Each Wednesday in April this year was prettier than the previous one. Today’s beautiful sunny weather was matched only by the dispositions of the club members, glad to be able to enjoy our friendly luncheon
gathering around a delicious buffet of tilapia and mixed vegetables. Are not our new caterers doing a great job?! Leading us in prayer,
Mike Kerrigan thanked the Abundant Giver of All Good Things for Rotary service near and far, the privilege of being club members, and for our food, which made all our blessings feel even that much better.
There were no visitors today but Empress Mary asked Dan Firestone and Anwar Hussain to welcome us all through song just the same, and a fine job they did, even while restraining themselves from demonstrating the fancier moves we all know they have in them.
Happy Jack Martin, our most respectable Sgt @ Arms, still enjoyed profitable returns on his authority. And he only needed to fine one member for disrespect! I found this a bit confusing as the entire club heartily cheered when Jack announced this as the last day of his month’s jurisdiction, but then what’s a Rotary club without sass? It was also Jack’s birthday today and some might say that he abused his power by insisting the club sing to him. But then we welcomed in the same manner the anniversary of Hope Firestone’s arrival on earth and that made Jack look better. Ruth Sheehan paid for Jack’s birthday, as did Bob Buettner, who also reminded us to get those Mother’s Day flowers orders in. Ned Lynch put in some money because the Red Sox are struggling. But it’s never a mistake to be a Red Sox fan! Ned also paid in advance for disrespecting the Sgt @ Arms the next time Jack is office, a more certain prediction of behavior there may not be. Ever the fashion plates, Bill Saunders and Marc Glass were fined for having coordinated wardrobes. And how about this? Mike Kerrigan put money in the coffer because he felt guilty for missing some noon meetings! Now, Jack has few qualms about taking anyone’s money for just about anything but this seemed to me to be close to paying a sort of Rotary indulgence, the historical selling of which always received scant approbation where I went to Seminary. But I suppose we will all close our eyes to such excess when we enjoy its fruits at the Sgt @ Arms party. Rotarians are people of conscience but still we are human. Thus, may we be forgiven?
Bob Wood reminded us of Rotary Rock Cats night coming up on May 29. It is not too late to sign up but it would be nice to see some of the $22.00 paid. Bob also said that Gil Wishart, who has organized our club’s going to the Rock Cats game for many years, is at home doing better, recovering from some joint inflammations as well as adjusting to the loss of Jean. At the game, each Rotary club represented gets to have one of its members throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Wouldn’t it be great if Gil could do that for our club?
Marc Glass reported that the District Conference was well attended by our club and that we won two awards. First, on behalf of the club, Mary Martin received The Presidential Citation for club excellence. Second, Susan Hanson was the winner of the Woodruff Award for significant contributions to the community through Rotary. Congratulations! Marc also informed us of the Installation Dinner coming up on June 16th, 5:30 PM in Simsbury at the Riverview Inn. The cost is $65 per person and it would be good to have a Rotary table.
Larry Frazier reported for the Scholarship Committee that out of an initial 35 applicants, six $2,000 scholarships were awarded. Five were for students from East Hartford High and one was for a student at Cheney Tech.
Alex Wisz reported that organizing for the Duck Race is on schedule and that there are but five weeks left to sell tickets!
Our Empress shared that the Board of Directors chose to give $200 to the Michael Avalon Memorial Walk for Pancreatic Cancer. The Board also voted to provide two weeks bus fare for 50 East Hartford students to attend Star Base this summer, an educational program emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
The raffle was won by Yvette Roming, who, needing to leave early, yipeeed! all the way out the door!
Thank you, Bob Woods, for filling in for me last week while I was in Portland, Oregon visiting my son and grandson. Great job, Bob!
The program was presented by
Ted Perrill, a private pilot who volunteers for Angel Flight, a volunteer organization that transports, free of charge, people in need of medical treatment which they can only receive far from home.
So many needs, so many ways to serve!
Go Rotary!
Ted Mosebach
