Somebody finally figured out how to get Steve Jacoby to show up to a meeting on time - - - ask him to do the Invocation!  Steve acknowledged that today is Ash Wednesday for Christians and then read a short sample of various quotes ranging from President Washington to President Eisenhower centering around the theme of God and Country.

 

There was rice, and chicken, and salad (yadda yadda yadda) and warm apple pie with ice cream (Yay!) as today’s meal.  Poor President Bill didn’t have time to finish dessert when the re-ringing of the bell took place.  We recognized guests Rob Rosa, Dana Rondel Olmsted, and Bob Dugger with the Welcome Song thanks to Art Bradbury and George Schoen.

 

Speaking of George, Sergeant Schoen launched into the Sergeant-at-Arms report by saying he had collected a “slew” of generous donations from a number of birthday-celebrating Rotarians:  Dave Amberg, Chuck Clarke, Frank Collins, John O’Connor, and Bob Wood.  Other voluntary  contributions included Neal Cunningham and George Agnelli in celebration of the winning season of the UConn Lady Huskies; Ned Lynch for the Red Sox remaining undefeated so far this season (whaaaaa?); Sue Klock for being late; and Susan Hansen for having to leave early.

 

The unfortunate state of Herb Barall’s health was reported by Nick Cecere.  Nick says Herb has again gone back and forth between the hospital and rehab center.  He thinks it would be OK to visit Herb at the Glastonbury Health Center at 1175 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury, CT 06033 or at least drop him a card.  You might want to call 860-659-1905 first to be sure Herb is on the premises.  A ‘thinking of you’ card to Reggie Barall at 821 Brewer Street, East Hartford, CT  06118 is always a nice way to let a caregiver know they are in your thoughts.

Announcements:  Dan Russell has a new email address.  Please use llama3932@gmail.com

President Elect Susan Hansen gave an update on Monday’s Board meeting.  Despite transacting ninety minutes of business, the main thing to report was that we voted to provide $100 to the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee for the 2017 entry.  Yes, it was the main thing.  I was there.

 

Well, wait.  There was another major topic at the Board meeting and that was the very real need we have to start lining up a President, Secretary, and Treasurer for the year that begins July 1, 2018.  If you are still with me since the opening paragraph, I can now reveal the reason for the top secret impromptu Board meeting today:  Dave Amberg has graciously tossed his hat into the ring to fill the role of President in 2018-19.  Of course the vote was unanimous to take him up on that and the same was echoed by the Club at large.  Dave, many thanks for your decision to take on this very important leadership position.  We will be in good hands. 

 

Now, anybody like to give consideration to becoming Secretary or Treasurer?  You can ask Mary (The Empress) Martin about what it takes to be Treasurer, or Susan Hansen or Wes Willett about what it means to be the Secretary.  Just don’t ask Marc Glass.  He’ll tell you, “this Club runs itself”!  What he really means is if you take on a leadership role, you will be supported by our membership.  Right, Marc?

 

Sue Klock has taken over interim duty as our Club’s Rotary Foundation Chair.  She is hoping some new members will join our Committee to learn more about Foundation and how we can support the good works we fund through it (Global Grants, the eradication of polio, etc.).  Look for an early evening meeting to be called by her soon.  You can contact Sue by calling 860-989-0101 or email her at suehklock@gmail.com

 

Our annual Job Shadow Day is again being managed by Alex Wisz.  He could use some of our working members to sign up to be hosts.  What does that mean?  High School students will get transportation to your East Hartford job site.  You show them what it takes to be a florist, a printer, a doctor, a lawyer, or an Indian Chief.  Then the bus will pick up the students and bring them to our meeting for lunch.  When?  Wednesday, April 19.

 

New member Janet Pearson heard her number called by Raffle Master Happy Jack Martin. 

 

We had a two-part Program today put on by two of our own.  First, Jennifer Jones, Associate Director for Child Development, gave us an overview of the 44 before/after school programs offered by the YMCA in the Hartford area.  There are 1,500 children (200 in East Hartford alone) served by these programs that are so much more than “a place to hang out”.  A nine point curriculum with emphasis on things such as health and wellness, math and literacy, and leadership development, are all part of an enrichment framework for children and their parents.  Financial aid through scholarships is made available to families that cannot otherwise afford the $400 a month it takes to participate in East Hartford. 

 

Second to the podium was Sheryl O’Connor.  Sheryl is the all-knowing Trustee of our Scholarship Trust Fund (Mary Martin is a Trustee, too, but that’s only because she rounds out the quorum.  That’s me saying that so it’s OK.  And it’s true!)  Sheryl explained how the Trust Fund is separated into three accounts:  the William Leone Fund, the Brewer Fund, and a checking account.  The calendar year of 2016 was a transitional one where we switched from having our investments handled by First Niagara LPL to Farmington Bank’s Essex Financial Services last April.  The bad news is that Essex did not invest our funds for the remainder of 2016 but rather kept them as cash.  Reason given:  perceived possibility of market decline due to the risk of Brexit and the Presidential election.  That meant that instead of having the usual $5,000-$6,000 of investment and dividend income to support our annual scholarship program, only $1,592 was available at the end of 2016.

 

The good news is that our Club was bequeathed $100,000 for our Scholarship Fund through the Will of Gioconda B. McGettigan.  Mrs. McGettigan’s estate should be settled by December 2017 and we will be able to add her generous donation to our William Leone Fund.  A scholarship will be named in her memory.  This was truly an unforeseen and fortuitous event.

 

More good news:  President Bill assured the Club that we have sufficient funds in this transition year to continue to provide a total of $12,000 (six $2,000 scholarships) to graduating high school seniors.  The ability to do this is based on the hard work of our members during the year as we support fundraising efforts through our Spring Raffle and Fall Golf Tournament.  This year’s Raffle is just around the corner.  Tickets will be distributed in early April with the Raffle date being June 7.  More to come as the date gets closer.

 

Peace,

Mary (Empress of the World) Martin