HIGH GEAR – July 31, 2013
This last Wednesday in the month of July turned out to be the busiest, but that’s good, right? Lots to write about, so let’s get started! First guests to walk thru the doors were Dan and Loretta Dienst, former East Hartford Rotarians, once of the house down the hill, but now of Katy, Texas. They looked great and ‘twas good to see them. Jay Stewart met me with a bag of hand-picked blueberries to take to our son in law, Tom Heslin’s birthday dinner in Providence, tonight. What a fabulous, thoughtful gift!
On a low humidity, beautiful day in an otherwise hotter-than-hades month, we sang the R-O-T-A-R-Y song, saluted our gorgeous flag, and listened to an impromptu invocation by yours truly (my bad, I’d received President George’s email!). Sue Klock gave us a Foundation Minute with a pig(s) tale full of $ success (Bill Gates has promised a 2 for 1 commitment on Rotary giving to Polio irradication, followed by husband Peter Klock’s less-than-happy news of Polio cases in those areas of the world encompassing Somalia, Kenya, Pakistan and Nigeria. Not good!
Guests today included Marc Greer, Glastonbury Rotarian, the aforementioned Dienst duo, YMCA speaker Mike Kerrigan, and our 3 scholarship winners, Jessica, Paul, and Matheu (more later). Ned Lynch and Jack Sayre did an enthusiastic leadership job on the Welcome Song.
Sgt-at-arms Jay Stewart told of a raft of miscreants and Happy Dollars, to wit: Nice letter and check from Roger Nicholson (cause we’d never levied a fine on his birthday); Art Bradbury’s 45th club anniversary (and sponsored way back in 1968 by pal George Stewart!); Brian Liss’ 11th Anniversary; Herb Barall’s Circle of Life endeavors; John O’Connor’s fine for no pin, (but it could have been for his phosphorescent tie); Ned Lynch for Red Sox in first place (he ought to check the standings today); a birthday –and we sang to him- for Dan Dienst; a “happy to see them- the Dienst duo-” from Ruth Sheehan
and Dan Larson; a losing golf “hand” by “that old guy” George Agnelli to compatriots Wood, Amberg, and Saunders; and the successful sale of the Klock-kids condo in Paris!
Announcements today included
· an invite to participate in the Bob Richmond family’s sponsored golf tournament on Aug.22 at Topstone G.C in honor of Nancy Richmond: $140 to enter ($40 for dinner buffet only); proceeds to benefit educational needs for mothers and homemakers deciding to return to school. Call Rob Richmond at (860) 604-8683 and send check by Aug.10 if interested.
· Yvette Roming’s pleas for each member to try for a sponsor for the golf tournament and also to produce a raffle gift.
· Neal Cunningham’s “thank yous” for playing softball against Glastonbury last week, and also for contributions to the “Back-to-school” project.
· President George told of Board action in processing resignations of George Finch, John Kelliher, Tony Matthews, Leo Christmas, and Chirag Thaker; leaving us with 64 active and 7 honorary members.
Raffle winner today, met with genuine applause, was Ruth Sheehan; way ta go, Ruthie!
Scholarship winners addressed us for a moment each: Matheu Whitesell, off to Univ. of Virginia to study engineering; Paul Dineen and Jessica Lenord, both off to UConn. All nice-appearing young’uns!
And our speaker today was Mike Kerrigan, Senior Program Director of the East Hartford YMCA. Introduced by our own Brian Liss, Mike told of the very successful group of summer-time adventures in which East Hartford area youngsters are taking part.
Swimming, day-camping, teen-centers, and child-care. Appealing as well to needy families, the “Y’s” community involvement has partnered with CIGNA in its “Connecticut-Whale” floor hockey program; Silver Lane School in its health initiatives w/2nd graders; the Hartford Foundation in its Educational component of summer camping; and a number of worthwhile programs in concert with Walmart, Goodwin College, Pratt & Whitney, and the E.H.H.S., all attesting to a vibrant place down there on Main St. Since our club is a hefty “giver” to the Y’s programming, it was nice to hear first-hand of its activities. Good work, Brian!
And with that, the reins will be turned over in August to our world traveler, Doug Willett...
Nice we could get together……………………………….Arthur