RONE 05.15 2019
Reporter: Bob F.
Photographer: Anonymous
Presiding: The estimable Mike Cooney! Mike’s arrival was preceded by a mellifluous musical interlude.
Invocation: Kathy Croteau
Fellowship: Jim Konrad
Jim Reported on a recent Atlantic Monthly article entitled I Broke Breakfast. The theme: Americans eat a narrower variety of foods for breakfast than anyone else does. It does not have to be this way.
Birthdays: Mary Ellen Jukoski
Rotarian Anniversaries: Mike Gordon 35 years!
Rotarians with guests: Kyle introduced his father, Ed Muenzner. Barry hosted Fred Taylor.
Visiting Rotarians: Despite our welcoming ambiance, no one came a ‘calling.
Announcements: by Mike Cooney:
- Silence thine cell phones or have ye pate tattooed with a smiley face. Celebrate Diversity committee met and are preparing the big event.
- Gary interjected that the golf tournament is September 4;
- Speakers needed! Offer your suggestions to Mary Richardson; No mimes, please!
- Happy dollars are available for those in need.
- Carnival drama emerged, with a new company recruited to present the festivities. Help was needed to update the carnival flyers. Suki Lagrito and Andy Nollman stepped into the breach.
- Another contribution arrived for the No Show Gala, $200.00 from Disch Motors. The total increases to $8,225. Kudos to Andy Nollman for delivering this beneficence.
- The Native Son luncheon is still scheduled for June 5. In conjunction with the change of command, there will be an extravagant centennial party.
- A softball extravaganza is also in the offing for those whose limbs are supple enough to participate.
- Kathryn Tracey agreed to be club treasurer. Really!
Happy Dollars: With Barry Shead!
- Barry allowed that Friday was in fact his final day with the Savings Institute. He thanked Gary Young for being his Rotary sponsor. In a nostalgic moment, Barry reminisced about his early, cataclysmic encounters with assorted foodstuffs at Rotary meetings and pondered their impact on his life and worldview.
- Mike Gordon welcomed the day’s speaker Dan McMahon of the Goodspeed Opera House, acknowledged the length of his tenure as a Rotarian and remarked that he was the last member of the club’s softball team to hit a home run.
- Larry Fowler mourned the passing of comedian Tim Conway. Mike Matera acknowledged Barry’s retirement, reflected on his son’s baseball experiences and noted, apropos of Jim Konrad’s Fellowship remarks that in Brazil breakfast included cake!
- Jen Granger reminded members of the availability of Happy Dollars.
- Mike Goldblatt recounted a grand slam in a softball game against the Norwich Police and reflecting on Jim’s remarks, noted that he owned a car originally the property of an heir to the Kellogg cereal fortune!
- Andy Nollman welcomed our guests, described his sojourn to Gillette Stadium for a picture with the Super Bowl trophy, and acknowledged the passing of Tim Conway and Barry’s retirement.
- Mike Cooney effused over the Bruin’s playoff performance, lauded Kathryn’s ascension to the treasurer’s position and recounted the undulations of being a Little League baseball coach.
- Ed Muenzer lauded the quality of the breakfast at Old Tymes and his softball experiences.
- Rodney explained the curative powers of Mexican soup as a hangover cure.
Auction: Alas, no.
Lottery: with a player to be named later:
- Andy Nollman: No!
- Mike Goldblatt: No!
- Nancy Gentes: No!
In response to these failed attempts, there was a bustle in the hedgerow, but no one was alarmed. It’s was just a spring clean for the May queen.
Program: Dan McMahon, Director of Marketing for the Goodspeed Opera House described in detail the Goodspeed’s history, success with new musicals and revivals of old favorites and the work involved in presenting each event. Goodspeed has produced 250 musicals, including over 70 world premieres, and exported 21 productions to Broadway. It stands as the first regional theatre in America to earn two special Tony Awards, one in 1980 for outstanding contributions to the American musical and a second in 1995 for distinguished achievement for a regional theatre.
The Four Way Test: Without President Jim, aphorisms were omitted.