Lots of folks were at The Ridge earlier than usual today for committee meetings. Not sure what that large group was doing with Sue Klock and Sheryl O’Connor, et al, but our table was Duck Race Business with Quack Master Alex Wicz.
Good to see Frank Staples grace our meeting with four Rotary Club Scholarship recipients in 
tow. All young ladies, of course. Taking over the world . . . (My apologies for not getting their names before they left.)
The bell was chimed by President (six meetings left but who’s counting) Marc, then Happy Jack Martin strode to the podium to deliver our Invocation. With that it was the usual leisurely stampede to the buffet table for beef stew over rice, and cookies for dessert.
Welcome song duties. Who do ya think? Yup, Frank Staples (no one is ever safe when they return from an absence) and fellow academician Jim Fallon. Guess these book learning types don’t get a lot of music training in school. We wailed the tune to guests Pastor John Caldwell, our Scholarship recipients, Paul Reale from 
Webster Bank, and Dennis Weiss from the Glastonbury Club. Pastor John is Gil Wishart’s health aide. He’s becoming a welcome regular.
Good thing we didn’t have a speaker today because Sergeant-at-Arms Ned Lynch did four-star duty with collecting fines and making announcements. In no particular order of importance: Pat Gately celebrated an 11th Club anniversary; Herb Tischofer was pegged for a Club anniversary and birthday that had gone by (he said that based on the Welcome Song he would forego having us singing Happy Birthday to him); and Prez Marc thanked Empress of the World Mary Martin for acting as Acting Prez last week.
On that same note, Bill Saunders thanked Jim Watts for being Acting Treasurer last week. Jim wasn’t in attendance today so we hope we don’t soon have to use his name and the word “absconded” in the same sentence.
A number of fines and contributions were transacted based on our Red Sox/Yankees loyalties. Money changed hands between Sgt. Ned and Ruthie Sheehan, Bob Buettner, and Ned himself. Possibly also Doug Willett who paid for not having a pin and should have paid for being “fed up” with the Stinkees.
Please keep a good thought for the nephew of Brian Gorman. The boy is ill and is in the hospital as doctors work to find out what is wrong. On a happier note, Brian tipped the Sarge because “the Mets beat the Nats”.
Not sure what keeps Nick Cecere so happy but he contributed for it and Dan Firestone threw some shekels into the bag on behalf of the UConn Women. Um, nice but ain’t that season over?
Grampa Kevin Kickery is psyched that he will be hosting two granddaughters this week. George Agnelli paid because he could. John O’Connor was honest about not having his name tag affixed. Jay Stewart will be moving soon to The Arbors in Manchester. Good luck on the transition and best of luck in your new home!
Quack Master Alex Wisz thanked everyone for selling Duck Race tickets and signing up to help with either cleaning the river, cleaning the ducks, marching in the Memorial Day Parade, or decorating the float. He also let us know 
of the opportunities to sell our own or more tickets at three locations: Augie’s & Ray’s, Putnam Plaza Liquors, or the American Eagle Federal Credit Union. See Alex’s email or give him a call to put your name on the schedule. From past experience I can tell you that it is fairly easy to unload a book of tickets if you spend an hour or two at one of these locations.
Please give George Schoen a call if you can help to decorate our parade float or, better still, march in the parade on Monday the 30th.
More on Ducks: this Saturday at 8:30 am at Labor Field a group is getting together to see how much of the Hockanum River channel needs to be cleared out to give the duckies a good path on which to float. A wet but good time if you have a few hours.
Alex also showed us some nifty lawn signs hawking the Duck Race that were created by Larry Hangland. A nice addition to anyone’s lawn to let the world know we are selling tickets.
Hand in those sold tickets to Mary Martin next week. Deadline is Friday, June 3.
Caring moment: Sonny Waldo should be getting out of the hospital today where he has been 
since Sunday with recurrent heart problems. Drop him a card at 45 Ridgefield Road, South Windsor, CT 06074 and tell him we expect to see him at lunch next week.
And as I got up to get my third cookie of the day, President Marc launched into the following announcements: Thursday, May 19 is the Area 6 “Social” at Chops and Catch; Monday, May 23 at 5pm is our Board meeting at the YMCA (770 Main Street). All members are welcome.
June 4 is the baseball game fundraiser in New Britain to “End Polio”. See Kevin Kickery to sign up.
June 16 is the District Installation at Chez Josef for in-coming Governor Frank Wargo and Assistant District Governor’s (including our own Marc Glass).
And the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the Installation Banquet for in-coming East Hartford President Bill Saunders will be Wednesday, June 29 at 6pm at The Gallery. Mark your calendars from now. No Noon meeting that day. Sign-up sheet will start as we get closer to the date.
Happy Jack’s raffle winner this week (again?) was Wes Willett. His Daddy took a nice photo of him. Last time he was sitting on Santa’s lap.
We all had a good laugh over the generosity of the early leavers who paid to not stay to hear today’s non-existent speaker. The bell rang and we vamoosed out into the sunshine. Regards, The Empress
