Presiding: The estimable President Mike Cooney!
Invocation: Keith Caplet
Fellowship: Bob, don’t call me Buzz, Farwell
After a musical interlude, not of his choosing, Bob regaled those assembled with vignettes from the life of President Calvin Coolidge. He was the only president of these United States born on July 4 but was one of many presidents who did not die on July 4 or July 3 for that matter.
Birthdays: Someone, somewhere, but not here.
Rotarian Anniversaries: Nary one
Rotarians with guests: Mike Matera hosted Jeff Brining, Joel hosted Roz.
Visiting Rotarians: Despite employing the patented “Visiting Rotarian Call”, none emerged.
Announcements by his Excellency, Mike Cooney:
- Cell phone silence is a way of life and we must embrace and practice it for the good of future generations.
- June 26 is the club centennial; June 20 will feature a softball game of titanic proportions.
- Gary Young reminded the entire club of the golf tournament on September 4 and noted the golf hats placed at each table to encourage cash donations. According to reliable sources, all chapeaus were returned at the meeting’s end.
- President Mike circulated a list of committee assignments for the club members’ perusal.
Happy Dollars:
With Andy Grant…
- Andy Grant apologized to Suki for repeatedly asking her to pay a weekly fee. He also enjoyed a July 4 tennis match with his progeny.
- Bill Champagne, with a metaphorical tip of the hat to Andy Grant, observed that he was reading an estimable book, Educated.
- Mike Gordon reported that past club President Walter McGill recently died.
- Michelle Scott recounted some challenges faced by a close friend at the Rose Arts Festival and lauded club members who assisted this friend on many occasions. She is also expecting a daughter in the fall. Huzzah!
- Mike Gordon returned to the podium to welcome back Joel.
- Suki encouraged Andy Grant not to request weekly fees and described her recent visit to her hometown, Vancouver, British Columbia. She is anxiously awaiting her daughter’s return from Brazil.
- President Mike painted a word picture of the family’s adventures at the Roger Williams Zoo.
- Gary Young welcomed back Joel and thanked Marie Osborne for the golf tournament tee sign.
- Bill Champagne encouraged by Mike Gordon’s example, returned to the podium and announced that Hamilton was coming to Providence! The musical, not the man.
- Gary said he would be supporting Rodney by having lunch at Old Tymes and encouraged others to join him.
Auction: Alas, no.
Lottery: with a player to be named later:
- Susy Hurlburt-: No!
- Rich Pascal, pinch-hitting for Jen Granger: No!
- Mike Gordon: No!
Frustration over the lack of success resulted in several examples of anti-social behavior, including spontaneous toe-tapping, furtive birdcalls and sotto voce knock-knock jokes.
Program:
Andrea Kaiser, Chief Development Officer at the ARC Eastern Connecticut. Andrea explained the mission of the ARC, to protect the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and to promote their inclusion in all aspects of their communities. The Arc Connecticut is part of the oldest and largest charity federation in the nation that is dedicated to promoting and protecting the civil rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their inclusion and participation in their communities. Here in Connecticut, there are 14 local chapters with total revenue of about $111 million dollars, more than 170 board members, 4,094 staff, and 1,806 volunteers.
Thus ends the meeting, with President Mike bidding us adieu.
Please note, Jeff Brining of Norwich Public Utilities has submitted an application for membership. Per our bylaws, his name will appear in the Rone. Anyone with objections to his membership should bring forth those objections at this time