black diamonds, April 18, 2013

Rotary Bulletin

April 18, 2013

 

            You just knew it.  There it was almost exactly 12:15 and NO Marty.  Well, Ken Campbell looked a little tentative as he glanced from his watch to the bell, and Rob Avery inched ever so closer to the gavel, but then, Joe Rucci entered the room and instantly sized up the situation – no Marty. Clang and Joe got things started.  Eric took over and offered thoughts for our Boston brethren. 

 

            We knew when Marty rang the bell that we had assembled to four tables strong, we had Marty with us, and all was well.  We soon learned our mystery guest and only visitor was Barbara Burns.  The dictionary book plate pasting took place at Rich’s office and Keith reported some 300 miniature Webster’s were branded as Rotarian manna.  With our chairman clearly on a roll, the ritual announcements flowed like wine.  Clean Your Mile is upon us.  Assemble at Saxe at nine a.m. on Saturday, swig a belt of coffee, and trundle down South Avenue to gather offal strewn by scores of oblivious teenagers.  Well, somebody’s got to do it!  Now it is official. The Ad Tomaselli bench will be dedicated Thursday next immediately following our club luncheon.  You cannot get lost. The bench is planted on South Ave. in front of St. Aloysius Church and across the street from the Library parking lot.  Although Brock and Carolyn have it under control, John Engel thinks he is still running things, and he pleaded for more attendance at our annual spring golf outing of May 9^th.  Your $50 check payable to the NC Rotary Club Foundation (Polio Plus) will admit one to the cocktail party.  Carolyn is still seeking more loot for the raffle. 

 

            Flush from another birthday, Sgt@Arms Walbert took over with this week’s rendition of Ripley’s Believe it or Not.  There was something about a .38 caliber, a nine hundred pound striped marlin at Acapulco. And all the while, we thought it was George Megrew.   George, by the by, just celebrated 55 wedded years with Suzanne, Jim Cole had a fin for surviving.  Eric seconded.  Joe Rucci had happys for the gridiron.  Sandie still dispensing $, this time for a trip to Italy with her daughter.  Fireman Fred survived the District Assembly.  Scott and Rob anted up more gridiron kudos.  Keith celebrated an evening with Garrison Keilor. 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Our own authority on black diamonds was then given the floor to conduct today’s forum.  John Burns began his paean to coal with an overview of just how important this ubiquitous ore fits into our world.  Fifty Six percent of the world lacks access to electricity because of mining and processing difficulties.  The United States is the Saudi Arabia of coal and, in fact, Rhode Island floats on a bed of anthracite, extending down through the Blackstone Valley in Massachusetts.  John spoke of the various grades of coal and explained the value of Met coal in producing steel.  He passed out visuals of coal tonnage and transportation, all the while maintaining he never once dented his very own hard hat.  We were blessed to have one of us share his knowledge of such a fundamental industry,

                                            

    John L. Lewis