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