“Comfortable as an old shoe.” Here we are in the third week of his presidency and already President Bob is calling on a substitute presider out of the Club bullpen. I counted 14 Past Presidents in the room. Even two Past District Governors and a soon to be DG for good measure. And then a Past President from another Rotary Club. And who does President Bob call on to preside? The guy everybody calls on – busted wing and all – just plain Bill. Yup, two-time PP Bill Saunders was ringing the bell today and everyone had the contented look of those whose slippers fit just right.
Offerings From McElligot's Pool Available
Maybe it was the heat wave around the corner, but those gathered at the Ridge did a half-way decent job with the opening song and the pledge. And once we were able to locate our invocation speaker, PP Dan Firestone got our undivided attention with his childhood story of encountering the same kind of racist rhetoric sixty-five years ago that is spewing from the White House these days. He closed by thanking God that Rotary, in contrast, is such an inclusive, welcoming organization.
Our lone guest today was old friend Bob Duggan from the Glastonbury Club. Perhaps inspired by his lunch of roasted chicken breast, some potato salad and Ned’s cookie plate, he invited us all to come over to the Elks in Glastonbury on August 5th at 6 p.m. for a genuine “seafood boil” dinner with his guys/gals. Shrimp, scallops, cod, calamari, octopus, squid, deegell trout from McElligot’s Pool, all boiled together and served up on the tabletop. For $22 they will even give you a plate and some plasticware. Thankfully, no mention was made of a softball game.
Reminder - Hold the Rail!
The “caring” list had some inhabitants. Dan Larson reported that Uncle Buck was in rehab and expected home on Saturday. Bob Wood reported that old buddy, Gil Wishart, broke his neck recently and was also in rehab. Cards addressed to Gil in Room 108B at Evergreen Woods, 7045 Everygreen Woods Trail, Spring Hill, FL 34608 would be welcome. Marc Glass reported that President Bob, vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard took a bad spill but is recovering nicely among the preppies and blue bloods on the island. Acting President Bill reported that Dick McCarthy also had a fall and is dealing with some hair-line fractures as a result. He also thanked us all for the cards and calls he received as he recovered from his rotator cuff surgery. The meta message from all this is to stay on your damned feet and hang on to the rail.
Announcements:
·The District Golf Tournament is July 29 at Twin Hills in Agawam and East Hartford will have at least one foursome present. Contact Jim Watts if you want to be part of another.
·Marc Glass relayed the news that both Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were long time Rotarians and the first Rotarian Moon Walkers.
·George Schoen reported on the first meeting of the Golf Committee and announced that pending Eleanor’s permission, the plan is to dedicate the tournament this year to the late, great George Agnelli. Gifts for raffle can be given to Marc Glass. Much more to come.
·Anwar Hossain reported the final Food Share event will be on Monday, July 22.
Two Very Good Guys, Indeed
Two notable Club anniversaries marked Jack Martin’s Sergeant at Arms report with Bob Wood celebrating 34 years and Art Bradbury notching 51 years in Rotary. Two more inspiring examples of Rotary service and fellowship would be hard to find. The rest of the fines were pedestrian and too boring to mention here.
Frank Collins won the raffle proving the adage “money goes to money.”
That’s enough for today. Let’s take off the old slippers and amble on down the hill.
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