Rotary Log: Special Double Issue of Comets, Thanksgiving 2013 and Christmas

Rotary Log Special Double Issue

Today we learned about two mysteries; the life of comets, and for those of us who sat at his table, John Pappas’ version of It’s a Wonderful Life.  In John’s case, that would be a trip to watch the Patriots including the pre-game festivities as “cheerfully” explained below.  But first, our weekly Rotary report.

We began with our club’s recognition of Reverend Allen’s 84^th birthday.  He has graced us with his presence for many years with heartfelt prayers and enthralling presentations about history.  May he have many, many more.

Announcements included Basil’s annual attempt to beguile one and all to purchase Christmas tree wreaths (poinsettia sales have been retired, at least temporarily.)  His presentation was wildly informational—who knew wreaths could double as ring targets for ring toss and New Year’s Eve fireplace starters?  Janice Wood followed up by translating Basil’s explanation into English and pledged $20 if Basil kept quiet.  Her money is safe.  Janice went on to explain there will be two wreath decorating events, one of which will be held at the Christmas tree sale corral.  This will be a pizza and bow extravaganza.  Stella Scamman will show anyone interested how to make wreath bows.  Basil and John will monitor wreath inventories at the tree corral.

Vice-President Tricia called upon Rotarians to fill tree sale slots opened up by members now on the injured tree seller reserve list.

Sara informed us of several opportunities to volunteer for the Salvation Army dinner service.  Six dates are set for 2014 starting with January 29.  Many Rotarians participated this past year.

Janice Cassidy informed us about the new Rotarian Christmas Tree ornament that depicts the new Memorial Bridge.  The ornament sells for $15 and will be available at venues throughout Portsmouth.

We were also reminded that February 20 is our annual blind auction event and will take place in the evening.  There will be no noon meeting that day.

We were reminded lastly about the 2014 Thunder Chicken Road Race scheduled for Saturday, August 23.  Be sure to mark your calendars.

President Dave informed us about shelter boxes being sent to the Philippines.  These are ready-to-use shelters that cost $1000 per unit.  Our club has sponsored three shelters.  Former District Governor Marty Helman is running the program.

Cleo Villaflores is on seven-day notice.  Welcome.

The main event was speaker Anura Guruge.  Anura is originally from Shri Lanka and has studied in the United Kingdom and has a master’s degree in Computer Science.  He is an IBMer and has worked in Buffalo, New York and France among other venues.  He has lived in New Hampshire since 1985 and has a keen interest in astronomy, art, papal history among other varied interests.  Today, we learned about comet ISON c/2012s1.

Anura gave an enthralling lecture about the history of comets including many recent examples including 1995’s Hale-Bopp and the iconic Haley’s in 1986.  ISON, unlike most other comets, is not traveling in the same plane as the solar system planets do, but is heading toward the sun from an entirely different trajectory and plane.  Because it is travelling in a parabolic trajectory in relative close proximity to, and around, the sun, this comet is categorized as a “sun grazer.”

Anura explained three reasons why we should excited about ISON.  First, it is a true “sun grazer.”  Second, it appears to be a first-time visitor to our solar system, which means it should be at its largest before losing mass that burns off as it is heated by the sun.  And third, it is an unusual comet in that it was discovered very distant from the earth using computer calculations rather than being detected via straight observations. 

Although not the biggest of comets at about 1.5 to about 3 miles in diameter, with its speed of about 60 mi./sec. it travelled past the sun on Thanksgiving to an outcome we now know.  Before that, however, five predictions prevailed.  The first possibility was that it would be caught up in the sun’s gravitational pull and would be consumed by the sun.  The second was that it would escape the sun’s gravitational pull, but be burned to a crisp.  The third possibility was that it would fragment.  The fourth was that it would be compromised, but remain in existence.  And the fifth possibility was that it would travel past the sun and remain intact.  And the answer is ………………….. it fragmented.

ISON will cross earth’s orbital path on December 15 and will be at its closest to earth on December 26, about 40 million miles away.  And what are the chances of the comet hitting the earth?  We’ll get to that below.

So where to comets come from?  Anura explained comets have a frozen nucleus covered in dust.  As they travel, they emit a gas and/or dirt trail depending on their composition.  Most are believed to be derived from cosmic dust in the solar system.  It is not known if any are derived from outside the solar system.  And speaking of the solar system, how big is it?  Well, when you take into account the Oort cloud that extends to the outer edges of the solar system, it is big, really, really big like 1-3 astronomical units big.  Of course, when compared to the Milky Way galaxy, we’re talking small, real small, like insignificantly small.  So there you have it, comet ISON.

