June 6, 2013

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                       June 6, 2013

President Marty texted his salutations to the membership through President-Elect Fred who got the meeting off to a timely start before calling on Assistant District Governor Ben for a blessing which proved barely adequate for any faith tradition.  It must be noted that when measured against Eric’s standard no one stands much of a chance.

Some members had already assumed their seats and most were through the buffet line when the bionic Carolyn Clark arrived flaunting her new titanium hip, prompting a spontaneous burst of applause.

There were no Visiting Rotarians or guests.

Fred announced once again that his coronation will take place at the Roger on the evening of June 20, all significant others are invited and encouraged to attend, that any members who fail to appear will have a long and difficult next Rotary year, and that the normal lunch on that date is cancelled.  Kindly let Fred know your reservations at fred.baker@ci.new-canaan.ct.us so that he may relay the correct number of his future subjects to the Roger.  Don’t put it off.  Do it now!

John Marlow then gave a comprehensive report on the new members’ Pop-Up Park initiative which will commence at the intersection of South Avenue and Elm Street with a social event on the evening of June 21 with the show itself to follow on the 22^nd and 23^rd.  It is to be a non-competitive [the first time that has ever been attempted in NC in any endeavor] artistic expression on the theme of clean water by artists from Toddler TimeNursery School and Saxe Middle School combined with an outreach educational effort to the community on the subject of Rotary International.  In addition to John, new members Tom Cronin [who arrived looking like a Ralph Lauren model], John Bemis, Laura Einstein, and Jack Horner have conceived and are in the process of executing this plan with guidance and inspiration from Marty, Fred and Treasurer Rob.  Volunteers, to be sought next week, will be required to man tables and talk about Rotary.

Our local Club R. I. Foundation Chair John Bemis then took the floor to explain that the R. I. fiscal year ends on June 30.  All local members have contributed $50 to date through the since abandoned dues check-off.  John requested that all members donate the remaining $50 prior to the end of June so that we may be designated an Every Rotarian Every Year [EREY] Club.

Under Carolyn’s critical eye, Treasurer Rob then rose to deliver what he laughingly referred to as a financial report on the golf tournament and cocktail party.  Supplemented by receipt of data from Stamford which arrived during the meeting on Fred’s cell phone the results look something like this: golf revenues - $16,550; cocktail party revenues - $4,384; total revenues [returns from Wilton are not included] - $20,934; total expenses – $15,527; net profit [with miscellaneous outstanding revenues yet to be collected] - $5,407.  Carolyn’s elf, Laura Einstein then delivered thank-you notes from the party committee to all members who either contributed or arranged for contributions to the raffle.  Once again, congratulations and thanks to John Engel, Brock Saxe, Tom Cronin, Carolyn Clark and Laura Einstein on a terrific effort!  And thanks to all the golfers and revelers.

Fred reported that Ad’s Bench is still awaiting its christening as Helen continues to mend.  We have missed the blossoms; hopefully we can make this happen before the leaves also fall.

Proving that “You can’t make this stuff up” Sgt. Scott read a number of real headlines from real newspapers leading to speculation that drugs must be of epidemic proportions in the headline writing rooms of the country’s newspapers.  Leo III contributed some bucks for the NCHS Girls Lacrosse team and the Boys Baseball team, both of which will be playing for state championships on Saturday; Scott for his twins’ move from Middle to Upper School at St. Luke’s; John Burns for his Boston Bruins’ inexorable charge to the Stanley Cup; Boris for the birth of his second granddaughter last week; and finally a tawdry tale of animal abuse and assault of a local police officer by Frank Bernardo who remains under surveillance and is on very thin ice.

Program Chair Jim Cole is very preoccupied with the hiring of our new Police Chief [who we can only hope will keep Bernardo under control] and has enlisted the help of his predecessor, Ken Campbell, to provide educational, entertaining and inspirational fare for the members in Jim’s absence.  Having watched Marty in recent weeks generate programs out of thin air, Ken employed his many years of experience to do the very same thing today.  Thalia Andersen is a Clinical Supervisor for the Family Centers operating out of their Darien office.  Ken provided her with a full 30 minutes’ notice that she would be addressing us and she responded with an excellent presentation.  The Family Centers is a social service organization which runs a large number of programs for citizens of Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and New Canaan out of offices in Greenwich, Stamford and Darien.  She cited programs dealing with spousal support, survivors of suicide, child loss, nurturing families, coping skills for adults, post traumatic stress disorder, and depression and anxiety management, in addition to their extensive individual counseling efforts as examples of what they do.  Family Centers is an incredible organization which provides all these services without regard to ability to pay, on a sliding fee scale.  Super program!  Great job, Ken!

Harry Houdini