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Posted by Robert Wood
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Happy Earth Day! 'Twas a warm and quite windy day on the Ridge, but much better than the predicted return to March weather for the remainder of the week. The inside was busy, particularly for the Scholarship Committee, which was receiving the 24 applications which must be read by Monday. Chairs Jim Fallon and Larry Frazier are truly tough task masters!
With that said, President Mary brought us together for the traditional opening - song, Pledge, and Invocation. Dan Firestone delivered a very thoughtful and appropriate message. Through the diversity and passion of Rotary we can make our community the best place it can be! We were promptly dispatched to the waiting buffet table, an almost weekly assignment, to serve ourselves a plate of chicken stew, rice, mixed vegetables, and a nice mixed greens salad. Upon completion of the meal we were able to make a delicious brownie a la mode for dessert!
We reconvened at Mary's command with the introduction of our only guest, Tom Heslin, Art Bradbury's son in law from Providence. He was promptly serenaded with the Welcome Song under the direction of  the O'Connor duo, John and Sheryl, one of whom sounded more on key than the other!
Sgt. at Arms, Happy Jack Martin listed several high rollers in his report. Mark Glass for his son landing a JOB with NBC, Bill Saunders for indicating a positive health report from Doug Willett, Susan Hansen for a first anniversary, Brian Gorman for a birthday, anniversary, and a golf announcement .(He's looking for golfers for a Boy Scout Fund Raiser on May 18th - contact him if interested). And finally Nick Cecere reported that Andy Andreo is feeling better, and as has been custom for several years, donated a substantial check in honor of his and Roger Nicholson's 87th birthday, with both being born on the same day. Thanks Andy! By the way, Nick also won the raffle, and it seems he has done so quite frequently.
Bob Wood reported that Gil Wishart was back from Florida with his lung issues well behind him, but that he had a really bad hip and shoulder which were giving him quite a bit of pain. He was seeing his Doctor today! We wish him well! Subbing for Gil (Mr Rock Cat) Bob pushed for attendance at the Rock Cats game on May 29th and also to see our own Neal Cunningham miss the plate again as he tries to throw out the symbolic first pitch! Cost $22 made out to EH Rotary -ASAP.
Some Dates to keep in mind - June 16 - District Installation, June 24 Our installation of Mark Glass and his new team, May 13th - Training for new officers. Inquire if interested for 6/16 and 5/13.
 Mark Glass introduced our speaker , Robert Pasek, East Hartford's Town Clerk. Robert explained what the responsibilities of the Town Clerk actually were - and they were many. In essence they are a keeper of records such as births, deaths, marriages, property transactions, etc. In addition they issue hunting and fishing licenses as well as marriage licenses -any connection? The Clerk is also very involved in the electoral process by issuing ballots and certifying all election results. The Office is also responsible for overseeing all the Town's Boards and Commissions. A major task is in process to update many of the Town's records and computerize them for easy and efficient access. It was a good review of all that takes place in the Town Clerk's office.
Pinch hitting for Rev. Ted, Bob Wood
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Posted by Ted Mosebach
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It was a grand day for Rotary, bright sun and a perfect 70 degrees! And a wonderful day for golf too as, after the meeting, the East Hartford Rotary golfing group again took up the sticks after winter break. Hurray for spring!
The bell rang out on time and we pledged and prayed and soon enough ambled into the adjacent room for a good veal parmesan buffet. There were chocolate chip cookies for desert and I was a little self-conscious about taking two but then noticed that Jim Fallon also took two so I felt better. I might not always do what Jim does but he knows his way around desert.
Michael Shrever was again visiting with us from the Canton/Avon Club, and friend and recent former member, Brian Liss, returned for the day with his whole family. East Hartford’s loss and Farmington’s  gain, you know? I thought it was just great that Brian was again with us but then the Empress showed her gratitude by calling on him to join Janice Freschlin to lead us in the Welcome Song, They both proved themselves worthy of the privilege and everyone was thus warmly received, member and guest alike!
Happy Jack Martin next strolled to the podium for the Sgt @ Arms report. Jack himself and George Schoen anteed up for the UConn Women’s basketball championship, Dan Firestone - happy because its tax day (What a guy!), Janice Freschlin and Brian Liss – both happy to be back with the greatest Rotary Club in the world! Also, it is Jim Fallon’s birthday and he requested the whole club sing, and Ned  Lynch was fined for disrespecting the Sgt @Arms – having the gall to actually suggest that said Sergeant needed better training! But then Jack Sayre added that Sgt Martin was untrainable! Needless to say, they will both more carefully curb their tongues from now on.
