New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin September 27

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                 September 27, 2007

 

On a day when school was in session, summer holidays a distant memory, and a return to routine clearly established it was a mystery why the group that assembled at the Roger Sherman to celebrate Rotary was so small.  President Amy, demonstrating her leadership ability, gave the few in attendance her best effort and inspired us to be the best we could be.  Alternate Chaplain John Kerchoff, filling in for the absent Pope Adolphus I, further inspired us with a stirring blessing.

 

The Roger Sherman kitchen staff tempted the diners with a tasty Greek salad, assorted sides and either a small fish or half a buffalo.  While the meal was delicious, a number of the buffalo eaters found it difficult to rise from their post prandial chairs.

 

The invitation to introduce visiting Rotarians and guests elicited only the observation that Chase DiPanni was in attendance on his annual migration between Nantucket and Stuart.

 

Amy announced that she had heard from District Governor Ernie that the Fairfield Rotary Club plans to start a Rotaract Club at Fairfield University and invited all area Rotarians to forward the names of current Fairfield students who would be good prospects to Amy. She  also reported on a recent R.I. correspondence relating to Every Rotarian, Every Year.  This is the program aimed at getting every member of R.I. to contribute $100 to the Foundation every year.  It has been very effective and has spawned a newsletter which is available on line at a link at www.rotary.org/foundation.  The Annual Programs Fund contributions in 2003 were $56 million, in 2007 $102 million, and the goal for the coming year is $120 million.  Let’s do our part to change the world.

 

Late arriving Scott Hobbs then rose while precariously balancing three hats.  Under his lobster visor he reported that final Lobsterfest numbers are still not available, but will be forthcoming shortly.  Uh huh.  Beneath his Iraqi turban he discussed the impact apparently small acts of kindness can have not only on those to whom the acts are directed, but upon those who are touched along the way.  Service above self.  Sporting his Aesop hat, he related another of his much loved morality tales, this one dealing with the benefits to be derived from experience.  Very clever.

 

Amy then further confused the audience by appearing as the introducer of the day’s program, not as the club president.  Hard to sort out, but worth the effort.  She presented three women from Visiting Nurse and Hospice: Mary Ely, Director of Development, Barbara Sawyer, Volunteer Services Coordinator, and Carol Townsend, Hospice Director.  Mary spoke about the challenges of raising community awareness and funds; Carol spoke about the opportunities, difficulties and variety of experiences encountered in the end of life environment; while Barbara discussed the Eleventh Hour Program, the 12 bed Rosenthal Residence on the Stamford Hospital campus, and the importance of having an Advance Directive stating your wishes for how you wish to spend your final months, weeks or days.

 

All of the information from the three ladies was interesting and it set off one of the more personally revealing and intense question, answer and observation sessions we have had in a long time.  The Visiting Nurse and Hospice organization is worthy of our financial and volunteer support as it deals on a daily basis with a subject all of us are guaranteed to face.

 

Dr, Kevorkian

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin September 20

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                              September 20, 2007

 

On a perfect fall day in one of New England’s prettiest villages the weekly Rotary Club meeting commenced at one of New England’s most charming inns as President Amy, prodded by past president Nancy, started the Pledge at 12:15 sharp.  The tenor of the meeting was greatly enhanced by the return of Chaplain Ad who asked God’s blessing on the food [including the cole slaw left over from the Lobsterfest] and on the club’s efforts in support of that great event.

 

At 12:50, prodded by old fogey Hobbs, Amy started the business portion of the meeting with the introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests.  There were precious few Rotarians in attendance and no brave souls from afar.  She then called on Lobsterfest Chair Scott for a report.  As usual the financial results will have to wait until all revenues have been collected and expenses paid.  One thousand sixty lobsters were served during the two days, various Rotarians purchased discounted lobsters at the close of business, thirty-five lobsters were delivered to Fire Company Number One, and Margo Sisson made a leftover dessert run to the Norwalk Homeless Shelter.  Scott expressed his gratitude to all Rotarians and the spouses and children who worked so long and hard to prepare and serve the meals.  He also noted the valuable contribution of the SLOBs and even some of their mothers who provided much appreciated assistance.  While recognizing the risk of offense by singling out outstanding performers, Scott acknowledged the indispensable contribution of David Rucci who worked tirelessly through both days.  Congratulations to Scott for quarterbacking our eighteenth annual Lobsterfest!

