High Gear, October 17, 2012
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This was assuredly a great day to be alive…an Indian Summer day; (yep, Dave, according to Webster’s, it qualified as “a period of mild, warm, hazy weather following the first frosts of late autumn…”). Seemed like a smallish-crowd day, with about 35 in attendance; good to greet those of us who were there, though. In President Sheryl’s Foundation Minute segment, Mo Moshovos told of the Japanese Rotary Club which, following last year’s tragic tsunami, had created a baseball field for the children in a local town, thereby bringing some normalcy back into their lives. Of course we saluted our beautiful American flag, pledged allegiance to the United States of America, and listened to Yvette Roming’s eloquent invocation poem about the beauty of our earth. Then we sat to a most tasty dish of Eggplant Parmesan, salad, and apple-crisp/-sog for dessert.
Subbing for President Sheryl, (we think she’s fraternizing with a fellow Rotarian somewhere down in “the Islands”) our President-Elect and PP George Schoen filled the wait-for-our-meal-to-be-served time with two announcements, to wit: Ceil Collins made a plea for Noah Webster Tavern night (Oct.29) checks to be sent to her by next Wednesday ($35pp); and Greeter George Finch told of Rotary efforts to once again (it was started in 1979/’80) float-a-float in the Rose Bowl Parade. Lots of clubs help to fund this wonderful advertisement for Rotary, aided by over 2,000 families who participate in the float decoration. A hat was passed to help out.
Our Guest for the day was new member-in-waiting Fred Issakhani 
and we were led in the Welcome Song by old hands at the helm, Doug Willett and Chuck Clarke (without a single wave of the hand). Oh well…
Sgt-at-Arms Jack Sayre
enriched our fine bank today by collecting from Larry Frazier and Mo Moshovos
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paid for a whole bag of past sins, such as celebration of 3 years of birthdays, and then John Kelleher
paid for a current one (with no song!).
Announcements: Acting Pres. George reminded us of the Bradburys’ Irish music group, “The Hibernians’ ” gig at Glastonbury’s Hanafin’s this coming Sunday afternoon, from 1 to 4 (and yes, Arthur paid for that plug!). Adding to news of the day, Fireside Chats are in full bloom this week (be sure to honor your attendance commitment!); the Job Shadow program is next week, with a whole lot of Rotarians serving as job ”hosts”; (we were reminded that high school kids should be picked up at 8:00 that morning). The Paul Harris Nominating meeting will be next Wed. @ 11:00; a Golf Committee Mtg is scheduled for 10/31, @ 11:00; and also on that day, the 31st, the Wine ‘n Cheese party at 11:30 becomes a Halloween party by everyone wearing a funny hat, use your imagination, and bringing an article of food for a local food pantry! Nov. 1st is still the date for the Foundation Dinner, and tickets are available by calling Brian Liss. Chuck Clarke told us that he needs help in “planting” flags on the Veterans’ graves on Nov. 3rd, Hillside Cemetery at 7:45 AM.- bring a long screwdriver! Gil Wishart joyfully described tentative plans for next spring’s New Britain RockCats’ game with the Portland Seadogs, on May 10. This may become a District event, he said! Neal Cunningham offered kudos to the 17 or so Rotarians/family members who manned the Rotary water station at last Saturday’s Greater Hartford Marathon. ‘twas a beautiful (but 30 degrees) morning, with lots of good Rotary camaraderie. Fine job, Neal!
Caring Concerns: Dan Larson stood to feelingly give thanks to club members for expressions of kindness on the occasion of his Mom’s recent passing; Jean Wishart is still at the Special Care Hospital in New Britain, and Spurge Stokes is at home, undergoing physical therapy.
Other Interesting News: AP George read a couple of recipient “thank you” letters from the Koats for Kids project; Marc Glass tells us that readers are needed for the Foundation Minute moments, and, wouldn’t ya’ know it, Ned Lynch won the Raffle for the second week in a row!!!
Program today: we were treated to most entertaining “talks” from our two newest members, albeit, old-hand Rotarians, namely, Hope Firestone and Mary Martin, the better halfs of two of our married couple members.
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Hope told of meeting husband Dan in college, being supportive mates over a lot of years of marriage, raising two children, becoming an artist, then a realtor, a Rotarian, a teacher, and, all in all, describing a happily married couple whose interests have finally joined as Rotarians in the same club! Mary, a long time Rotarian (in our first wave of female members way back in ’88) who eventually became President (remember “the Empress”?). A Cornell grad, majoring in archaeology, Mary found her way to employment with the Town of East Hartford, and has served for about 25 years as the Grants Administrator. Both Dan and Jack proudly beamed!
A nice program to have heard,…..to write about….. and to close on…………… ………………………..Arthur