The usual crowd today, somewhere around twenty, swelling a bit when Steve Jacoby showed up on Steve time. Interesting guest at our table, Alejandro Vasquez, a 19-year resident, an immigrant from Peru where he took part in a Rotaract club which left a lasting impression. Alex is both a baker and a warehouse worker for UPS. Lunch was a grinder box with chips and a brownie. One wag at our table wanted to collect the uneaten brownies, put them on a plate, and serve them to Ned Lynch. The idea was ignored.

Jack Sayre read an interesting compilation of Steve Jobs deathbed thoughts. In essence, Jobs makes the point that regardless of how much money you make, how successful you are in business, how many personal possessions you accumulate, at the end true happiness lies in your love connections, “mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, sing songs with…that is true happiness.” One must hope Jobs found those people around him at the end, given his reputation as a ruthless, tyrannical boss during his truncated business career.

Dick McCarthy was back today, claiming he missed our musical offerings, particularly enjoying our robust rendition of the welcome song. Dick’s hearing is not what it once was.

President Bob presided over the weekly announcement parade:

·       Sept 7 we have six people signed up for the Habitat for Humanity project including Laura Floyd, Anwar Hossain, Jack Sayre and one prospective Rotarian who we met at the National Night Out event a few weeks ago.

·       Anwar Hossain reported that 11 volunteers, including six East Hartford Rotarians (Ruthie, Laura, Bob Wood, Jack, Dan Firestone and Anwar) sorted over 7,200 pounds of food stuff. Job well done.

·       On 9/9 President Bob will be attending a meeting to get details on a Rotary International and District 7890 efforts to assist in the opioid crisis affecting our communities. He promised that East Hartford Rotary will be active in this effort.

·       We have a speaker on 9/11 who will be talking about a partnership to increase funding for Thanksgiving giving.

·       East Longmeadow Rotary is holding a New England Clambake on Sept 18 at the Elks Pavilion in Springfield.

·       Coats for Kids will be held on October 20, a Sunday morning. East Hartford Family Services reports 88 kids have registered as of now with more expected.

·       Volunteers are need for water stations on Saturday, October 12 for the Greater Hartford Marathon and Sunday, October 13 for the TriTown Bike Race. Used cups from Saturday will be reused on Sunday. Neal Cunningham and Dan Firestone are the men to see, respectively

·       The Golf tournament is around the corner. 72 golfers signed up; raffle prizes very much needed. What have you contributed thus far? See Bill Saunders or George Schoen before you earn a plaque in the Golf Tournament Wall of Shame.

·       Many thanks to Ceil Collins for adding a Keurig Coffee Maker to our luncheon display.

Jim Watts did well today as our Sergeant at Arms. Highlights included Jim, himself, paying for a new Lamborghini, Marc Glass for hiring some competent help, lots of folks welcoming Dick McCarthy back, Bill Saunders for avoiding a root canal, Laura Floyd for the upcoming birth of her fifth grandchild and Ned Lynch for off-loading his son to Bentley College.

President Bob won the raffle today and Larry Hangland was all smiles as he once again will be bringing the flower raffle display home to his bride.

Ending three long months of writing High Gear, enough is enough,

I remain Doug Willett. Sue Klock will take you through September.