High Gear, March 6, 2013

The weather man must have known that we were having a very special gathering tonight, for the promised nasty mix of rain and snow didn’t happen (at least, not during our meeting and going home time) and that was a blessing!  President Sheryl and her committee had done magnificent planning, and everything worked out smoothly here at the Marco Polo Restaurant. Mayor Marcia LeClerc and Chamber of Commerce President Tim Coppage had to leave early, so, even before the Welcome Song, they offered their greetings and compliments on the value of our Rotary Club to the Town, always nice to hear.

Tim also announced that the East Hartford Rotary Club will be this year’s recipient of the Chamber of Commerce’s Community Service Award. This will be presented on March 28 in an event at Goodwin College where East Hartford’s own American Idol, Ashlee Feliciano, will be singing the National Anthem.

And then we sang, and pledged, and heard a fitting invocation from our own PD of RI Frank Collins.  There were 14 guests in the room, and two of them were at our table, Tracy Liner, accountant par excellence, daughter of Bill Saunders, and Kevin Kickery, manager of the soon-to-be new local branch of Farmington Bank. Yes, there were others, namely: Jessica Wisz, daughter of Alex, Brett Foster, Lauren Alex, Dr. Aaron Lewis, Michael Forbes, Maureen & Bud Pirrelle, Joe & Jessica LeKay, Janet Pearson, & Jeannine Scribner.  Wine and beer were enjoyed during the 1/2 hour social time and then we all stood in line for pizza and salad. The Marco folks had a little trouble keeping the pizza in supply, but it was mighty tasty and worth the wait.

Ned Lynch, Sgt at Arms for the evening, welcomed all with a fine as we entered, asking each to name their misdemeanor. In calling them out later, he displayed a great sense of humor;( we should hear more of that!) The (de)fining reasons given were truly varied: from Cheers for the Red Sox (and boos for the Yankees), to the Judge learning to tap dance, to the E.H. basketball team’s winning ways, to Guy for a new little one??? etc., etc., etc. 

Then Art Bradbury paid to make two announcements: Come to see/hear the Bradbury’s Hibernians at Hanafin’s on Sunday, Mar.10, 1 to 4:00; and, if you can, catch East Hartford High School’s production of “Pajama Game,” (produced by Joan Brow’s daughter Candy Gustamachio) Mar.21 at 9:30 am (for $5) or Mar.22 and 23 at 7:00, $10, (but only $8 for seniors).

  Guy LaBella added to our “to-do” list, telling of Goodwin College’s offering of “Vital Voices in Entrepreneurship” featuring well known local restaurateur Billy Grant on April 3. Reception 5:00; keynote address 6:00.

Happy Birthday was sung to Neal Cunningham, and in Caring Moments, we learned that First Husband John O’Connor had a new knee installed today. Our thoughts are with you tonight John!

Announcements:

* Under “projects in the works,” the Duck Race Co-Chair Yvette Roming told us the “license is in the mail” and tickets will soon be available.  Check out our new website:    www.easthartfordrotaryduckrace.org      

* Dictionary distribution to all 3^rd graders has been completed. Well done Mary Sullivan and your team!

* Paul Harris Dinner – Ceil Collins reminded us it’s Mar.20, $45 pp, Filet Mignon, chicken or salmon.

* Steve Jacoby has arranged for new Rotary embossed clothing, hats, jackets, shirts; orderable next week.

*****and for the 7^th time since he’s been a member, Bob Buettner won the weekly raffle!

The program for this special evening of “What is Rotary?” started with a Power Point, introduced by Brian Liss.  Telling all about “me and you making a difference,” we were reminded that we’re 1.2 million strong, we belong to more than 32,000 Rotary clubs, and that we have inoculated over 2 billion children against Polio. Amazing! President Sheryl talked about our key project of the new Bookmobile for the E.H. Library. During the 18 months in which the library will be out of commission, this new venture will serve nursing homes, day care centers, and the more outlying areas of the town by bringing and returning books on loan. Dan Larson spoke of the attributes each of our guests could bring to Rotary should they join, acknowledging the responsibility Rotarians shoulder in participating locally and internationally in “service above self.” projects.

Larry Frazier followed this “service” theme up with a description of the history of our scholarship program, citing almost $300,000 given by our club to this worthwhile endeavor. Stressing a different emphasis in scholarship recipients, he remarked that service to others had to have been a strong point in their lives.

 In a Raffle drawing for guests, Mike Forbes and Kevin Kickery were awarded Marco Polo gift certificates.

And then the evening ended, a really nice affair in which even us older guys learned a thing or two……Arthur