High Gear – April 30, 2014
It was a dark and dreary and rainy day, but inside the Ridge the sun was shining and everyone was in a great mood. The tables were all decorated for a "surprise" baby shower for Chris Liss and crew. Every table was filled to overflowing with over 40 members present plus guests.
President George and Art Bradbury started us off with a great welcoming song in honor of their special guests (their wives, Peggy and Charlotte). Yvette’s Brianna was also a special guest! The meal was flank steak, zucchini (again) and rice with a fruit filled cake for dessert.
The tables, as mentioned, had pink baby napkins for all. The Liss table had all sorts of pinky things including flowers and balloons.
This was Sgt. at Arms Jack Martin’s last week, thank goodness. His list of fines keeps getting longer and longer. Mike Derr paid for the
27 time World Champion NY Yankees being in first place; Jack Martin paid for his birthday; Marc Glass showed disrespect to the Sgt. At Arms (and glad Mike D is back); Dave Amberg coughed up for being late & no badge; Bob Buettner paid for being respectful to Sgt at Arms, and for Ruth Sheehan and her last place Red Sox; Sue Klock paid for all who helped at Senior Prom (see below) and the District Conference;
Tim Coppage paid for leaving early; Neal Cunningham also paid for disrespect to Sgt Martin (lots of that going around) & no pin; Ruth Sheehan contributed for Brianna a & Molly Rose Liss; George Agnelli paid for being late; Sheryl O'Connor paid to honor the Liss family; and John O'Connor contributed for terrific showing of members at the Conference (EHRC largest contingent there). Larry Frazier pointed out that fines for NO pins cannot be levied until after the meeting starts.
Announcements
Ceil Collins: Next week Krause Caterers will not be available. We will do grinders from Romas. Please sign up or let her know, ceilcollins@aol.com what your choice is: Ham, Turkey, Roast Beef, Combo or Veggie.
Yvette Roming: East Hartford Senior Citizens Thrift Shop is in need of donations.
Art Bradbury: His Irish singing group, The Hibernians, will do their next gig at Hanafin’s in Glastonbury on Sunday, May 18th, 1-4 PM. If you’re thirsty and like Irish music, come and pull up a chair!
Sign up for the Rock Cats Game and picnic Friday June 13th @$22.00 P/P
Peter Klock: The East Hartford Hockanum River Committee canoe and kayak event is this Sunday, $10.00 P\P, finishers get a tee shirt. Some canoes are available at Labor Field. (Unfortunately, President George can’t “man” a canoe ‘cause he and Peggy will be helping to pole a gondola in Italy!)
Sue Klock thanked the members who helped at the Senior Prom: Jack Sayre, Hope & Dan Firestone, Bob Wood, Art Bradbury, George Schoen, Dan Larson, Brian Gorman, Peter Klock, Bill Saunders, Jack Martin, and Ruth Sheehan.
Brian Liss: Glastonbury Y is sponsoring a fishing derby on June 12. No charge for 6-12 year olds.
Brian Liss: Patrick made his first communion.
Jean Wishart is home from the hospital; cards would be welcomed.
District Conference: East Hartford Rotary teamed with Manchester and West Hartford clubs for the Hospitality Room at the conference. East Hartford is well known for this room every year and it is DONE RIGHT.
Jim Reik's memorial service is this Saturday at 2 PM at the Quaker Meeting House on South Quaker Lane in West Hartford.
Raffle was won by Mike Derr.
Sheryl spoke emotionally for a few minutes about Brian Liss and his family and how much he has contributed to our club. His two boys were presented with books to read to Molly Rose, and Brian and Chris were presented with a gift card in appreciation for all they’ve done, (and for Molly Rose)…Amen!
Respectfully (and for the last time)
Bob Buettner