The Scholarship Committee will meet next Wednesday, April 22, 11:30AM, at the Ridge, before the noon meeting.
The Senior Citizen Prom is next Wednesday, April 22, 2:00 PM. Additional help is always welcome.
This is second notice that Anthony (Tony) Sweet has been proposed for membership.
The East Hartford Memorial Day Parade is coming up May 25th. Float decorators and marchers are needed.
The Rock Cats “End Polio Now!” Rotary Night baseball game is Friday, May 29. The cost is $22 with children under seven, free. A sign-up sheet is being circulated or contact Bob Wood for tickets.
President Mary thanked Jim Watts, Ceil Collins, Bob Buettner, Larry Hangland, George and Peggy Schoen, Art Bradbury, and Dan Larson for preparing and presenting a terrific Paul Harris Night! I would like to add my thanks also to Art Bradbury for filling in for me at the Paul Harris Dinner as High Gear editor!!
Thanks to Jim Watts for donating a much needed new podium to the Ridge. A new Rotary Club plaque will also be ordered for it.
Let’s keep in our thoughts and prayers, Gil Wishart, in the hospital with lung congestion and fluid. He was visiting his sons in Florida in the wake of Jean’s loss when he became very weak. Bob Wood shared with us that Gil is doing better now. If you would like to contact Gil you can do so through his son’s e-mail address, deeubnh@aol.com. God bless you, Gil!
This was a Club Assembly day focused on the upcoming Duck Race, Sunday, June 14. The help of everyone in the club is needed. Alex Wisz shared through words and pictures some of the history of the  race and the fact that over $50,000 has been raised in just these three years since its beginning. The goal this year is for the club to sell 2,000 tickets! After the presentation, it was “duck counting time!” making sure that, as has been said in other ways, there is a duck for every number and a number for every duck. Our table finally got all our ducks in a row, but it took us a while! Some of us are exact, not fast.
Ted Mosebach
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Posted by Art Bradbury
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Though some snow still litters the landscape in southern New England, we have it on good authority that spring really did arrive back on Mar.20. That being said, guess we’ll have to wait a little bit ‘til the croci blooms here in East Hartford. But up at the Ridge, Rotarians gathered to sing R-O-T-A-R-Y, pledge allegiance to our beautiful flag and country, and listen while Gil Wishart offered up an eloquent invocation to that “…architect of the universe…”…nice job, Gil. The pre-meal social time seemed especially warm and friendly today, really like the gathering of old friends glad to see one another. Once again, we stood in the chow line to partake of oven-baked chicken (a truly marvelous flavor!), brown rice, salad, and a flavorful dessert of warm apple-brown-Betty with vanilla ice cream…ummmmm Good!
Our only Guest today was our speaker, Brad Drazen, about whom you’ll read more later, but Mayor Marcia Leclerc and new member Kevin Kickery (sporting a new badge!) led a rousing and welcoming rendition of the Welcome song. Great job!
Sgt.at Arms Dick McCarthy told of today’s miscreants, to wit: Happy dollars from Ned Lynch for UConn Women’s success to date, Jay Stewart,for  Ruth Sheehan’s successful surgery; and Mo Moshovos’ tribute to 185 years of Greek Independence. President Mary acknowledged the passing of former member Phil Schiff and dear Don’s wife, Betty Hallquist, and we, too, were saddened at news of the death of Jack Lawton, former “major domo” and friend to all at the old First Federal Savings. Larry Hangland is another year older and we all sang to that fact in his honor.
President Mary told of actions taken at the recent Board Meeting: We became a “green sponsor” of the Boy Scouts; contributed $ to Rotary’s Rose Bowl Parade float; paid for 10 Interact members to attend the next District Conference; contributed to E.H.’s Concert series; and accepted, with regret,Hugh Finch’s resignation. In other announcements, we learned of a plea for Duck Race imaginative marketing ideas, Rotary’s RYLA awards program, and thank-you notes from Mayberry School; Bob Buettner gave plugs for the Pot Luck affair at the Ridge this Friday night and the Paul Harris evening on April 8th. Hope you’re all signed up!! Sue Klock was enthusiastic about the upcoming Senior Citizens Prom night
on April 22nd; and next year’s PrexyMarc Glass told of a Holiday Inn (Enfield) seminar on “How Rotary Operates.”
Our weekly raffle’s lucky winner was Mo Moshovos (a 185 year anniversary present?). As requested by Susan Hansen, we all had worn something yellow for a group picture which will be posted on line for recognizing the life of “Seth,” young man with a debilitating illness, and quite a group pic it was!
