Rotary Log for January 15, 2015

 

Hola! It just sticks like Super Glue when one toils under the supervision of Senor Rice, master writer, editor, and songsmith of our Club. In fact, if one has scribe duty, just sitting in his company can be threatening. Rules! Rules! Rules! In by Monday; no more than 18 words to a sentence; and, a minimum of 500 words. He’d go broke in my business where fees are allegedly determined by weight of paper and word count. Not true, but good lore, nevertheless. I’ll probably flunk those standards, but let’s try not.

 

The Meeting focus was ‘teased’ last week by President Tricia as a Fellowship Meeting, ugh, more Tree Hugging in this time of international terror stress. Tricia was right in being concerned and sleepless about attendance. But I had no option. Duty called, along with many other members were happy it did. Why?

 

Rotary work is often accomplished with little fanfare, by many people choosing to accomplish great things in obscurity. For others, public recognition, visibility and acclaim come and are accepted more easily. And, it occurred to me during the meeting, both views are accommodated by Rotary, and, perhaps that is Rotary’s raison d’etre and foundation for domestic and international longevity, purpose and greatness.

 

Fellowship Meeting was our opportunity to grade ourselves for President Tricia’s First Semester. Christmas Tree sales were complete along with a myriad of other projects, and it was time to celebrate.

 

Arriving to a choice of select Market Basket candy, and those with like taste were assembled for seating, we found Tables jumbled with new faces. It’s all okay, and, recalcitrants were duly fined by our Fine Masters Nancy and Neil in due time. Food was as usual well prepared (the lemon cake was exceptional) and John Rice’s bold baritone voice synchronized us with a hearty “choral” rendition of “God Bless America”. He left the Marseillaise for another day. Hopefully, if we do, we will avoid the precipitating events of terror. Betsy Scott introduced her guest, Betty Edgar, our only guest, and Tricia went through a large number of birthdays. It turns out that seven Rotarians share a birthdate in January, with three on each of January 9 and 17. Even John Rice was fined by Neil when entrapped into answering a trick question in Spanish.

 

Following a short but informative Rotary Knowledge update by President Tricia on the Seven Steps to Rotary membership, similar to, but not to be confused with, an honorable Twelve Step program in another context.  There was no mercy shown by the Fine Masters as they assessed fines on notables for errant behaviors and being ‘too notable’. Fines reached $20.00 in some instances. That hurts! One Rotarian who in a moment of confusion claimed to favor Indianapolis against the New England Patriots was mercilessly fined.

 

Tricia then bared her soul with some disclosers about several charitable and semi-charitable gifts approved by the Directors upon the recommendation of The Cash Fund Committee, Basic Needs, Jeremy Alex Fund, and general Budgeted Club giving. It is really astounding that as a Club we do so much. There is good reason and Bill Hurley’s report on the Christmas Tree, Commercial Wreath, and Ornament success guided by James Peterson, Janice Wood, and Janet Cassidy, respectively, generated $46,300 in net profits, when $39,000 had been forecast. The Club sold nearly $1,600 trees and all but 14 of 400 wreaths. The unsold were bundled and given to needy recipients who often regifted to those in even greater need.

 

Sara Tracey invited those with a Soup Kitchen bend to join her in the annual Salvation Army project. Sara must harbor a resident angel on her shoulder, for soon thereafter, her ticket was drawn as the winning raffle. Not only that, she had had a correct match. A quick $120.00 was delivered to Sara; well deserved.

 

Moral of the story; Fellowship Meetings can be, and are often, fun and lively, and where you find surprises about quiet, unassuming friends, who are community heroes in our midst. You know one!

 

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

January 15, 2015