ROTARY BULLETIN 4/27/06

 

ROTARY CLUB OF NEW CANAAN

 

BULLETIN FOR JULY 6, 2006

And so it has begun, the era of a dolly table as the head table.  The era of “You won’t have Jim Azzarito to kick around anymore.”  Week two of the Nancy Watch seemed slightly shaky but her judicious use of her great personality saved the day.  Yes it is summer.  Yes our standards are lowered from Independence Day through Labor Day.  But Madam President is very much in charge.  Rev. John Kerchoff brought the (possibly) late Kenneth Lay into his prayer, seeking a trendy message to the Lord and a smattering of laughter from the reverential cluster of Rotarians.  The luncheon was marked by spectacular food, a summerfest on every plate, kudos to the chef at the Inn.  Scott Hobbs was our jokemeister today, telling an oldie but a goodie about spaghetti and meatballs which was making the rounds at the World Cup as sauerkraut and wieners.  In China it might come out as low mein and those little bitty ears of corn.

 

Guests:

Not a stranger or outsider in sight but our own Rick Kellam was back to take some digital shots, to swap Florida stories and to be welcomed back as a great Rotarian.

 

Club Announcements:

President Nancy offered this:

A heartfelt appreciation for the life of Eric Weilenmann and our friend, his son Tom. 

Leo then offered this stirring information, to Tom, that members had donated $1,750 in memory of Eric, funds now residing in the Club Foundation account.  Tom will select a charity for this gift and the contribution to the worthy cause will receive it in Eric’s memory.  Well done.

 

Program:

The new President introduced a new member, Fred Baker, our Club’s future President and New Canaan’s Fire Marshall.  Clearly Fred is a great American.  He coaches Boy Scouts, collects tractors, has been a volunteer firefighter and in his firefighting career for 33 of his 50 years.  Fred has followed the flames and his courage into a trajectory from volunteer in Wilton as a student, a firefighter in Wilton after graduating WHS, then in the Wesport FD, a firefighter, the Fire Inspector, Deputy Fire Marshal, then Fire Marshal in Paul Newman’s town, and now lucky for New Canaan, he’s here.  Fred is still a little Midwestern after spending his early years in Iowa. And that’s a good thing that may have led him to his tractors, a 1947 John Deere Model A and a 1944 Case that can run on after shave in a pinch.  Fred has a terrific family, including a son who is a roadie with a big rock band.  Fred left us with a wonderful explanation of his duties as Fire Marshal: his “customers” are fire fighters who are entering safer (albeit burning) environments where combustibles, hazards, and debris have been removed by his good efforts.  Nancy rang the bell at 1:26 and we were better for having been part of things today.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Steve Trachsel