New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin June 27, 2013

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                           June 27, 2013

Following last week’s changing of the guard ceremony, nothing changed.  Marty was absent and Fred led the Pledge and called on Pastor Eric who blessed the new administration as well as the food.  Exotic new broccoli flan and scalloped potato rounds highlighted our delicious lunch.

President Fred rose at the appropriate moment and asked for the introduction of Visiting Rotarians and guests.  There were none of the former.  Apparently old Bostonian John Burns lost his Stanley Cup bet and was forced to show up in coat, tie and shorts.  Thus clad, he rose to introduce his son-in-law and father of his new grand daughter, Nick Sizk.

Fred the asked pop-up park godfather John Marlow for a report on the weekend effort.  John announced that by all accounts it was a success and, as with all first efforts, can be tweaked to make it even better next year.  Jack Horner requested that anyone with photos from the event forward them to him for PR purposes.  Kudos to all new members who conceived, planned and executed this well received initiative.

The “What Was He Thinking” award went to ex-treasurer Rob who arrived at South Avenue and Elm on Sunday evening to help clean up with a cigar in his mouth and his hand stanching a torrent of blood from a gash in the back of his head.  Smarter people than Rob prevailed upon him to seek medical assistance.  After several false starts he wound up at Norwalk Hospital where six staples were required to close his wound.  Fortunately the insult was to his head and not some important organ, so he appears to be fine.

Lobstermeister Andy has Lobsterfest tickets which he distributed to group liaison members following the meeting.  He will have individual member envelopes at the next meeting which will take place on July 11.  I say again – there will be NO meeting next Thursday, July 4.  The next meeting will be on July 11.  The Roger Sherman will be closed for American Independence Day.  Do not show up at the Roger next week.

President Fred reiterated the request of the management that all able bodied Rotarians park in the Presbyterian Church lot and leave the spaces in the Roger lot for full fare diners. 

Fred then rejected Sergeant Scott in favor of President John Adams who played a mind/time game by reciting from memory the Gettysburg Address which wasn’t delivered until more than half a century after his death.  Nonetheless an impressive and inspiring feat.  He pointed out that the speech was given at the dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery, lasted two minutes, and followed featured speaker Edward Everett’s two hour speech [of which no one can remember a thing].  A little historical perspective – Iraq and Afghanistan over more than a decade, American casualties including wounded under 10,000.  Battle of Gettysburg over three days, casualties 46,000 – all American.  Mind boggling.

George then passed among us and collected a few notable fines including one from On-time Kevin McLaughlin for having received an unsolicited senior discount at Dunkin Donuts, Sandy Malloy who will retire after her last day at Waveny tomorrow, B.T. Bowler in admiration for the recitation, and John Burns for the arrival of his previously mentioned grand daughter.

Then, in a shaky start, President Fred invited the speaker to introduce herself.  Hopefully we can do better in the future.  Trish Gibbs, former first lady of Norwalk, and the current volunteer director of the Norwalk/Nagarote, Nicaragua Sister City Project, rose without appearing to take offense and turned on a video explaining the project.  It started 27 years ago when a delegation from Norwalk was visiting Nicaragua during the Contra conflict.  The group went to Nagarote and saw poverty, hopelessness and no apparent way forward.  Partnering with various individuals, organizations and churches, the Norwalk folks set out to make a change.  Over the past 27 years they have worked with the most disadvantaged children in Nagarote to help with academic courses, practical training in baking, sewing, and catering, a model nursery and tree farm which has planted tens of thousands of trees grown from seeds and a model organic garden providing food and teaching best practices for the students.  They have recently completed a new community center with classrooms and work space for a rapidly growing pre-school program which is partnered with the Norwalk Community College Early Childhood Education program.  Yet another example of starting right here, right now, with the available resources to change the world, one person at a time.  Trish thanked us for our 2012 $500 contribution to their scholarship effort.  Excellent program.

Cristina Juan Dilma Nicolas Raul Che Fidel Daniel Ortega