New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                                    August 28, 2008

 

It was with great relief and gratitude that we welcomed our esteemed president back from the wilds of Rhode Island.  Having wandered aimlessly and with only ad hoc leadership in recent weeks it was comforting to feel the command and control vibrations emanating from David’s Olympian brow.  We were once again the carefree, but effective, bunch that we wish to be.  Fireman Fred, cleverly disguised as Flagpole Fred, held a NC Rotary banner, cleverly disguised as an American flag, David led the Pledge and called on Ad, who seemed somewhat out of sorts after being separated from the fair Helen for almost two weeks, to ask the blessing.

 

Demonstrating a certain lack of respect and affection for our club on the part of our fellow members of Rotary International, there were no visitors today.

 

David reported on Lobsterfest preparations.  He has secured support from Bank of NC, Kevin Megrue, still famous as one of the all time great party hosts in local lore, of Vitamin Water, and, I believe Andy Kerchoff, as well as some unexpectedly proferred help from the new owners of the Roger Sherman.  His message was sell, sell, sell.  Scott then arrived bearing an official looking sign up sheet for Friday and Saturday, September 19 and 20.  Everyone is encouraged to sign up for as many shifts as he/she can, but not to feel constrained to work only those shifts.  This is the time to remind one and all that each member is responsible for two dozen deserts.  They should be delivered to the Historical Society on Friday morning after 11:00.

 

Ben “Eagle Eye” Bilus then reported that he and his dog had noticed a hole in the sidewalk on Cherry Street adjacent to the Library with a plaque dedicated to our esteemed former member Paul Griffin.  There used to be a tree in that hole, but it is, alas, missing.  Andy Kerchoff volunteered to discuss this matter with his mother who happens to run the Garden Club.  Paul was a great friend to many of the members and a terrific Rotarian whose life was cut tragically short by cancer.  We need to ensure that the tree is replaced.

 

President David then announced two Board meetings at 4:00 pm at his office, one each on September 2 and 16.

 

Voracious reader Skip Sisson commented on the Letter to the Editor complaining about the condition of the Rotary bench in front of the Post Office.  Scott Hobbs volunteered to deal with the offending item.

 

Appropriately on a day when the speaker was to deal with Alzheimer’s, Sgt. Scott began his schtick with an historical vignette that he had presented a scant few weeks ago.  Chastened, he recovered with a quaint fishing tale.  The only admission of note was Skip Sisson paying up for his forty-forth wedding anniversary.  Condolences for Margo were heard from all corners of the room.

 

The Flagpole then introduced Anna Nelson from the Alzheimer’s Association who presented an informative and thought-provoking discussion about that horrible disease.  Her remarks elicited numerous questions for which she had well informed answers.  There is still no cure for this devastating affliction which now affects some five million people, with a projected growth, if a cure is not found, to over fourteen million by 2050.  Very important and sobering stuff.

 

Tune in next week for the first number composed, printed and distributed by fledgeling scribe George “John Adams” Baker.  It is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

 

Thomas Jefferson

 

P.S. Lizzie Dahill’s corrected blog address is:  http://elizabethhill.blogspot.com

 

 

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                                  August 21, 2008

 

It is Losers Month in New Canaan.  If you are still here and not in Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Rhode Island, Cape Cod, Barcelona [Walberts] or West By God Virginia [Helen Tomaselli], then you are obviously a LOSER!  Two small tables of losers gathered with precious little leadership at our interim venue, the Country Club of New Canaan, for a tasty repast and friendly courteous service worthy of the Roger.  Into the leadership vacuum sprang Ex President Amy who improvised a flag for us to salute, and then, in a first for me, Ben Bilus regressed to his Bar Mitzvah days and entoned a blessing in the ancient Hebrew tongue.  Somehow eating the leavened bread in the CCNC bread baskets felt irreverent.  Gene Tonkavich experienced this especially intensely and desisted after his third roll.

