This holiday week gave me an opportunity to share in Rotarian fellowship twice: today at our meeting and on Monday, with Gil Wishart as my co-pilot in the bookmobile, following Jack Martin’s Corvette down the parade route. (Note to Jack: both Gil and I saw that dark cloud of exhaust when you started up the ‘Vette. Better get that looked at!)
Dan Larson gave today’s invocation after allowing us to be seated for the sermon. He shared his heartfelt insight into the meaning of Memorial Day, including a reading of the Gettysburg Address, and reminded us all about the importance of dedicating ourselves to Service Above Self. After that we were treated to a delicious pot roast lunch, with baby carrots, roasted potatoes and salad. (However I soon learned the perils of being High Gear reporter: as I turned in my seat to take notes during the Sergeant-at-Arms report, the catering staff took my plate away – and I wasn’t finished!)
We welcomed back our illustrious High Gear publisher Doug Willett with a hearty round of applause. Nevalee Wood returned as a guest with Gil Wishart. Ruth Sheehan and Doug Willett sang the Welcome Song.
Sergeant-at-Arms Report: Dan Larson proclaimed it another good day, largely thanks to George Agnelli paying for his 85th birthday. We all sang “Happy Birthday” to George. Marc Glass paid for showing his “piano legs;” Dave Amberg and Doug Willett were likewise fined for wearing shorts. Kevin Kickery paid at first for his favorite mother-in-law, but changed his mind and said the money was for his son-in-law graduating with an MBA from Cornell. Alex Wisz paid for the Duck Race coming along swimmingly; Larry Frazier for no badge; Art Bradbury paid for this being Dan’s last day as Sergeant-at-Arms, calling Dan a pain in the ass. Bob Wood then quickly moved to get in on that action with another dollar – and the rest of us might have emptied our pockets for the cause, but we were too busy applauding.
Neal Cunningham paid for the greatest day of his life: after 30 years he returned to watch a game at Yankee Stadium. There were some in attendance who were happy to point out that the Yankees lost that game, and, indeed, that made the experience even more enjoyable for the life long BoSox loyalist Cunningham. Yvette Roming had Dan announce that last week he forgot to announce that she had paid for an absence. Mary Martin paid $10 for Steve Jacoby being on time. George Schoen paid for Dan’s mention of Gettysburg because George was in Gettysburg last month. Anwar Hossain paid for being late and he also gave a reminder that we are all Americans. Dan Larson announced that Nick Cecere will be Sergeant-at-Arms next month and he hopes to end the year on a high note.
President Mary Martin thanked everyone who participated in the parade on Monday. Dave Amberg (who chaired the float decorating committee,) Ceil Collins (who can wield double-sided tape like no other!) Bob Wood, Frank Collins, George Schoen, Marc Glass, Bob Buettner and granddaughter Quinn, Rachel Buck and the Interact students, Jack Martin, Gil Wishart, and yours truly. Special thanks to Tom Jarrish for donating the use of his truck and trailer for the float. Then the Empress auctioned off a Rotary tie, and your humble High Gear reporter snatched it up when no one seemed ready to bid.
Announcements: Ceil Collins passed around the sign-up sheet for the installation dinner on June 24; Dick McCarthy reminds members that there will be a Sergeant-at-Arms Committee meeting next week, June 3 at 11:30, right before our regular club meeting. The Board will meet Monday, June 1 at the YMCA at 5:30. Duck Race: ONE WEEK LEFT to sell tickets. Alex Wisz said he has looked over the course with the town and things look good. He also wants everyone to know that a Duck Race tailgate party is in the planning for noon on race day. Yvette Roming reminds us that the Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament will continue to honor the $850 price for a Rotary foursome. Steve Jacoby said that if anyone is planning on attending the Travelers Championship, he has parking available at his house. He also has tickets available. Doug Willett did the honors of helping raffle master Happy Jack by drawing Dan Firestone’s ticket.
Make ups: Frank and Ceil Collins made up for the May 20 meeting at Springfield Rotary’s 100th Anniversary.
Today’s guest speaker was Ted Fravel, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Town of East Hartford. Ted joined the town in 2011 and has over 30 years of experience in his field. He spoke enthusiastically of the wonderful resources the town has: 17 parks, 20 playing fields, 7 pools (5 of them outdoors.) Ted is committed to making the best use of these resources, and he credits Mayor Leclerc and his other colleagues in town, especially Tim Bockus and Mike Walsh, for working closely with him to identify ways to keep things new. Since Ted began working in East Hartford, there’s been a 2,000 person increase in participation in Parks & Rec programs. Ted reminded us that the use of the town’s pools is FREE to all East Hartford residents; you only need to bring ID to get into the pools. Last summer there were over 33,000 visits to the pools. The three things Ted emphasized for all of his programming are safety, affordability and accessibility. He said that having these great facilities and using them in new ways, brings in people from other towns who like what we do here. All in all, his was another engaging and informative talk from a town department director.
Parting is such sweet sorrow: I hereby pass the High Gear baton to Dan Russell for the month of June. Eat quickly, Dan, or your lunch gets stolen and the ice cream melts!
Onward and upward – Susan.
