High Gear, May 1, 2013

Happy May Day, everyone; the weatherman is truly treating us to a glorious springtime span of sunshine! An array of grinders, along with soda and wine from that fabulous hospitality suite at the weekend district conference, met us at the door. While not a gourmet feast, it was in keeping with the upcoming picnic season, and a nice way to welcome the “Merry Month of May!”

George Schoen offered our Invocation, expressing thanks for family, friends, food, fun, and fellowship as we follow Rotary’s path to Service Above Self.

Peter and Sue Klock, together, spoke on ShelterBox activities, with the recent gift of $500 from the simplified Grants program, used for non-shelter items such as water carriers, insect nets, solar lamps, etc. for use in Syria. The ShelterBox program is certainly providing relief in war and weather-related problem areas around the world. How proud we can be of Rotary’s involvement!

Guests today included President Sheryl’s parents, Paul and Stasia Valacer, (and we sang Happy Birthday to Paul!); Brian Gorman of the BSA; George’s lovely wife, Peg; and soon-to-be member, Tim Coppage. Anwar Hossain and Pat Gately led the Welcome Song, giving voice to the pleasure of greeting visitors to our weekly gathering.

Jay Stewart, pinch-hitting as Sgt-at Arms, told of a long list of miscreants, to wit: Brian Liss for Geo. & Peggy’s management of the Club’s Hospitality Suite (for which Pres. Sheryl also presented a lovely plant); Nick Cecere’s travels to the Kentucky Derby; Neal Cunningham’s 22 years in Rotary; Jack Martin’s birthday (he asked all under 71 to sing, yes, there were a couple); Bob Buettner’s female family femmes had a bunch of birthdays; Judge Herb Barall’s grandson graduated from Suffolk Univ.–and has a job! And then, a bunch of early leavers and no-badgers added to our fine fine-bank.

Caring moments included news of Kathy McCabe’s and Dick Lemieux’s rehab, always happy news.

And with the glow of a successful District Conference still upon us, President Sheryl shared news of our club’s attainment of: a Peace award, a presidential Citation, and a “most there” award. While we didn’t get an award for it, last week’s Senior Citizen Ball activity garnered high marks for a great time, planned by co-leaders Bob Wood and Jack Sayre, and aided by a whole raft of Rotarians & spouses.

Certainly a highlight of the day was the induction of our newest member, Tim Coppage, President of the local Chamber of Commerce. His sponsor, Guy LaBella, duly “pinned” him with the coveted Rotary membership pin, a sign to all of the world that this person really gives Service Above Self!

Upcoming Events:

Gil Wishart announced his pride (we have the most going) in our club’s participation in the Friday, May 10, New Britain Rock Cats’ game. Tickets will be available next week.

A mainstay of our Rotary year, Career Day, will come off on May 17. Under the lead of Stew Harris and Anwar Hossain, local high school students will spend the morning with Rotarian business people and then join us for lunch.

Memorial Day Parade will feature our new Bookmobile (see below). Chuck Clarke made an impassioned plea for volunteers to help in ”planting” of American flags at Hillside cemetery, May 18, 8:00AM (bring a long-bladed screwdriver).

The Bookmobile, a wonderful project being brought to fruition under President Sheryl’s leadership, will be dedicated in a ribbon-cutting program to happen on May 22 at 8:00AM, at the Freightliner showroom on Roberts St. All of you, us, East Hartford Rotarians are invited; let’s make it crowded!

And in a most important plea for help, next year’s president, George Schoen (and aren’t I proud that

I sponsored him to become a member!), urged us to sign up for committee assignments.

Duck Race “activists” Brian Liss (tickets, tickets, tickets,) and Yvette Roming at the helm, urged us to get on board. Sell tickets, help with the Sponsor sign-ups, and be there at the Parade. Tickets available at Town Hall, Augie & Ray’s, and Staples.

The Raffle today was won by Neal Cunningham. In a later interview, he reluctantly agreed that he would share his winnings with Rosemary. Neal, does Rosemary read High Gear?

Program of the Day

In what’s always a highlight of the year, Rick Lawrence, architect and Manchester Rotarian, with wife Elin at his side, shared with us his adventures in extending water development availability in Guatemala. An event in which our club joins other Area 6 Rotary clubs in giving financial support, the four-pronged approach (water itself, sinks, stoves, and latrines) has brought a whole new life to the citizens of Saquiya (look it up!). $37,000 from Area 6 clubs (toward the total expenditure of $90,000) in the past year has made possible the extension of this project annually to another outlying, high-up-in-the-hills community of Guatemala. Citing horrendous statistics about the thousands of people who die every day in the world for lack of clean water, Rick showed slides of the welcoming celebration which he and Elin experience on their yearly visits. Noting that this is not a “charity,” the townspeople are expected to participate in the project’s development. Rick reminded us of the story about catching fish for a man, versus teaching him how to fish (a meal, as opposed to a life-time of providing food for himself). A wonderful program showing how we are tangibly helping to improve living conditions in the world; thanks, program committee, for bringing it to us.

And for this week, subbing for Janice Freschlin ………………………………………..Arthur