With no program scheduled so no presenter to go sedately to the head of the buffet line, it was every man or woman for him/her self.  Today’s meal was roast chicken pieces (dark and light), carrots and beans, and a salad of mixed greens.  Dessert could best be described as an assortment of sweets, primarily chocolate based, and again passed by our favorite waiter, Ned Lynch.

Though we had no program, we did have a guest, so Art Bradbury and George Schoen led us in our welcome song.  Our guest was Joe Jaconetta, an attorney in Glastonbury and member of the Rotary Club of Glastonbury, but more importantly for his visit today, he is serving as Chair of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce.

President Kevin invited Joe to speak about events currently being planned by the Chamber.  Joe’s message was primarily to encourage us to support their events, which will include a duck race this spring, a fun event begun by our club and now adopted by the Chamber. This year’s duck race will be held Saturday, May 18^th, and again will be on the Hockanum River here in East Hartford, from Walnut Street Bridge to Labor Field Park.  Raffle tickets go on sale March 19^th.  For more details, check the CRVCC website https://www.crvchamber.org/events/details/duck-race-6580

Want to spend an evening at the ballpark with the East Hartford Rotary Club? Ned Lynch explained he is organizing a club event, Wednesday, May 29^th, a baseball game between the Portland Sea Dogs and the Hartford Yard Goats. This is a great bargain, $32/person, for the game and a 2 ½ hour buffet.  He needs folks to sign up early and pay for him to be able to pay the Yard Goats to set aside a section of seats for our club.  Please contact Ned by email at ned.lynch@jan-pro.com or by calling Ned’s cell phone 508-341-4106 to reserve your seats and to arrange getting your payment to Ned.

Ceil Collins, co-chair of the social committee, reported that we have sixty folks signed up for next week’s Paul Harris Dinner at The Gallery.  If you have not yet signed up, Friday, March 15^th is the deadline.  Contact Ceil contact her by email at ceilcollins@aol.com or by calling her home phone 860-568-3497.

Kevin invited Bob Buettner, our president-elect, to tell us about last weekend’s experience mixing with other presidents-elect at the Northeast PETS (Presidents-elect Training Seminar) in Framingham, Massachusetts.  Bob was enthusiastic about the benefits of meeting with so many other presidents-elect, exchanging ideas, and sharing concerns, especially the challenge of declining membership in all our clubs.

President Kevin mentioned how proud we all are of our club’s past president, Sheryl O’Connor, as CEO and founder of  IncomeConductor, for winning first place in Quesnay’s Female Founders in Tech innovation competition.  In addition to other benefits, this first place finish includes an award of $35,000 to Sheryl and her company.

Sue and Peter Klock were unanimously approved to be our club’s delegates to the business meeting at this year’s Rotary International Convention June 1^st through 5^th in Hamburg, Germany.  

The next board meeting will be April 2^nd at Kevin’s home starting at 5:30, ending about 7:30 PM.

Dan Larson’s Sergeant-at-Arms report included our usual hopes, fears and cheers for local sports teams.  Dan mentioned he is proud that his son, Glenn, was honored along with others on his team at the South Windsor High School Hall of Fame, for the team’s winning the 19933 baseball state championship.  Ruth Sheehan also contributed with thanks for this beautiful day, and Marc Glass congratulated Bob Buettner for surviving Northeast PETS.

Caring Moments:

Bill Saunders relayed his conversation with Jim Fallon, who wants to assure us he is recovering from surgery and enjoying time with his daughter and her family in Houston, Texas.

Dave and Chickie Amberg’s son, David II, passed away March 3^rd.  Friends may call at St. Christopher Campus of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford on Saturday, March 16, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM in the church hall, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebration at 11 AM. Burial with military honors will follow at Veteran's Memorial Field-Silver Lane Cemetery, East Hartford.

Ceil Collins shared with us that her sister’s husband passed away this morning and Frank’s sister who lives in Syracuse, NY, has been hospitalized.  Keep the Collins in your thoughts and prayers during this sad time.

Ned Lynch won the regular raffle and Peter Klock won Bob Buettner’s beautiful flower arrangement.

A reminder from the reporter:

It's not too late to participate in a Grant management webinar. You can register for the last webinar: which occurs on Saturday, March 30th at 10:AM. Our club has met the minimum two members so we will be qualified to apply for District and Global Grants next year, but it would be most helpful to President-elect Bob to have a robust Grants Committee during Rotary year 2019-2020; so, if you would like to be involved in developing projects and obtaining funds from The Rotary Foundation, please consider attending the final webinar.

To register for the webinar, go to  rotarydistrict7890.org  and click on the March 30th Webinar on the right hand side of the home page.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Sue Klock