Today was about as good as it gets during autumn in our part of the world, temperatures hovering around seventy degrees with not a drop of rain in sight. Of course, it is New England; so, by the time you read this, it could be snowing.
Happy Jack is Happy indeed!
Director Alex Wisz delivered a thoughtful invocation which included a reminder to each of us to be thankful for the “opportunity to serve” through Rotary.
Then, the lineup formed as lunch was again served buffet style – chicken parmesan accompanied by ziti, a beautiful garden salad, and garlic knots, aka rolls. In case this all sounds too healthy, a hearty slice of carrot cake was the dessert offering.
After Art Bradbury led us in the welcome song, Sergeant-at-Arms Jack Sayre let us know fines were rather light today but, in addition to the usual late arrivals and early leavers, he noted Jack Martin is the proud great-grandfather of Rowan, Art Bradbury is celebrating two birthdays, Kevin Kickery kicked in for the Cubs winning, and Frank Collins thanked Dan Firestone for good programs this year. Apologies to anyone whose birthday or anniversary is not mentioned here.
President Bill Saunders invited members to report caring moments. In response, Alex thanked Nick Cecere for calling him immediately after hearing about the plane crashing on Main Street, just checking to be sure Alex and his staff were all okay. Nick mentioned that his two good friends and usual tablemates, Mo Moshovos and Herb Barall, were missing due to more than usual aches and pains.
Lucky Dan Firestone won the raffle.
Caterer Contract Renewed
President Bill had numerous announcements, all of which are important and are recorded here.
The club received $5000.00, in dividends and proceeds of the East Hartford Scholarship Trust during the last Rotary year. Please consider contributing to the trust when making donations to the club. The annual income is used to fund the scholarships given to high-school seniors each year.
Bill thanked all who attended last week’s potluck supper meeting last week supper meeting and especially thanked Ceil Collins and Bob Buettner for their efforts ensuring its success.
Thursday evening is the District Rotary Foundation Dinner. There are at least 10 folks attending from our club.
Next week, November 9th at 11 AM, Jim Watts will chair the annual meeting of the Paul Harris Committee, which includes anyone in the club who is a Paul Harris Fellow. Nominations for this year’s recipients should be submitted to Jim prior to that day. You can submit via email to JIMW@WATTS.COM . No nominations will be accepted after the meeting has begun. Also, during the club meeting that day Past District Governor Kyong Wilson will join us to make a presentation.
In two weeks, November 16th, there will be a dedication of the buddy benches at Langford School at 11:30 AM. Address: 61 Alps Drive, East Hartford, CT 06108. Also, at that time, there will be a meeting of the Club Foundation Committee at The Ridge just prior to our regular meeting. The meeting that day will be foundation focused with keynote speaker, Carol Toomey, Zone 32’s PolioPlus Coordinator.
Bill reported the following actions taken by the board at last week’s meeting:
Current caterer’s contract will be renewed. He is seeking suggestions about meal choices. Bill passed around a sheet at today’s meeting and received at least fourteen suggestions.
Donations as follows -- $1000 to the Academy of Finance, $400 each to food banks at St. Rose, St. Mary’s, St. Chris and South Congregational Churches, $500 to South Windsor Cultural Arts, $4000 to the East Hartford YMCA’s annual campaign, $750 for Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford.
Kevin Kickery will serve on the council at the O’Connell School, and,
Last, but not least, Mary Martin and Neal Cunningham, will start circulating the envelopes for the two families we are “adopting” for the holidays.
Postal Service into Augmented Reality
Whew, 650 words, and just getting to our program. For anyone who missed it, there is no way to explain how a program about the US Postal Service could be fascinating, informative, and conclude with lively Q&A. So, you’ll have to take my word for it!
Larry Hangland serves on the Postal Customer Council of Greater Hartford with our speaker, Rebekah Chamberlain. Who knew you could start as a letter carrier and eventually become a business development specialist with the postal service! That is Rebekah’s story.
Rebekah conveyed to our group how the postal service, though a public service, is a business, which like any other must generate business, build its customer base, acknowledge and adjust to changes due to technology.
Did you know the postal service gets not one penny from the government? Did you know that the postal service is involved with delivery of 47% of the world’s mail, working with its international partners to deliver mail to over 190 countries? Did you know that today’s letter carriers have scanners which can alert them to everything from the presence of a dog in a residence to broken steps, as well as pinpointing exact location of delivery of first-class mail?
I cannot even begin to explain augmented reality as it is being used by the postal service. You had to be there! Suffice it to say, I left the meeting believing there is a bright future for our postal service, though it may not look exactly as it has for the last several hundred years.
And perhaps the main reason for believing that is the existence of the Postal Customer Council which brings together postal service managers, such as Rebekah Chamberlain, and business customers, such as Larry Hangland, to resolve issues and create improvements to the US Post Office. Thank you, Larry, for serving on this council, for introducing its important work to us, and for suggesting this program for our club meeting.
