Pardon me for talking with my mouth full but today’s lunch was ribs and smashed potatoes.  Some salad for the rabbit eaters was included, of course, and a fruit salad with raspberry sauce as dessert for anyone, like me, feeling guilty about going face down into my lunch plate.

 

The Empress of the World (Mary Martin to you neophytes) is back as a High Gear editor and already I’m taking liberty with the usual reporting order of things.  I want to catch your attention up front with activities leading up to our September 21st Golf Tournament.  This is a major (like twice as much as our Duck Race!) fundraiser and all hands are requested to be on deck to help. 

 

What can you do?  Well, for starters, see if any one of your friends, family or business associates would like to make up a foursome.  It’s only $150 per player and that includes lunch, dinner, and a goodie bag on top of a day of fun at the Manchester Country Club.  Not a golfer?  We could use your support with finding sponsors of tee signs at holes.  How about money is tight?  OK, how about volunteering to help that day?  We can use people at morning, afternoon, or all-day shifts.  Give George Schoen a call at 860-659-0169 to discuss.  And raffle prizes can be dropped off at 17 Silver Lane (the Marc Glass Insurance Office):  donate something worth at least $50 dollars that can be raffled off that night at the dinner.  Past items have included floral arrangements, coffee or breakfast baskets, paintings . . . does not have to be golf-related.

 

That said, the aforementioned Past Past President George Schoen started our meeting with a quiet and thought provoking Invocation.  Current President Marc recognized Olivia Henze and newly wed Wes Willett as guests, and Mike Derr was given a shout-out for being present from his usual Missouri home.  Heck of a commute, Mike.

 

Olivia, Wes, and Jessica Leroy have been proposed for membership.  This is the first of two official notices regarding their nomination.  If no one objects (and who could possibly?), we will be inducting this trio later in August.  We just have to wait for world traveler Doug Willett to escape from his trip to Mother Russia.  Something about a gulag.

 

The “Welcome Song”, the one that begins, “this is Rotary, it’s a great place to be” was led by semi-pro Art Bradbury and Mr. Missouri.  New members take note:  it won’t be long before you will be asked to start us off.

 

Dave Amberg exhibited the very essence of organization when he presented his Sergeant-at-Arms report in alphabetical order.  Here’s how it went:  George Agnelli gave for being on TV; Bob Buettner for being on a cross country trip with the family for 3 weeks; Nick Cecere for forgetting to show up at last week’s softball game; Ceil Collins for a silent birthday; Mike Derr for leaving his badge several states away and for having the temerity to console Red Bums fans (we need it); Kevin Kickery for leaving early except maybe he didn’t need to since there was no program; Happy Jack Martin in honor of his lovely wife and her part-time job; Bill Saunders also having a silent birthday; and Jay Stewart for enjoying lobster from the East Hampton Rotary Club.

 

Speaking of Jay, we have a number of make-ups to report:  Jay at East Hampton and at a District Governors’ gathering; the Golf Committee for today’s meeting (McCarthy, Saunders, Martin #1, Martin #2 (you figure it out), Watts, Schoen, Agnelli, Roming, and Frazier).  Please report your make-ups to Secretary Susan.  These are “banked” to make up for lack of attendance at regular meetings.  You even get credit for going to a Committee meeting and those opportunities will be ramping up as the year gets underway.  Committee Chairs are responsible for reporting your attendance.

 

Announcements:  please see Ceil Collins if you would like to donate $5 to the Avon Club’s neo-natal unit project and be in the running for 2 Yankees tix for a Sept. 12 game; Sue Klock, with a major assist from Michael Kerrigan, gave us a sneak preview into activities at YMCA Camp Nowashe which is partially supported by our Club’s $4k donation; Jack Sayre reported on our generosity to the Town of EH Social Services “Back to School” collection which netted $287 and nine back packs.

 

President Marc read a letter of thanks regarding our $4k contribution to two impoverished rural Mayan towns in Guatemala that supported clean water and addressed chronic childhood malnutrition.  Congratulations to us for making a difference in someone’s life.

 

This Thursday, August 6 at 6 p.m. our Club is sponsoring a “Soul Sound Review” show at the Riverfront amphitheatre.  Show is free and full of great Motown songs.

 

We are the grateful recipients of a Rotary District Grant for $3,000 to help refurbish the EH Homeless Shelter on Main Street.  President Marc will be asking for volunteers to head up that committee.  A great opportunity for some of our new members to jump right in!  Don’t worry, we’ll be there with life preservers.

 

Up-coming meetings:  next Wednesday at 11:30 for the Program Committee with Dan Firestone; Monday the 10^th at 5:15 p.m. at Ceil Collin’s house (64 Phillips Farm Rd. in EH) for the Social Committee to socialize with Bob Buettner.  If you are a new member with an interest in either helping us get lunch speakers or organizing some social events, just show up at one or both meetings.

 

Secretary Susan Hansen takes the helm as Acting President next week.  Whew!  And please mark your calendar to be present and spiffily dressed for the official visit of Rotary District Governor Kyong Wilson on August 19.  Seriously, Neal, could you at least put on a pair of socks?  And you golfers, enough already with the polka dot shirts and plaid shorts!  Pick the 19^th as a day for somebody to help you get dressed (I’m just saying is all, Dave A.).

 

Raffle Master Happy Jack Martin let “Mr. Rosebud”, Peter Klock, win the raffle again.

 

And before the bell rang in adjournment Nick Cecere took a moment to deliver best wishes to us on behalf of Loren “Andy” Andreo.  Andy hopes to attend again soon.  For those of you who have not had a chance to meet him, Andy and his family are ardent and very generous supporters of our Club activities and fund raisers.  Hey, Andy!  Looking forward to saying hello to you soon in person.  Stay well and be strong.

 

Enjoy what’s left of the Summer.  We’re already talking back to school!