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