High Gear, March 28, 2012
Wouldn’t ya know it? We were just getting used to an early spring with 80 degrees on the old thermometer, when along came the return of winter …25 degrees – brrrrrr! ….even had the first drops of much-needed spring rain. Still, there was a lot of Rotary warmth inside of the Ridge, as 47 (count’em!) East Hartford Rotarians assembled to meet and greet returnees from winter hibernation in (1)Florida, (2)their offices, (3)their homes, (4) the hospital, or (5)their caves; anyway, nice to be back together! It was a noisy bunch, sitting as Duck Race teams, and we were motivated, threatened, encouraged, and cajoled to do our best as ticket sellers.
We sang the R-O-T-A-R-Y song, pledged to our country and beautiful flag, and then Jay Stewart gave a most meaningful Invocation, celebrating the challenges and opportunities as Rotarians to make the world a better place in which to live. Then we sat to a great Krause meal of meat loaf, mushroom gravy, oven fries and veggies, with a generous slice of chocolate cake for dessert. A lone guest today, Tim Coppage, new President of the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce. Marc Glass and Guy LaBella enthusiastically led us in singing Tom Westbrook’s favorite lyrics.
Sgt-at-Arms Brian Liss told us of the most recent group of miscreants, all of whom coughed up to the fine bank, to wit: John O’Connor and Bob Wood for their leadership in helping to hoe the YMCA’s Community Gardens; kudos to Mayor Marcia for an outstanding Charity Ball (P.E. Sheryl even had a picture of all the Rotarians present; a whole passel of early leavers (must have been a garden sale someplace); Jack Ghagan for just being glad to be alive (aren’t we all!); George Schoen for that great UConn women’s win and resultant leap into the Final Four; and George Agnelli, for complaining about his team having to sit by themselves; “himself” was listed in his high school yearbook with the quote: “Unruffled, I go my own way!” Hasn’t changed much, has he!
Under Caring Moments, we learned that John O’Connor’s aunt is hospitalized in a coma after a car accident; and Art Apostol is at home after a brief hospitalization for chest pains. Also, that Jean Wishart is in Hartford Hospital with breathing problems. Keep them in thoughts and prayers, okay?
Announcements: President Peter Klock told us that:
- The Board will meet Tuesday night at 5:30pm
- Our Interact club at the Baccalaureate High School may need some drivers for getting Interactors to their upcoming regional meeting in Enfield. Anyone who can drive, please call Peter, ASAP.
- The canoe/Kayak race on the Hockanum on May 6th needs volunteers for the river-cleaning part.
- Sheryl asked once again for the remaining Committee survey forms (for next club year) to be submitted.
- Paul Harris night (April 18) sign-up sheets still going around. Have you signed up yet? $45 pp.
- Raffle(s) today were two: George Finch won the money, and Mary Sullivan, theater tickets.
Special Presentation on Duck Race project by Brian Liss:
- Sell tickets (beautifully printed by Larry Hangland)
- Fill out name, address, phone, etc info carefully and completely;( ‘twould be too bad to have one of your ticket holders miss out cause of illegible info)
- All completed ticket books and monies should be turned in to your team captains.
- All checks to be made out to: East Hartford Rotary Charitable Fund.
- June 3rd will be last day of ticket sales (Race is at 2:00 on June 10th)
- Race chair Yvette Roming urgently needs sign ups for the various committees. Please do it now!
- Next Committee meeting next Wednesday, 5:00 in Dan Larson’s office.
Frank Collins introduced the speaker today, Dr.Ernan Ni and his associate, Pin Li. Their power point presentation, along with Dr. Ni’s commentary, focused on China‘s culture as it has experienced a renaissance in Truth, Compassion, and Virtue. To be honest, though this reporter strained to follow the commentary, I found Dr. Ni’s language skills, though probably technically correct, very hard to follow; and the messages on the screen moved so quickly that much of it was missed. I did find interesting that many of the salient points seemed to follow Rotary’s 4-Way Test, as they emphasized honesty and forthrightness in daily relationships with people. Hopefully, others understood more than I.
Good to be together again…………Anwar will be back with us next month …………………...........Arthur
Makeups reported this week:
March 12 – Steve Jacoby at Rotary Club of Glastonbury
March 13 – Steve Jacoby at Rotary club of Rocky Hill
Sam Leone at Rotary Club of Jupiter/Palm Beach Gardens , FL
March 23 – Mary Sullivan at Langford Dictionary Delivery
March 25 – Mary Sullivan, Yvette Roming and Sheryl O’Connor at Ticket Numbering Meeting
March 26 – Ceil Collins at Rotary Club of Glastonbury
Janice Freschlin at Rotary Club of Glastonbury
March 27 - Steve Jacoby at Rotary Club of Rocky Hill
Sam Leone at Rotary Club of Jupiter/Palm Beach Gardens