High Gear – Wednesday September 24, 2025
Goodwin University, 417 Main St., East Hartford, CT
Noon—Rob rang our club bell, then led us reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test. Sue Klock provided an invocation beginning with a good year greeting, Shana Tova, in recognition of the beginning of this 10-day holy season in the Jewish faith. Two proposed new members joined us today, Shakira Acevedo in person and Angelica Sharma via Zoom.
Guy LaBella once again arranged for an appetizing meal: a Mediterranean salad, chicken Florentine, two variations of pizza, hamburg and cheese, and focaccia bread. Raffle tickets sold well with the 52-card deck reduced to 7 cards.
Following lunch, Rob reminded us of our many upcoming service opportunities. Bob Buettner is handling our Rotary in Motion commitment on October 4th. He needs help! Please let Bob know if you can help for a few hours that Saturday either morning or afternoon. Neal Cunningham is again organizing volunteers for the water station on October 11th. Please show up if you have volunteered. There was a long discussion of the Veterans BBQ at the Senior Center, due to our having been removed from cooking the food and relegated to serving only. Rob and Ray will follow up with Bob and staff at the Senior Center.
There was a special request to hold the raffle earlier than usual; so, that was next on Rob’s agenda. Today’s pot was worth $917 for the winner. For the second week in a row, lucky Bill Saunders won the first step, but again for the second week in a row, not-so-lucky Bill did not pick the Queen of Spades from those seven cards! Show up in person next week – down to six cards!!
Moving along, Rob’s trivia game this week was focused on hunger issues. Guy and Ceil were winners but no one in our group knew the definition of “hidden hunger” – lacking sufficient vitamins and minerals despite the appearance of being well fed.
Shakira Acevedo, the assistant coordinator at the Latinos for Educational Advocacy and Diversity, spoke briefly and invited us all to attend the grand opening of the group’s new headquarters at 1064 Main Street in East Hartford on October 25 at 5 PM. As previously announced, Shakira’s organization has been proposed for corporate membership in our club.
Our other guest, via Zoom, Angelica Sharma, is the President of the Tara Home Foundation, and has been proposed by Rob for regular, active membership in our club.
Rob has notified everyone that an info session for both Sharika and Angelica will be held at Marc’s office on Connecticut Boulevard on Tuesday, September 30th, at 11 AM. Typically, these are small group sessions, including the proposer, Rob Rosa, Marc Glass, and the club secretary, Sue Klock. If anyone has an intense desire to participate, please contact Rob in advance of the meeting.
Caring moments: Bob Buettner was not at our meeting, because he and Sandy were with Bob’s sister-in-law at St. Francis Urgent Care.
Last but not least, consider attending the District Foundation Brunch on November 2nd.
Sunday, November 2, 2025 – 12, noon
The Artisan at the Delamar Hotel – One Memorial Rd. - West Hartford, CT, 06107
Fabulous brunch buffet - $55 per person
To register go to: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/50079/Events/district-7890-foundation-rrcognition-brunch
Rob closed the meeting at 12:57 PM.
Submitted by Sue Klock, scribe for the day.
