Another great time enjoying lunch together at Goodwin.

President Rob rang the club’s official bell a few minutes after noon and quickly moved on to lead everyone in the Pledge and Rotary’s Four-Way Test. Sue offered as today’s invocation excerpts from Amazing Peace, a poem written by Dr. Maya Angelou for the 2005 White House Christmas-tree-lighting ceremony.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
We hear a sweetness.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now. It is louder.
Louder than the explosion of bombs.

There were four guests today – our speaker, Dr. Maria Cruz, and her daughter, Cece Collazo, on staff at Goodwin, Rep. Henry Genga, who has represented the 10^th District in Connecticut’s House of Representatives since 2006, and Rob’s guest, Chris Tierinni.

Before inviting our guests to lead us to the lunch table, Rob announced the winner of our club’s first “lunchapalooza” competition, Charles McGinnis. Rob plans to repeat this soon.

Thanks to John Forrest for agreeing to sell raffle tickets during lunch.

Today’s lunch offerings from Anna’s included a mixed green salad, combo pizza and three types of grinders, veal cutlet, tuna and sausage. Thanks to Guy LaBella for coordinating this and to Ceil for helping with setup of the lunch table.

After lunch, President Rob’s trivia contest continued a September theme. Especially tough questions this week limited the number of winners to two, Marc and Sue.

Announcements

• Rob reminded us of upcoming events including RIM developments. That day, Saturday, October 5^th, our club will be handing out water to riders at Cabela’s. We hope to have a table with Rotary paraphernalia there. That same day, between 11 AM and 3 PM, President Rob will have a table with information about out club at the town’s Fall Fest. Let Rob know if you can join him there.
• There will be a regular meeting of the Board at 10:45 AM October 9^th before the club’s regular meeting here. Sue mentioned that she cannot attend and this meeting and asked another Board member to record and publish minutes.
• Later in the month Neal Cunningham will oversee our water station during the Hartford Marathon. Let Neal know if you would like to help between 8 AM and 10 AM that day.
• Charles reminded everyone that our club meetings October 2^nd, 23^rd and 30^th will be held in Room 109.

Guy introduced today’s speaker, Dr. Maria W. Cruz, Town Clerk for Manchester, CT, and founder of the Manchester Latino Affairs Council. Dr. Cruz focused on her reasons for creating the Council and the growing success of the Hispanic Heritage Day.

Caring Moments

• Elaine Flynn passed away recently. She was the wife of Bill Flynn, an honorary member of our club, who was the pastor for the First Congregational Church on Main Street and now lives in Florida.
• Marc mentioned that Ruthie Sheehan has her voice back. We hope to see her at our meetings again soon.

No one won the raffle. Pot is growing!

Rob ended the meeting soon after 1 PM.

Submitted by Sue Klock, High Gear scribe for month of September.