February 7, 2013

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                        February 7, 2013

On an anxious day a smallish stalwart group of Rotarians gathered at the Roger anticipating a major weather event [according to a weather report your humble scrivener watched we are expecting between 2 and 33 inches of snow in the next day or two].  Marty sailed down the hall displaying a 12:13 reading on his phone and worked his way to the bell which he rang at 12:15.  For variety he led the Pledge as a round with the dining room crowd leading off and the buffet room group coming in on “flag.”  Pastor Eric offered an apology in lieu of a blessing.

There were no Visiting Rotarians or guests.  Amy [sans cane] has succeeded Sandy Malloy as Friendship Dinner doyenne.  She passed around a sign-up sheet for host families and, as in previous years, fell short of her desired 8-10 hosts.  It is assumed that this is a function of checking with the homefront before committing.  In any event Amy will try again next week.  The dinners are expected to occur between March and May.  The host couple provides the venue and main course, while three other couples, chosen at random, will bring the wine, sides and desserts.  These dinners have been universally praised in the past and provide a wonderful opportunity for four couples to get know one another better in a different setting.  Please step up.  Incidentally, during Amy’s presentation the conduct of the reprobates at the rear table was loud and rude.  I trust the perpetrators are contrite and feeling shame.

In other announcements President Marty wished Scott Hobbs a happy birthday and offered to have the Club sing Happy Birthday to him.  Scott demurred and opted for a large fine in lieu.  Treasurer Rob then announced the shocking news that the dues collections are $26,000 in arrears.  GET IT UP !!!  Blue Devil John Bemis then reported on the result[s] of the meetings of the Ad Hoc Spring Project Committee.  Idea number one is to sponsor a high school level essay contest featuring the Four Way Test.  The second is to encourage young people’s art efforts through some form of sponsorship.  More details to follow. 

In an effort to impress our guest speaker Sergeant Bill pulled out some of his extensive collection of “A” material and received a warm reception from the audience.  Noteworthy fines included Fred Baker for a night of dining and theater in NYC with his wife and mother, Scott for his birthday, and Ben for, with Betsy, having survived a weekend of primary care for his three young grandsons.  In kind of a Quaker type event John Burns then felt moved to tell a joke, sprang to his feet and did so, then sat back down.  Carolyn Clark received an ovation of appreciation for quarterbacking the new/replacement badge effort.  Somehow Jack Horner slipped between the cracks and will have to remain anonymous until his badge arrives.

At that point, in a clear conflict of interest, Fall Guy Elect Jim Cole introduced Gridiron Club President and frequent transvestite performer Eric Thunem.  It is difficult to imagine how someone so naturally shy and introverted could have achieved such elevated status.  Eric is a lifelong New Canaan resident [with a midlife hiatus in Midland, Texas], a 1975 NCHS graduate, and a 10 year veteran of the Gridiron productions.  He emphasized that the mission of the Gridiron Club is to “recognize, honor and celebrate service in New Canaan.”  This tradition was started in 1961 by State Senator Bob Bliss and entertainment impresario Paul Killiam in an effort to honor long-time editor of the NC Advertiser Carlton Hill and to bring together the numerous factions that had developed over time and become more rabid over the contentious initiative to extend Cherry Street through from Main Street to East Avenue.  Of the 140 guests at that original event fully 30 went on to be named Fall Guys in their own right.  Killiam wrote, directed and starrred in that first show and many more.  Harry Coleman eventually took over as master of ceremonies and moving force before, literally on his deathbed, turning over the archives to Bill Walbert and passing the emcee mantle to Bob Doran. All surviving Fall Guys meet each November and select the next mark.  The ensuing months are devoted to research, writing and rehearsing before presenting the show to the ladies on wednesday and the men on Friday in April [this year the ladies’ performance will be on April 10 and the men’s on April 12].  In recent years Bill Brown, a Westport resident who wrote the Broadway musical The Wiz, has been a major contributor to the writing effort.  Eric suggested that the mission, particularly in these busy and divisive times, is worth supporting and that membership, though highly selective [the applicant must write a check] is of value in celebrating the best of what we hope New Canaan is all about.  Jim Cole, this year’s Fall Guy, is particularly deserving of the honor on the basis of his tremendous contribution to our town’s model emergency preparedness plan.  Put the date on your calendar, if you are not a current member write a check and join, and let’s continue to recognize, honor, and celebrate service in our town.

Joe Rucci, Mike Hobbs, George Baker, Leo Karl lll