President Bill has arrived at his penultimate meeting in his second reign as our leader and he is decompressing at a rapid rate. There is an “ask me if I give a ….” vibe about him and the Installation Dinner next week can not come at a better time for him. He called the meeting to order, called for the Invocation, and called one and all to the usual buffet. Chicken Kiev, rice, string beans, salad, cookies and brownies made up the repast.
Today marked Dick McCarthy’s return to our midst and one and all greeted him with open arms. Great to see Dick ensconced in his chair one again.
The introduction of guests signaled the start of the meeting proper. Marc Glass introduced Patricia Donoghue, a local business woman who made the mistake of asking Marc what Rotary was all about. Hopefully the meeting sparked an interest.
Also present were Daniel Crovo (CIBA and late Rotarian Jack Davis’s grandson), Bryan Lee Koski – Bissonette (EHHS), Anna Maria Sousa and her mom (Ct. River Academy) and Qeanna Rampassard (EHHS), four of our
six Rotary Scholarship Winners for this year. Art Bradbury and George Schoen led a spirited rendition of the Welcome Song while vigorously moving around the room. The legendary Roger Driggs would have been proud.
President Bill called Dan Russell to the podium to present him with a Paul Harris pin recognizing his status as a Paul Harris Plus 5 donor to the Foundation. Thanks, and congratulations, Dan.
Bob Buettner provided the Sergeant at Arms Report highlighted by several members (Lynch, Schoen, and Happy Jack Martin to name a few) who were delighted to note that the Red Sox, heavily favored to win the American League East in the pre-season, were living up to their potential as sole occupants of first place in the league for one day in the middle of June. None noted how ephemeral all this could be and how long it is to October. Ruthie Sheehan, who no doubt bought into all this Beaner hysteria, paid to recognize a grandson’s graduation.
Jim Watts paid for his 33 anniversary with the Club, Marc Glass paid for a wedding anniversary, Dan Russell paid for lack of a pin, Bob Wood paid to welcome the Scholarship winners, and Dick McCarthy paid because he was glad to be back.