 

Without even taking his seat, Scott donned his sergeant-at-arms hat and regaled the club with a witty and charming tale about forgiveness and opportunity.  The club has grown to anticipate and love these little morality tales.  As he then passed through the crowd collecting tithes new member Gene Tonkavich coughed up a happy twenty for a new grandchild, Sandy Malloy was half as happy about her daughter’s engagement and the sale of her son’s business, while Ken Campbell threw in ten for annoying everyone in the room with the incessant sound of his ring tone.

 

Nancy R. then rose to recount the tale of Phil Soto-Ortiz, president of the New Canaan Kiwanis Club who, when asked to serve a second consecutive term, accepted.  As she sat and Amy rose a chant of “Four more years” apparently spontaneously arose from the floor.  President-elect David Rucci was seen to be leading the cheer.

 

In response to Pete Santella’s innocuous request to straighten Innkeeper Tom’s persistently crooked painting, John Engel leapt to his feet and related an apparently true story of an Army general who, when interviewing newly arrived lieutenants, plied them with alternating hot and cold coffee, sat them in a chair with one truncated leg, and hung all his pictures out of level in some sort of perverted attempt to torture them and allegedly to determine their fitness to serve.  Pete seemed relieved when John straightened the painting and sat down.

 

Scott Hobbs then piped up that he is still collecting stuffed animals for shipment to Iraq at both the Library and Hobbs, Inc.  He has shipped 2,500 more, following the fulfillment of the initial goal.  He related that the website of his friend’s unit reports that the backpacks, school supplies, soccer balls and stuffed animals have made a tremendous difference in the relationship between the Iraqi population and the GIs in their area.  Good stuff!

 

David Bryant, flush with the news that O.J. was back in the news, rose to introduce Greg Doerr, our speaker, before fleeing to the kitchen to field a frantic call from Greta van Sustrin for deep background on O,J.  Greg is a 60 year old lapsed lawyer [the best kind] who, at age 59, with his wife, signed up for a two year stint as a member of the Peace Corps working in the landlocked southeastern African country of Malawi.  It is, according to one measure utilized by the U.N., the poorest country in the world with an annual income for a family of $140, largely from tobacco farming.  Greg is working on two projects, one involving bee keeping and the other publishing a book in chitimbuca, the formerly outlawed local language.  Greg was a compelling speaker and explained many facets of life in Malawi in existential and philosophical contexts.  While we could have listened to him all day, Amy cut him off after only 45 minutes, promptly at 1:45.  Truly a fascinating program!

 

David Livingston

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin September 13

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                           September 13, 2007

 

Recently returned from an eclectic trip with, and in support of, various family members President Amy got the meeting off to a late start and then was chagrined to find that the chaplain was absent, but was bailed out by about-to-be-inducted new member Roy Riggio who came up with a serviceable blessing on no notice.

 

Amy then became so dazzled by the high level conversation at the head table that she began the business portion of the meeting late also.  She called on late arriving Head Lobster Scott Hobbs, bearer of opaque dessert shells [much criticized by Rucci the Elder, as differentiated from Rucci the Missing].  Scott distributed the shells, 30 per member, with instructions to fill them with something fattening, label them [to overcome Rucci the Elder’s concern] and deliver them to the Historical Society by noon on Friday the 14^th.  The setup shift should arrive at the site by noon on Friday and work as long as possible.  The Saturday setup crew should appear between 10:30 and 11:00 on Saturday.  There is currently a deficit for the traditionally busiest Saturday dinner hour shift.  Just show up and make this Lobsterfest happen.

 

Amy then rose with a scroll of announcements.  Fred Baker has replaced the Rotary sign at the YMCA.  God bless Fred.  Phil McClain, Frank McBrearity and Jack Pugliese have identified, interviewed, nominated and been pleased to hear that Elizabeth Dahill, a senior at USC, will be an Ambassadorial Scholar representing our district next year.  For gearheads the Byrum/Cos Cob annual car show will occur on October 7 from 10:00 to 4:00.  The Rotary Rose Bowl Parade  float committee is seeking contributions.  If interested, contact Amy.  One may also contact her for application forms for your very own Rotary Master Card, which generates funds for Rotary International.  Amy once again reminded us that she and Nancy R. are off to Mystic on October 6 to hear R.I. President Wilf Wilkinson.  Groupies are welcome to tag along.  Finally, the Greenwich Rotary Golf Outing will be on September 26.  Amy has sign-up info for those interested.  By this time it was Friday.

