This is my first attempt using our new RONE template. Any errors, including misspellings, errant references to unsubstantiated rumors or passing references to personal idiosyncrasies are the fault of the template. Really.
Reporter: Bob F.
Photographer: Alfred Stieglitz?
Date: 12.04.2019
Presiding: The exalted yet publically humble President Mike
Invocation: Rodney
Fellowship: The very popular Barry Shead. After reporting that Joel was again in the hospital my notes say Barry spoke about a holiday party… and then went on to read a selection of recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers from Good Housekeeping magazine. Really. No recipes were shared for aggressive turkeys.
Birthdays: No
Anniversaries: Nary one,
Guests: Keith Caplet introduced John Uyeki, President Mike introduced Aziza Clayton.
Visiting Rotarians: Multiple inquiries revealed…none
Happy Dollars: Again with Barry, whose popularity continues to soar. Barry was grateful that his son was home for Thanksgiving. Bill Champagne gave a metaphorical tip of the hat to our speaker Valerie Dziengiel and her entourage. Kathleen Stauffer was grateful for good wine and her brother’s presence at Thanksgiving. She reported that her niece was uncertain what a newspaper was. Keith reported the birth of twin grandchildren! He and John Uyeki presented the club with a $5,000 check from Chelsea Groton Bank for the coat drive. Huzzah! Susy reported on a sartorial note that one should wear a suit, spoke philosophically on the merits of tolls, Barry’s recipe, (maybe that is what I missed in Fellowship?) and a good meeting. Jeff Brining and his family had a great Thanksgiving and he took the kids skiing. Gary Young welcomed Valerie and company and described the pleasures and perils of a southern Thanksgiving. Andy Grant conceded that he was crushed in tennis by Stan. In a narrative fit for “Stranger than Fiction,” Andy described the discovery and retrieval of his castaway Hobie Cat from Gardiner’s Island. In answer to Kathleen’s report on her niece’s inquiry, Jim Konrad reported that newspapers did exist. He also praised Mike Matera’s generous contributions to the Tommy Toy Fund, which will be distributing toys on Thursday. Mike provided 60 pounds of toys. Between 5,500 and 6,000 children will benefit from the Tommy Toy Fund. Andy Nollman thanked Keith and John for the Chelsea Groton donation and shared that his parents came up from Florida for Thanksgiving. Rodney summarized the progress in preparing and sorting the coats. They are almost done. He calculated that he and his wife were able to process about 100 coats an hour. Amazing! He also provided a short descriptive sketch of a Thanksgiving dinner many years ago when he served as a surrogate maitre d’. Old Tymes provides dinners on Thanksgiving Day to the employees at several local businesses. There was an evocative vignette of one of Old Tyme’s employees, a gentleman with a traumatic injury who assisted with the deliveries. He received $200 from grateful recipients. President Mike thanked Chelsea Groton for their generosity, welcomed Aziza and related his gratitude to Rodney and Lucille when he received the report on the coat drive. With considerable relish, he recounted Thanksgiving at his brother’s house and a snowball fight after dinner. Aziza thanked the club for its warm welcome.
Lottery- Riding a wave of popularity, and much to the club’s delight Barry introduced the lottery.
Selecting for Andy Grant, Andy Nollman was unsuccessful. Mary-No! Kathleen-No!
Dolorous glances were exchanged and shoulders sagged as those assembled contemplated an unsuccessful lottery. Spirits revived when a rumor spread that “at a future date” pimento loaf would be included on the lunch menu.
Speaker: Valerie Dziengiel, discuss her new book “Alone in the Darkness,” a memoir that describes how she rose above the destructive forces her husband’s illness and death bestowed upon her. She hopes her experiences and resilience will inspire others to overcome their own loss.
The Four-Way Test: Acknowledging his ascent in popularity President Mike selected Barry to lead us in the Four-Way Test. The resulting elocution will inspire innumerable generations.