And now, a word about fellow Rotarian John Pappas.  John, as we all know, is a jovial person who lives life to the fullest.  True to form, John regaled his table mates with tales of his adventures including a trip to a Patriots football game.  In the truest spirit of tabloid journalism, John captured all that he saw with his camera phone, moments in time captured in binary code and jpeg format, preserved to be enjoyed in perpetuity by all.  And what pictures did John capture you ask?  Why none other than the Patriot’s Cheerleaders.  John arrived promptly at 11:30 at Foxboro stadium to ensure a front-row seat.  Despite the absence of alcoholic refreshments at such an early hour, he sat through and endured the entire cheerleader pre-game warm-up and captured it all in that amazing device we call a smart phone.  The lowlight of his day was a missed opportunity to be photographed with the cheerleader squad, or at least one of them.  And how does this tie in to today’s presentation?  Well, it has to do with the law of averages.  ISON has about as much of a chance to hit earth as John had to be photographed with a Patriot cheerleader.  Sometimes math can be really fun.      

And now for our Thanksgiving week report.

The heralded and much anticipated Christmas tree sales event is once again upon us and began with the ceremonial unloading of the trees, an event that will be forever known as the Frozen Christmas Tree Unloading Debacle of 2013.  This year’s first unloading event will go down in the annals of Rotarian history as the hardest tree unloading event of them all.  Even Rudolph’s blazing red nose could not undo what nature had done.  Before our eyes and below our feet lay hundreds of wrapped Christmas trees, frozen together, grasped by a labyrinth of icy fingers like some Stanley Kubrick Yuletide logjam of balsam and fur (trees that is).  Even the most robust Rotarians struggled like the mighty Casey and even Paul Bunyan to extract each tree from its frozen tomb.  Assisted by the late morning sun on a brisk November day, thanks in large part to the extremely late arrival of the trees, Rotarians and Interact Club volunteers alike persevered to undo all that had been done by the kind of wild weather patterns only a true Canadian could enjoy.  Records for the longest unloading event were shattered this day.  Some say this record will never be broken, at least not until the next Alberta Clipper makes its perfectly-timed way to those pristine moist Canadian Christmas tree fields.  One can only hope the next Clipper will hold off as long as the Curse of the Bambino endured. So with tired backs and blistered fingers, our intrepid troop of Rotarian tree unloaders finished the job with more than a few smiles, a sprinkling of sentimental twinkles, not to mention all the many sprains and strains.  With the work done, these faithful Rotarian troops melted into the horizon to convalesce, ready to be called upon to unload again someday.  And that, to all future red-dot Rotarians, was the Christmas Tree Unloading Debacle of 2013. 

Mistletoe Missive

Portsmouth Rotary, Volume 2 Number 2

THE TREES HAVE ARRIVED!:  Precisely 906 (but who’s counting) frasier firs, premium balsams, table tops and extra-large Christmas trees were unloaded this morning by a merry band of Rotarians, family members and students from the Interact club.  Many thanks to all of you who rearranged your schedule in order to accommodate the (delayed) delivery.  As of 11:30, all the trees were unloaded and sales officially began.

You will note that the trees are organized by color both in the selling area as well as in the back up area.  When restocking, please take the blue tag trees from the aisle on the right, closest to the gate.  This will allow access to the yellow-tag trees in back up just behind the blue.

Commercial Wreaths:  The commercial wreaths are being delivered to the tree lot this afternoon and will be decorated by the wreath elves.  Delivery will be complete within the next few days and into next week.  The commercial wreaths will be stored in the back of the tree lot to the right of the dumpster.  Please do not use this supply to replenish our retail wreaths as they are committed to customers who have already paid – we will have PLENTY of retail wreaths in back up.

Fancy wreaths are also for sale at the retail site this year.  These are wreaths that will be decorated special by Janice Wood and crew.  Look for these on a display board adjacent to the trailer.

Tree Trailer Update: The interior of the trailer has a new look and is equipped with a cashier desk/station.  Please direct customers to pay inside the trailer.  Cashier instructions are posted on the bulletin board and follow the same basic system as last year.  All sales will be recorded in the i-pad.

Scheduling:  We appreciate all of you committing time out of your busy schedules to the tree sales.  We are only able to run this 100% volunteer effort through the dependability and follow-through of Rotarians their family, friends and others in our extended Rotary family.  Thank you in advance for showing up and getting the job done – the Rotary way!

Should you need to change your schedule, we respectfully ask that you swap your shift with another Rotarian and simply let us know.  Any unusual circumstances can be directed to me or Bill Hurley.

Yours In Humble Tree Selling Service,

Tricia

Patricia Cummings, President-Elect