While it is undoubtedly politically incorrect . . . Dec 18, 2014

New Canaan Rotary Club Bulletin                                       December 18, 2014

 

While it is undoubtedly politically incorrect to refer to a chaotic situation as a "Chinese fire drill," that would be an apt description of our President trying to lead the Pledge and start the meeting at this, our last meeting of 2014.  While he and the small number of members in the dining room started briskly and on time the balance of the group in the fireplace room was talking loudly and ignored him completely until he was forced to use his outside voice to gain control of the mob and complete the recitation.  Then, in his weekly conversation with God, he opined that it must be hard for Him to recognize our group as leaders in the community before requesting the Almighty's blessing on His flock and their food.

 

We had three visitors at the meeting.  Leo brought Cynthia Gorey from the New Canaan Community Foundation as his guest.  Then former owner and proprietor of the Roger Sherman as well as President of the New Canaan Rotary Club and tour guide nonpareil Tom Weilenmann was welcomed back in spite of having brought with him former New Canaan Rotarian and international traveler Rob Passero who, as Santa noted, can be a disruptive presence.  Good meeting to attend and nice to see old friends.

 

As noted above, this was the last meeting of the year.  We will NOT meet on either Christmas or New Year's Day.  We will reconvene on January 8, 2015.  Thanks by acclamation was registered by the Club to John  and Melissa Engel and organizer Amy for the wonderful Christmas party at the Engels' lovely home last Thursday evening.

 

A courageous Santa showed up and played hurt earning even more respect and admiration from the membership.  The second string Elf, though showing limited imagination in the couture department, gained stature as he performed beyond expectations.  This may be the start of an Elf controversy when/if Nancy intends to reclaim the job which she virtually invented.  Time will tell.  Certainly Nancy was missed and the Club sends best wishes for husband Ron's health.

 

In a bold journalistic endeavor your humble scrivener has attempted to record the entire list of presents selected in an effort to alert spouses this year and members next year to re-gifting weasels.  Cynthia Gorey led off with a bottle of pinot noir, followed by Jim Cole with a small olive oil, then Carolyn with a Be Happy mug, and Fireman Fred with the most appropriate gift of the day – a package of fire-starting fat wood, before the Elf himself opened a coveted Ugly Sweater Kit which amazingly was not trade for a single time.  Laura opened a bottle of white port, followed by Tom Weilenmann's talking outhouse whose provenance he improbably knew, and then Skip opened the most unexpected gift of the day – an electronic yodeling pickle.  Treasurer Tom then selected what turned out to be the most traded item of the day – a bottle of very good bourbon, before Sandy Graf opened her 17 piece bar set, and Bill Walbert picked a merman Christmas tree ornament that looked as though he had modeled for it.  John Burns followed with a quality selection of a pair of binoculars, and a late-arriving Chis Nyilas was baffled by a package of mac and cheese plus some unmentionable item which he quickly off-loaded,  and then John Bemis found himself the proud owner of a package of cocktail napkins.  The senior Hobbs, pinch hitting for his absent son, then selected a large white stuffed Hello Kitty, Pete Santella fulfilled a fantasy with a desk-top drum set, and Amy inexplicably received a Dad coffee mug.  Mike Franco followed with a snappy pair of antlers, Boris thought he had opened a can of excelsior packing before discovering an envelope containing a $50 annual membership in the New Canaan Land Trust, and Dr. John scored an automatic cork screw.  Scott Cluett, always a conscientious worker but never the Lobstermeister, somehow received a lobster T shirt wrapped in a lobster net, Valerie loved her dancing stuffed Snoopy, Eric was chagrined to open a Giants garden gnome in this down year for the team, and John Marlow opened a utilitarian mobile phone charger.  Santa Rucci scored a box of golf balls and his son opened what turned out to be a popular dancing wiener dog.  Rob Avery was confused by a package of Blue Balls as well as a box of chocolate covered Gummy Bears, Leo received a container of juggling balls, before Mike Hobbs, selecting for himself, selected what was obviously a Slovenian Army hat.  In what he interpreted as a personal hygiene slight Rob Passero received a package of smelly soap, Gene Tonkovich scored a large bottle of olive oil, and Marty came away with a parent's travel necessity, Six Games To Go.  John Engel seemed pleased with his sexy Santa undies, and Ken Campbell finished off the selection portion of the event by selecting a package of garden/cheese tags.

 

Moving to the auction section Santa reiterated the rules and announced the disappointing news that, in spite of Santa having contacted Spider Sovich about serving as Spider's surrogate, the legendary auction participant demurred alleging that he already had deprived others of too many treasures.  Winning bidders included Gene for an animated Santa, Fred for a small bottle of Crown Royal, Mike Franco for bacon soap and bandages, Dr. John for a mason jar of Old Smokey white lightning, Bill Walbert for a piano-playing Santa, John Bemis for a 2015 Lighthouse Poster Calendar, Ton Weilenmann for a dried fruit display and Jim Cole for a scented candle.  Including the $5.00 antes and the auction proceeds the Club will be sending a check for $527 to the Salvation Army.  All in all a virtuoso performance by a Santa flying on one wing and his OCD Elf.  Kudos to them both.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.  We will reconvene in 2015.

 

Dick Clark