 

In addition to the resident losers, Visiting Rotarians Jim Rini and Ron Barlow were in attendance.  It was generally agreed that Ron would qualify as a loser, but no unanimity on the subject of Jim’s status, voluntarily leaving summer paradise Portsmouth, N.H. in August for a short stay in the next station to heaven.  John Adams, who was in the crowd, took that question under advisement with a promise to deliver a judgement at a future meeting.

 

In the anarchy that ensued, cleverly disguised as the announcements segment of the meeting, there was much discussion and precious little information concerning our future meeting location.  We know that next week we will be back at the CCNC.  After that we appear to be homeless.  The expectation was expressed that President David would reappear in town and lead his clueless flock to the promised land.  One can but hope.

 

Amy assured those present that, had David been in the room, he would have exhorted the troops to do their bit  for the Lobsterfest.  This includes selling tickets, soliciting sponsorships, and planning to work long hours on September 19 and 20.  No sooner had she made this observation than the Lobsterfest impresario himself, Scott Hobbs, entered the meeting and exhorted the troops to do their bit for the Lobsterfest.  This, he said, includes selling tickets, soliciting sponsorships and planning to work long hours on September 19 and 20.  Redundant yes.  Important yes.

 

Ken Campbell was apoplectic that yet again we had come together anticipating an enlightening and inspiring program only to be disappointed.  To review, Ken publishes a schedule of responsibility for each week’s speaker.  When it is your week, you are supposed to arrange for the program.  That is the entire drill.  Is there anyone who doesn’t understand it?  As in professional sports, when failure strikes they can’t fire the whole team, so they fire the manager.  Help save Ken’s membership by doing your bit.

 

Billy Martin

 

 

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                      August 7, 2008

 

Apparently gas prices have not intimidated New Canaan’s hearty band of Rotarians as most have apparently departed the Next Station To Heaven for summer venues.  That would explain the intimate meeting held at the Roger today.  David called twenty or so of us to order at 12:15 and found Ad at the rear of the room for a poorly rehearsed blessing.  Because of the distance between Ad and the buffet, traffic control officer Fred Baker had his hands full clearing the vulnerable pedestrians from in front of His Holiness.  Due to Fred’s excellent work there were no casualties.

 

Most of those present were in attendance for the fruition of Frank McBrearity’s  promise that Ambassadorial Scholar Lizzie Dahill would be at the meeting.  When this turned out not to be the case the mood turned ugly and Frank looked uncomfortable.  Everyone understood however, when Frank explained that Lizzie had received a better offer and was luxuriating in the bosom of her family on the Isle of Block.  Her blog, entitled “Destination Accra,” is now up and running.  The address is: http://elizabethdahill.blogspot.com.  As she has not yet even departed for her destination there is nothing on her blog yet.

 

In the absence of Sgt. Scott and Cpl. Risbridger, traffic control officer Fred took the floor, wowed the group with some of his “A” material, and collected a reasonable tithe considering the paucity of serfs in attendance.

 

President David then announced that he had spent hours preparing for the Club Assembly that was about to take place.  Following the closing of The Inn the new owners have expressed to David their intention to close completely for two weeks.  David was unclear on the timing and will email the membership when he knows what the arrangements will be  regarding timing and location of those meetings. 

 

Programs for the balance of August will be provided by John Winterle on the 14^th, Jim Azzarito on the 21^st, and Fred Baker on the 28^th.  The comprehensive schedule is on the website.

 

PR specialist extraordinaire Carolyn Clark organized a lengthy photo shoot featuring President David and Lobsterfest Chair Scott for inclusion in the lavish spread to appear in the Advertiser and News-Review.  David reminded everyone to get their checks in as soon as possible, to find sponsors, to schedule lots of work time, especially cleanup shifts, for September 19^th and 20^th, and to sell, sell, sell.  As an inspiration, David reported that master salesman Robert DiPanni, no longer even a member, has already sold 105 ducats.

 

During this crass commercial conversation, President John Adams sat impatiently and imperiously above the fray while periodically gracing one or another of the little people with a nod or a wink.

 

Roger Sherman