tim is a proposed new member.
Sergeant-At-Arms Ned Lynch had a long and luscious report for his fourth and final tour of duty this month. It must have been as lucrative as he let on given the following “donations”: Mike Derr for a trip to Missouri; Marc Glass for the Men’s soccer team being tied with Mexico in the National finals; Brian Liss for the success of the Paul Harris Dinner; Nick Cecere for . . . well, he’s still thinking about it; and Sgt. Ned himself for Red Sox Opening Day and Yvette’s exciting choice of shoes and matching bag (as modeled by Dan Larson).
His report goes on: watch out for next month’s sergeant, Happy Jack Martin; Ted Hsu for just being happy; Neal Cunningham for I dunno; Frank Collins for no snow; Brian Liss again for John O’Connor leading a volunteer fundraising effort for the YMCA that exceeded its 100% goal; lovely Ruthie Sheehan for her darling Red Bums and an uncharacteristic hope that the Yankees have a terrible season; Larry Frazier will be welcoming home his grandson from a 3 month submarine tour of duty next week; and Art Bradbury’s daughter and granddaughter have begun a 500 mile hike in Spain. A few over achievers there.
Not done yet: Bill Saunders contributed in recognition that Bob Buettner has posted Duck Race info on his business’ website. 
Very cool! And then we had the 17th anniversary of Dan Larson (the Club has never been the same) and the
72nd birthday of Larry- the-Print Man- Hangland.
We, meaning our entire Club, are receiving the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award on Thursday the 28th at Goodwin College. If you would like to attend or need more information, contact Guy Labella.
Ceil Collins gave us two Duck Race related announcements. 
One was that the East Hartford Gazette has offered us free advertising related to our fundraiser; and the other was an unveiling of one of the four duck themed flags she was able to purchase. Ceil was inspired when she saw them knowing we can probably use them for some Duck Race activity like our float in the Memorial Day Parade.
The superstitiously unlucky number 666 was actually a lucky number for Raffle winner Dave Amberg.
If you were present at the meeting today, Marc Glass let us know that the raffle bucket was missing and the worst part of it was that Spurgeon Stoke’s name tag was affixed to it. Uh-oh!! But by the end of the meeting the bucket had mysteriously reappeared at the Secretary’s table. Maybe somebody knew not to mess with Big Marc?
We often have fun and informative speakers in our weekly program. I can’t really say this was fun but it was probably one of the most heart rending and inspiring programs to come our way in a long time thanks to Bob Buettner.
Bob introduced Amanda Garbatini, a counselor for the Hole In The Wall Camp in Ashford, Connecticut. 
Amanda did not leave a dry eye in the house when she related her own experiences as a cancer patient, camper, and counselor. She gave us a first person account of the positive energy generated by Hole In The Wall as a universally accessible camp where children with cancer, sickle cell, and other debilitating diseases can feel safe and accepted. The camp is in its 25th year and was originally started, and still partially supported, by the late Paul Newman and his Newman’s Own foundation. It was a heartwarming talk that culminated in a standing ovation from our membership.
And so, feeling very lucky and fortunate to be in good health, I sign off . . .