 

Nancy B then announced that her recent absence has been caused by a benign brain tumor behind her eye.  She is scheduled to have it removed at Columbia Presbyterian in the near future.  She is in good hands.  She is also in the hearts and prayers of her fellow Rotarians.

 

Phil McClain announced the imminent arrival of their adopted child.  Exciting news indeed.

 

Amy then invited District Governor Ernie Luise and her Assistant Phoebe Leask to induct our newest members, Roy Riggio and Carolyn Clark.  They handled this task with enthusiasm and aplomb.  The membership gave a hearty round of applause to welcome Roy and Carolyn into our midst.

 

By this time there was no time, but District Governor Ernie, the day’s program, gave a brief, but impassioned talk about her goal of raising $25,000 to provide clean water by way of bio-sand filters to 125,000 children in the Kolar area of India.  She deserves our support for this worthwhile project.  She also reminded everyone that her District Assembly will be held May 16, 17 and 18 of 2008 at West Point.  Staying at the historic Thayer Hotel, playing golf on the post course and dining at the Officer”s Club [even sergeant Santella].  Sounds intriguing.  She closed with a poem that may have been composed by Sid Madwed [although there was no guitar accompaniment] which laid out her hopes and aspirations for her year which was well received by all but George Baker who grumbled that if there was to be any poetry read at a Rotary meeting he would, by God, read it.

 

Paul Harris

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Rotary Bulletin 9/6/07

 

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                        September 6, 2007

 

Again this week the bell rang as if by magic as no one was apparently standing next to it when it sounded at 12:15.  Upon closer inspection, as the words, “I pledge allegiance…,” emanated from a space below table top height, ex-president Nancy was seen standing on tip toe trying to see and be seen above the projector which had been set up on the table in anticipation of today’s program.  The same dispossessed voice then entreated Chaplain Ad for a blessing which featured more original Shakespeare from the short swarthy bard.  An auspicious beginning to a meeting already memorable for the perfect September day on which it was held.

 

Following a particularly delicious meal from the old innkeeper himself, Nancy brought the meeting to order [on her third try] and requested introductions of visiting Rotarians and guests.  They included Paul Burnham who makes up in New Canaan so frequently he is almost a member, Roy Riggio who has had perfect attendance for the past three months who may someday become a Rotarian, and Rick Kellam who is a past president of our club and remains involved in helping to update our membership list.  All in all a familiar and very attractive group.

 

Nancy then called on Lobsterfest impresario Scott Hobbs who reached back to his army days in an attempt to motivate the troops to sell, sell, sell; get their checks in to Scott; search for sponsors; and sign up for work shifts.  On this latter subject, please be aware that our ability to give money away to the numerous worthwhile agencies that request it each year is directly related to how much money we raise at the Lobsterfest.  Inasmuch as we are, in addition to our weekly fun and fellowship, about service to our fellow man, we have an obligation to show up in force to make the Lobsterfest a smashing success.  To this end it was decided that each Rotarian would be responsible to create and deliver to the Historical Society on friday morning, 9/14, 30, not 24, desserts in the plastic shells which will be distributed next week.  As Ad Tomaselli, the conscience of the club stated, we should throw out the sign-up sheets and everyone should work both days, all day.  He also said the trains should run on time.  So, if you don’t want a Mussolini solution to the labor problem at future events, show up as often as possible,  stay as long as possible, and work as hard as possible.  Hopefully, enough said.

 

Non-member Roy Riggio then rose to introduce YMCA Executive Director Craig Panzano who presented a particularly poignant program concerning the NC YMCA Kibera Partnership Initiative.  Kibera is a slum about six miles outside of Nairobi, Kenya approximately the size of Central Park [one square mile] with a population of 1,200,000 people living in almost unimaginable squalor.   Craig and a group from NC journeyed to Kibera to try to establish a personal relationship with the local YMCA director in an effort to create a partnership between that organization and the NC Y in which the NC group would try to help provide resources and food for the Kibera Y and its young members.  Craig was able to communicate the depth of the problems facing this troubled community, the many obstacles which must be overcome to successfully address them, and the worthiness of the effort.  Congratulations to Craig for his leadership on this initiative and good luck to him in his ongoing efforts.

 

Next week’s program will feature the return of our esteemed president and the annual visit from our new District Governor, Ernie Luise.  Let’s make Amy look good!

 

Albert Schweitzer

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