We Noon Rotarians enjoyed light conversation and Double AA’s presentation of chicken hot dish, corn and fruit salad prior to being called to order by Pres. Kati. Following the traditional songs Kathy A provided the invocation thanking The Creator for the sunshine and all that it does for inhabitants of the earth weather plant or animal, for Memorial Day just passed and all that it represents ,for high school graduation and the life passage that it is and for Rotary and the commitment to a better world.
Song leader Bob R must still have been in a reflective mood from Memorial Day and chose numbers designed to precipitate some thought. First he introduced us to Rotary Bonds:
“Rotary bonds can never be broken, they can never die
Far surpassing wealth unspoken, Sealed by friendships tie
Rotary’s loyal folk shall serve with hand and heart as one
While we live we’ll ever preserve friendships here begun”
Next he defied copyright laws and distributed copies of “Blown in the Wind” followed by Hymn of Nations. Finally he had moderate success with the Smile rotation. Instructions were those closest to the south wall form a line facing west-those closets the north wall form another line facing west and everyone move forward when the music starts looping around the end tables.
Pres Kati revealed that we were having a club assembly to day, unrevealed because of its effect on attendance. She pushed the club social on the 7th , reminded to RSVP and advised the dish to share should complement the grilled main course. Mike W. spoke of the Rotary Open Golf Tournament and associated raffle. We were told of the importance of the Rotary Foundation and that it would be the subject of the June 21 program. The Rotary Minuet required identification of members whose badge Bob R had randomly picked from the board and who presumably were not in attendance. The classification was the clue. Answers were Laurel N, Matt B, Tim R and Scot S. Scott was present but did not pick up his badge.
Keith O bragged that he had reported for jury duty this morning, spent a couple of hours drinking coffee and visiting before learning the case had been settled. He was quite content with the part he had played in the justice system. Lori L announced it was the last day of the term for Fergus students. Bob R commented if he had known Keith was on the jury he would have taken the case to trial. Dave J has some confirmation that he is aging-his oldest daughter turned 50. Mike S received his jury duty letter yesterday and said their new facility should be completed by year’s end. Kathy A was in Pennsylvania to witness the wedding of a niece-who was given away twice because of a rain delay, and Buzz L put in a couple of bucks for meetings missed and John M introducing a program for him.
Prior to moving into committee meetings Pres. Kati introduced three concerns: First the difficulty in securing a president elect to fill out the officer slate for next years, ideas were advanced but no solution yet. Second we are committed to an exchange student, Ramos from Mexico, but need two more host homes and must clear a few other hurdles. Last the Duck Derby is coming up on July 13th, help will be needed. Committee meetings convened.
There was no program to provide the developmental experience usually associated with our meetings so, given Memorial Day and our officer slate difficulties, it seems like a good time to offer a familiar portion from Teddy Roosevelt’s 1910 speech “Citizenship in a Republic”:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat”
