Since the senior Bulletin correspondent has lapsed into Latin...May 2, 2013

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                      May 2, 2013

Since the senior Bulletin correspondent has lapsed into Latin as he enters his eighth decade, and the membership is largely found wanting in this long dead language, it seemed appropriate that a much younger journalist be reinstated at the top of the masthead and charged with the sobering responsibility of reporting the goings-on at the Thursday noon meetings for the paper of record.  Hence, I’m back.

President Marty surprised everyone by showing up, though he was dressed as a rag-picker, calling us to order in a timely fashion, leading the Pledge and calling on a sartorially splendid Pastor Eric for a brief and hurried prayer.  Then off to the chow line with a delicious new offering of tilapia almondine and then to four full tables.

Two guests honored us with their presence.  Chris Snyder introduced his friend Tom Aylward and Keith Simpson presented Valerie Connally who is a local resident and daughter of an enthusiastic Madison, Wisconsin Rotarian father.

Keith reported that the Country School dictionaries have been distributed and those for West School will be given out on May 8 at 9:25 am, St. A’s on the same day at 1:00 pm, East on May 10 at 2:30, and South on May 17 at 2:00.  As he announced the schedule he recruited the elves to assist him at each venue.  A virtuoso performance.

Apparently tech-savvy Jack Horner has volunteered to create a current photo directory of the membership.  This will require each member to furnish Jack with a photo [of his/her face] for inclusion in this much needed document.  I assume emailed phone photos will work.

Helen continues her convalescence and our regularly scheduled meeting for next week will be replaced by the Golf Tournament cocktail party, so the dedication of Ad’s bench will of necessity be postponed until the stars align.  Fred will keep us abreast of developments.

The Engel Open will commence on Thursday May 9 at the Country Club of New Canaan with lunch at noon, golf at 1:00 and cocktails, hors d’ouevres and raffle at 5:30.  Should you miss the festivities be sure to make up the meeting.  It is imperative that all golfers show up with their A games.  The Golden Putter, which is currently in our possession, is at stake

A regrettable and insulting announcement was then made regarding the New Canaan Library’s Conversations With Business Leaders offering this Sunday, May 5 at 5:00 pm in the Lamb Room featuring Chase Carey, President and COO of News Corporation,who oversees Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Wall Street Journal, Skye satellite television in Europe and Asia, and the global Fox television networks in entertainment, sports and news.  There were aspersions cast and the entire membership committed to attending the event in order not to continue to be classified as ill-informed imbeciles.

Sergeant Scott then delivered a grammar lesson and passed among us collecting numerous happy dollars in recognition of splendid outcomes of various Friendship Dinners, from Dr. John on becoming a grandfather yet again, from the aforementioned senior correspondent on the occasion of his eightieth, and from John Burns who is baching it while wife Barbara is off at Lourdes.

While no outside speaker was scheduled we were treated to biography presentations by John Marlow and Laura Einstein.  John explained that he grew up in Madison, WI as the son of a second generation physician who gave John complete freedom to choose any medical specialty as his future career.  He went to St. Thomas College and was one of seven graduating seniors from an original class of 118, then to University of Texas Medical School following a year in the oil fields and on to an eclectic career in managed health care, big pharma, information technology, mergers and acquisitions, and consulting.  He has two sons and an ex-wife.  Laura has a doctorate in Asian Art specializing in Chinese Painting and has worked at both Yale and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  In the future she will be referred to as DOCTOR Einstein!  Her field of interest has evolved to contemporary art and she referenced the Glass House, Norwalk Community College and the Silvermine Guild as local resources.  She has a son at Lehigh and an aspiring singer daughter at NCHS.

Doris Kearns Goodwin