High Gear, May 2, 2012

Under a cloudy sky we gathered a Goodwin College. President Elect Sheryl, filling in for President Klock, rang the bell. After the Rotary Song and Pledge of Allegiance, Bob Wood gave a moving invocation asking God’s help to have the courage to help others, work for world peace and to live by the motto “service above self”.

Buffet lunch consisted of rolls, chicken, pasta, salad and cookies.

Guests (in reality they were the hosts) from Goodwin College included Mark Scheinberg, Leia Bell, and DiAlan Kramer. Other guests were Governor Elect Eileen Rau, speaker Eunjeong Go, Loretta Deitz and Lisa Cole. Welcome song by Mary Sullivan and Larry Hangland echoed in the room and beyond.

Jay Stewart was back at her job as Sergeant-at-Arms. Even if I could decipher the two pages of all names and corresponding occasions that Jay gave me, I would rather give you a short version, because the long version will consume the entire report. Fines for birthdays, announcements, anniversaries, pictures in the paper, early leavers, etc. filled the coffer.

Mark Scheinberg gave us an overview of all the exiting developments at the college. Forty construction projects worth $120 M, free “Bridge Program” for high school seniors during summer, non-credit free courses for the seniors, art show, first pitch, car show were just a few events the college was proud to sponsor. Mark indicated that the college is among the top five revenue producers in town.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1.     District Installation Dinner will be held on June 20 at the Bond Hotel in Hartford.

2.     Our club’s Installation Dinner will be at the Gallery on June 27.

3.     We will be back at the Ridge for next week. There will be a meeting for the applicable parties at 11:30 a.m. to plan for the District Conference.

4.     Yvette provided an update about Duck Race. Volunteers are needed. Don’t forget to attend the meeting at Dan Larson’s office at 5:00 p.m. on 5/3/2012.

5.     Brian Liss reported that 50 books of tickets have been sold so far raising a net $5.000. Books of sold tickets with appropriate information filled in can be turned over to “Team Captains” or directly to him.

6.     President Elect Sheryl passed out “Committee Assignments”.

7.     Canoe and kayak race will be held on May 6.

8.     Rock Cats game will be this Friday, gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Mark Scheinberg, through a highly scientific process which consisted of moving the writing pad with names of the participants in a counter clock direction to rendezvous with Marc Glass’ steady finger, handed out gifts from the College Store to Loretta Deitz, George Finch and Art Bradbury.

Our guest speaker Eunjeong Go, who is an ambassadorial scholar from Korea attending UofH Music School, gave us an informative presentation about her country through a colorful slide show.

The meeting ended with one verse from “My country….”

Makeup: Jay Stewart attended meeting at Glastonbury Club.

Correction from last week’s High Gear: George Schoen, Bill/Sam Leone, Dan Larson and Chris Stone were not spelled correctly. My apologies, too much ice tea.