Our own Marc Glass introduced today’s speaker, Brad Drazen, anchor and investigative reporter for local TV station NBC Connecticut. Brad’s presentation was funny, intelligent, and entertaining. Yep, all of these things and you missed a good one if you weren’t here! Back in the day he set  out to be: a doctor, an actor, or a Wall St. tycoon; but these all lost out to an MBA at university, followed by a very successful career in broadcast journalism, and culminating in the last 15 years at what we used to call “Channel 30.” Along the way he’s become a specialist in sports marketing, and can be caught as anchor of the 5:00 and 5:30PM news. He fielded a lot of questions, many about the decisions for presenting a balance of “good” and/or “bad/sad” news and gave thoughtful responses to the station’s dilemma in this regard. This was good programming; thanks, Marc and committee-members, for bringing it to us!
And from here, I think, Susan Hansen will be our next Editor. Thanks, Susan, for helping me in the writing (on my IPhone, no less, in the absence of my PC) and your superb publishing of the last few issues of High Gear. Methinks that good ol’ Doug Willett, (with a stitched-up chest from by-pass surgery) is back at his post, starting with this issue. Welcome back, Doug!
Arthur
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Posted by Art Bradbury
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A big crowd on a most blustery day; where's all that wind coming from!!!! Must be all the way from the Erin Isles, and the good St. Patrick thought to bring along some corned beef & cabbage as well as all the fixin's for a good Irish sit-down! Of course, we sang, we saluted, and we prayed after a fitting invocation from Susan Hansen, and then we stood in line for our above-mentioned meal.
GUESTS abounded, as follows: Reggie Barall, mate to the Judge; Martin Leszczuni, a dance instructor for the Barall's studio; Mindy & Jim, Bob Buettner's daughter and her hubby; Anthony Sweet, friend of George Agnelli; and Jan Jingles, with President Mary and a long-time Town employee. Guy LaBella and Gil Wishart showed great leadership with our Welcome Song.....tra-la- la!
 Sgt-at-Arms Dick McCarthy told of a $100 day as he recounted the swag from: Bob Buettner for his guests; Marc Glass and Sue Klock for their attendance at PETS; Yvette Roming and Dan Larson for their 6 and 18 year anniversaries; and John O'Connor for a TBA birthday. What, not even the BD song????
Our newest member, Kevin Kickery, received his big red new member badge and his passport from President Mary who also signed it first.
Guy LaBella told of the upcoming East Hartford Chamber of Commerce's 100th year anniversary meeting to be held on April 1st at Goodwin College. Remember that our club is a member, so we're all eligible to attend!
Susan Hansen took the mike to tell of World Water Day to be celebrated on Sunday, Mar. 22 at the temporary home of our town library on Chapman Place and noted that our club has given $10,000 to the project in Guatemala, as led by Manchester Rotarian Rick Lawrence.
Bob Buettner called our attention to the Pot Luck supper scheduled for next Friday, Mar.27, (there'll still be a noon meeting on the 25th) and the Paul Harris nite on April 8th. Everyone has those dates on their calendars, right?
As a special treat on this very special celebratory day, our own Danny Boy  sang a tune by that name, and it was wonderful to behold. All stood to rejoice with the Leprechaun himself.
Coming under "Announcements," I guess:
Mary Sullivan was the organizer of our recent dictionary- giving at Mayberry School; Dan Firestone reminded us of the Senior Prom Event at the High School on April 22. We show up to prepare the meal. This is a stupendous project; well worth being a part of! Several of our members will be attending the anniversary parties of the two other E .H. Service clubs; there'll be a Board of Directors mtg next Monday.
Peter Klock told of Rotary's providing a Shelter Box for victims of the typhoon on an island nation off the coast of New  Zealand.
Alex Wisz will be holding a Duck Race committee mtg at Dan Larson's office. Not sure when but it's to be at 5:00!!!
And for the benefit of all concerned, George Agnelli won the Raffle drawing.
We were honored by having as our speaker today Mark Scheinberg, President of Goodwin College, right here in East Hartford. After an intro by Dannyboy Larson, Pres Mark told of the great strides being measured by the college, and something of the plans soon to be acted upon. Working hard to make East Hartford truly a "college town," Goodwin has about 4000 students enrolled in its classes, conducted on their 1,000 acre campus. Those familiar with Willgoos Lab learned that Goodwin College will be turning this former experimental site of Pratt & Whitney into a business and manufacturing training center. President Mark gave us a carload of interesting facts about their future plans, and we were glad to have him as our speaker of the day.
Sitting in for the mystery writer-of-the-day (and I'm not really sure who that is...)
Art Bradbury
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