First High Gear of ’16 and, as Art Bradbury noted, “Winter has arrived!” Connecticut in January, go figure.  At least we can still see frozen grass.

 

Thirty-two of us, plus Steve Jacoby, made it to The Ridge for a lunch of chicken stew over noodles with the dreaded dark green broccoli, rescued by peach cobbler with ice cream.  George Schoen, the self-proclaimed “Giver Outter of Semi-Annual Dues Invoices” provided a well-delivered Invocation asking for peace and understanding.  This was especially timely if it is confirmed that North Korea did detonate a hydrogen bomb earlier today.

 

President Marc has evoked executive privilege for the past few weeks by having our seating arrangement changed from 8 person rectangular tables to 8 person round tables.  OMG as the kids say, that is a lot of change for Rotarians to absorb.  I took an informal poll and came up with the consensus that we are in favor of round tables just as soon as we stop hyper-ventilating over the change.

 

The cold must have kept away any guests along with some snow birds.  Sue and Peter Klock led us in the Welcome Song nonetheless.  I’m sure our guest speaker, Ellen Filloramo, felt honored by it.

 

January’s Sergeant-at-Arms, Jim Watts, was bemoaning a slow day until just moments before the bell was rung.  All of a sudden we had a bunch of ‘early leavers/late arrivers’, and other reasons for donations to the kitty:  Happy Jack (“D.A.”) Martin for defending the honor of the Sarge from the thugs in the foyer; Ned Lynch for the opportunity to receive his Semi-Annual Dues Invoice in person; Kevin Kickery in acknowledgement that his wife, Susan, had the day off from school due to it being Three Kings Day; Peter Klock to recognize his 26^th Club membership anniversary; and more poignantly, Alex Wisz as a reminder to us to please keep a good thought for his daughter serving in the Army stationed in South Korea.

 

Art Bradbury reported that Bob Wood had successful hip replacement surgery on Monday and will be home later today (here’s your hat, what’s the hurry?!).  You can send Bob a get well card at:  61 South Mill Drive, South Glastonbury, CT  06073.  Bob now sports 4 new knees and 2 new hips.  Sure hope that is a Rotary record never to be broken.

 

Those of you on the Scholarship Committee keep in mind you have your first meeting next Wednesday, January 13, at 11:30 a.m.

 

Congratulations to Kevin Kickery for being selected by the in-coming Board of Directors to be their Sergeant-at-Arms (at Board meetings) beginning with President Bill’s year on July 1^st.

 

If you are still working, or can reach out to someone who is, how about signing up through Alex Wisz to participate in our annual high school Job Shadow Day?  A few hours of your time on the morning of Wednesday, February 24, culminating in lunch at The Ridge, is all that is asked.  Your willingness to show some young people your work world could make a difference in their professional future.

 

Thanks to our members and the participation of 50 CIBA Interact students, we helped the Salvation Army raise over $2,400 by ringing the kettle bell.  Large-sized thanks go out to Jack Sayre for riding herd on this project.

 

Sue Klock asked for, and received, a Rotary Polio Pig babysitter for the next few weeks while she and Peter are away.  Please drop your spare change into the Pig to help with the battle to eradicate polio.  Thank you, Bob Buettner, for being the Oink Oink Sitter.

 

Speaking of Peter Klock, Mr. 26^th Anniversary won this week’s raffle once Happy Jack clarified with President Marc that Dan Russell was, indeed, last week’s winner and could pull the next ticket.

 

Our guest speaker, Emily Filloramo, was introduced by Program Committee Chair Dan Firestone.  She is the author of a book entitled, “How to Permanently Erase Negative Self Talk”.  Ms. Filloramo discussed the ways your own negative thoughts (not smart enough, not handsome enough, not lovable enough) can affect your health, professional, or romance goals.  Her final admonition to us was to do the internal psychological work to conquer these thoughts so you can “fall madly in love with yourself.”

 

That said, I remain Yours In Rotary and this week’s High Gear Editor,

Mary Martin

Empress of the World (no obvious lack of self-love here)