Our meeting got off to an inauspicious start when Dan Firestone was “surprised” to be introduced as the leader of our Invocation. Dan recovered nicely and gave an impromptu benediction most appropriate for Passover week and a gathering of service-minded Rotarians.
It was “Make Your Own Darn Taco Day” with a selection of beef, cheese, guacamole, tomatoes and onions to put into a pliable soft taco. Actually quite delicious and a good dress rehearsal for Cinco de Mayo. Mi amigos, I hear we will be introduced to custom-made burritos soon.
Regular members were in relatively short supply but our ranks were buoyed by the return of Snow Bird Doug “Dovelette” Willett; Pastor John Caldwell (Gil Wishart’s professional health assistant); and a guest of George
Agnelli’s, Paul Reale from Webster Bank. George is not only Emperor of Duck Ticket Sales but also a master of trolling for potential new members.
President Marc called for an historic event - - the Welcome Song to be sung by the father and son team of Doug and Wes Willett. Historic? Yes. In tune? No.
Sergeant-at-Arms Happy Jack Martin took over the microphone to dispatch last-of-the-month duties. The first thing he did was shake his proverbial fist at the gods by announcing, in advance of the date, that he had paid for his birthday. He asked for no singing but a collective, “harrumph” from the crowd in honor of his love of the movie “Blazing Saddles”.
Other fines were collected for: George Agnelli’s 41
st Club anniversary; Ruth Sheehan’s happiness that the Red Sox were winning like crazy at the same time the Yankees were losing like crazy; Dan Larson for the visit of former President Bill Clinton to East Hartford this week which gave George Schoen a chance to shake Bubba’s hand. Jessica LeRoy was happy to be back. Neal Cunningham paid for his last salvos of disrespect to Happy Jack. No badge for Bob Wood. Ned Lynch also paid in honor of “his Red Sox” (better talk to Ruthie about that) and as a contribution to the “Tom Brady Defense Fund”.
We were sorry to learn that Art Bradbury is under the weather with what might be a case of the Chicken Pox. Get well soon, Art.
There was a brief and cryptic public service announcement by our own Mo Moshovos. If I have this right, Mo was informing us that Greek Orthodox Easter is coming up this Sunday (May 1st) because it is always held on the first Sunday after the full moon of the Vernal Equinox coinciding somehow with the end of Passover. You Divinity School majors will have to parse that out.
Announcements: Michael Kerrigan invited all to participate in an East Hartford YMCA “Healthy Kids” event this Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m. at 770 Main Street. Peter Klock let us know the Hockanum River Kayak Race will be Sunday (because it’s after the full moon of the Vernal Equinox?).
President Marc had a number of announcements and items for our planning calendar: the Board voted to support the South Windsor Cultural Arts program with a $500 donation; the Club was approved for a two-thirds ($1,731) reimbursement of our total expenses on the Homeless Shelter Project by the District Grants Committee. Kudos to Michael Kerrigan for honcho-ing this effort.
Duck Race Lawn Signs are being created by Larry Hangland. Please consider one for your home or business.
Nine of our members will be attending the District Conference in Hyannis this weekend. Sufficient bail money has been raised to spring President Marc from the hoosegow should his behavior be less than “presidential”.
May 7 is the Mystery Bus Ride; May 11 is the morning-long District Training Assembly for those who wish to attend; May 19 is an Area 6 (includes us) social event at “Chops and Catch” in Manchester.
In-coming President Bill Saunders announced to the Club that two applications to receive District Grant funding were submitted this week by Mary Martin. We are hoping to receive the same kind of two-thirds reimbursement support for 1.) a literacy and water safety program with the EH-YMCA and, 2.) our annual Coats for Kids program. We will know in August if we are granted funding.
Our newest member, Christina Lessard, was called to the podium to receive her official membership badge.
Thank you, Christina, for bringing down the average age of our Club.
Ruthie Sheehan was the popular winner of the second round drawing of today’s raffle by Ceil Collins. Somebody out there may have missed the boat when the first ticket number was called. Oh well. Easy come, easy go.
Dan Firestone returned to the microphone to introduce today’s guest speaker, Kafi Rouse from Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. Ms. Rouse gave a statistics packed talk about the services provided by PPSNE. Many misconceptions (no pun intended) were laid aside by the facts she presented. Only 3% of the organization’s services are abortion based. The other 97% covers a wide range of public health type issues such as access to contraception, examination for and prevention against sexually
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transmitted diseases, and prevention of teen pregnancy. Very little of their funding is derived from governmental sources. Most financial support comes from the generosity of private donors.
Well, that does it for my scribing duties for the month of April. Thanks for the opportunity to editorialize about our gatherings and letting me take a poke at a certain few of you.
Empress of the World
Mary Martin
P.S. – Sell Duck Tickets! Quack!
