High Gear, May 8, 2019

Posted by Sue Klock on May 08, 2019

 A beautiful, sunny day up at the Ridge. 

 

We were greeted by DGN Marc Glass, substituting today for Kevin Kickery, who missed our meeting due to job demands.  After a round of R-O-T-A-R-Y and the pledge of allegiance, Larry Hangland delivered a heartfelt prayer acknowledging mothers everywhere as we all look forward to the annual recognition of mothers this Sunday.

 

Lunch today was sausage and peppers with white rice, a chopped, mixed-greens salad with dressing, bread and butter.  Eventually we were treated to a mix of large cookies, graciously passed around by Ned Lynch.

 

After noting our only guest today was our speaker, Marc invited Art Bradbury and Dan Larson to lead us in singing the welcome song.  Our guest today, Bob Newbold, mentioned that if we visit his Newington Rotary Club, we could also enjoy a welcome song there.

 

Sergeant-at-Arms Ned Lynch reported that 100% of those attending contributed today – note that it was nearly impossible to enter today without passing by Ned.  Very effective strategy! Comments of contributors ranged from the usual sports enthusiasts’ mentioning their favorite teams to members who were simply happy to have such beautiful spring weather.

 

Caring moments:  Debby Wood has been in the hospital but will be transferring to Manchester Manor later today.  There will be more information forthcoming via email.

 

Save the Date (but no advertising beyond our club until after June 19, 2019).  Marc Glass’s installation dinner will be Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at Maneeley’s Banquet Facility on Rye Street in South Windsor.  This is an event which should be 100% supported by our club.   Entertainment, in addition to Marc himself, will be provided by Dr. Jay Sutay, the self-proclaimed “Hardest Working Pediatrician in Comedy.”
Marc gave a brief report on this last weekend’s district conference in Danvers, Massachusetts.  Sounds like lots of fun with a dinner-dance on Friday evening, a hands-on homeless experience on Saturday, followed by batting practice in Red Sox home stadium and a boat ride in Boston Harbor.
 
Marc passed along some items of note from President Kevin.  Among those was a clarification the BBQ event June 19th is our regular meeting, with BBQ lunch.
 
Also, Kevin noted he needs a head count of those from our club who want to attend the May 19th event at Kate Sims’ house.  This is a backyard BBQ at her Manchester home with a focus on district efforts to reduce impact of opioid crisis.  Please email Kevin if you are interested.
 
Also, regarding our regular meeting on June 12th, the Board approved having us relinquish our lunch space, the large room at the Ridge, so East Hartford High faculty could use it for their end of year celebration.  We will meet in the smaller room around the buffet table.  There will be no program that day; the meeting will end at 1 PM.
 
We are all invited to the grand opening of the new Dunkin’ Donuts at 639 Main Street and Pitkin Street on Friday, May 10th from 10 AM until noon, with a ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Marcia Leclerc at 11:30 AM.  A free beverage (coffee?) will be offered to all attendees.
 
The Spring raffle committee encouraged us all to get busy selling tickets and getting sold books back to the committee.  Also, if you are in contact with a club member who does not attend our regular luncheon meetings, please call to remind them to sell their books of tickets.
 
The regular raffle was won by Ned Lynch.  The flower raffle, a beautiful spring bouquet donated by Bob Buettner, was won by Peter Klock.
 
Program: Bob Newbold, “a Stroke of Luck”
Bob is a member of the Rotary Club of Newington, CT and has served several times as its president. This was another program not to be missed providing far too much information to include in this brief report.  I recommend googling information about stoke warning signs, adding  an app to your smartphone – Find a Stroke Fast--, and checking Bob’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/strokeawarenessguy.  Perhaps the two most important recommendations from Bob are to become acquainted with signs of a stroke and to be aware that Hartford Hospital has a Comprehensive Stroke Center and is THE hospital to direct your ambulance to if you or someone else appears to be having a stroke.
 
This was a great meeting!
 
Submitted by Sue Klock