“Don’t make a Methodist mad!” March 26, 2015

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                        March 26, 2015

 

President Eric called the meeting to order promptly at 12:15 and led the Pledge.  He used his grace offering platform to comment on the disturbing slip in discipline which is resulting in members straggling in after the bell has been struck.  Remember that profound wisdom, "Don't make a Methodist mad!"  Forewarned is forearmed.  Evidently Kevin McLaughlin has worn Eric down over the first 11 months of his tenure as the President failed to even look up from his lunch when Kevin appeared at 12:30.

 

Familiar Wilton Rotarian Paul Burnham and Assistant District Governor Arysleyda Riehl  [Gentle Ben aided your humble scrivener with the spelling without even having to look it up – very impressive!] were Visiting Rotarians and Lisa the Librarian brought as her guest recent Library hire Laurin Howard.

 

There were many announcements starting with Bill Walbert who was limping, apparently as a consequence of his vasectomy, discussing the confusing mechanics of the Friendship Dinners.  As he read the proposed dates someone who was paying attention noted that one of those was on a weekend evening during the District Conference in Norwalk.  Bill will reconsider and email a more carefully considered list of dates to the membership for selection and approval of the social directors.

 

Brock announced that the annual Engel Open Golf Tournament will be held at the Country Club of New Canaan course on Thursday, May 7 featuring the spirited competition for the coveted Golden Putter amongst golfers from the NC, Stamford and Wilton Clubs.  Sponsorships and auction items are still needed.

 

Keith reported that the dictionaries are ready for distribution to NC third graders thanks to the hospitality of Rich Townsend and Rangeley Capital as well as the efforts of Keith, Rich, Valerie, Mike, Marty and son Ben.  The only untoward moment occurred when Ben, arriving after the action was in full swing, discovered when reaching for one of the senior Hobbs's books that the old gentlemen does not play well with others.  While the dictionaries are largely paid for, anyone wishing to contribute the last few dollars would be welcome.

 

Ann then informed the audience that we now have a short-term outgoing exchange student as well as a long-term incoming student from Denmark.  From NC we are recommending NCHS student Caleigh Murray who is hoping to go to Spain.  From Eisbjerghus International School in Smidstrup, Denmark we look forward to welcoming Rikke Sten Holst.  Ann distributed copies of letters from each student demonstrating that both are exceptional young people with a desire to further their world views.  We now have to identify and qualify three host families for Rikke.  Ideally they would have a daughter around 16 years of age, but that is not a requirement.

 

Lisa then reminded everyone that the joint one-time-only Power House/Library production of The Murder and Booze Cabaret will occur on Saturday, March 28 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Power House.  Only a few tickets remain.

 

It was then Jim Cole's turn to make sure all New Canaan Rotarians are planning to attend the Gridiron Fall Guy review targeting our own Bill Walbert on April 15 for women and April 17 for men.  Get your reservations made.  Jim then circulated the newly created Vineyard Vines version of the Fall Guy tie for inspection and purchase.  VERY upscale.  For the more traditionally oriented, official Gridiron haberdasher Skip Sisson still has approximately 10 of the original designs which are clearly destined to become collector's items.  It is rumored that Skip could be persuaded to part with these soon-to-be-priceless items if offered an appropriate premium.

 

Sergeant Scott, in the interest of moving the meeting along, suggested we skip his schtick and simply put our money in the plate without comment.  This robbed the many members who had planned to offer happy dollars for the return of a happy and healthy Boris Pogacnik whose visit to Norwalk Hospital was thankfully brief and successful their opportunity.  With or without comment it was good to have him back.

 

The Pres then introduced Stamford Rotarian Rick Meyer, a former Rotary out-going exchange student to Sweden, to talk about his new initiative, Firebird Health International, an organization founded to attempt to eradicate extreme poverty, and working to provide clean water, healthcare and education to needy citizens while building strong communities.  The organization is starting work in Mongolia, an area that would span from Maine to Michigan south to Tennessee and South Carolina, with a population of only 3,000,000, half of whom live on 88 cents a day.  Rick is trying to organize a Marshall Plan-like effort starting with an $80,000 project to drill potable water wells for the benefit of the bottom third of the population.  Really interesting, if slightly disjointed, presentation.  We should invite him back in the future for a progress report.

 

Genghis