President Gale Kenison presided over today’s meeting and Jon Ruggles was our greeter.
Alan Kanegsberg reported meeting counts. 35 Bow Rotarians, 3 guests (Fiona Wolthers (American Red Cross) guest of Mike Griffin, Betsy Patten guest of Eric Anderson, Mike Christoforo guest of Noreen Christensen and Skip Poole guest of Paul Rizzi), and 1 visiting Rotarian (Matt Dodge from Meredith Rotary Club) for a total attendance of 40. There were 2 scooters.
Announcements
Gale reported that Matt Dodge will be transferring his membership to our club from Meredith Rotary.
Donna Deos presented two club awards. Paul Rizzi was awarded the club’s Vocational Service Award for his outstanding level of giving to the community. Dick Swett was awarded the International Service Award for his assistance and support of many of the club’s international outreach projects. Both members received standing ovations.
Gale called upon Chuck Reinhardt for a report of last week’s concert. Due to the weather, turnout by Bow residents was very light, but the two groups that performed seem to “bring their own audience”. Gale is emcee on Sunday for the Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Band. Providing concert support will be Sandy Eldredge, Rob Werner and Dick Swett.
Gale recognized Fiona Wolthers from the American Red Cross who had distributed blood drive information and who made an appeal for blood donations. The need always escalates during the summer months.
Sargent at Arms
Fines: Gerry Carrier secured fines for logo/pin/badge violations from Jerry Kingwell, Ben Kiniry, Jeanne Richardson and Matt Dodge.
Birthdays: Bob Couch (via debut IPad appearance provided by Bill McGonagle who also conveyed Bob’s $12 to the club). Bob is still finding it hard to believe he has been retired for 12 months, but having a fabulous time up north enjoying the outdoors and doing renovations to their place. They are also enjoying being part of the local culture, including clamming. He wishes well to all club members. In term of his birthday, he reports that his family is doing well and that Rosemary is also enjoying her retirement which began in March. It’s been a great year. (Editor’s Note: Island life appears to agree with Bob and Rosemary and it may give Bob a second career…host of a regular island video blog.)
Happy Bucks: Bill McGonagle was very happy to consume a local 2.5 lb. lobster while visiting Bob and Rosemary Couch. Noreen Christensen was welcomed back and she was thankful to be out and to see everyone. She shared that her husband does have a post-incident fear of her. Peter Imse was happy to report that daughter Gillian earned her RN and that she is working at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. He and Kelly are both happy as they will become grandparents when daughter Vanessa has her baby in December. Tom Wilson was happy to share that his daughter (who is a world traveler herself) and his grandchildren were on a grand tour of Asia, which began in Istanbul the same week of the bombing. He is thankful all were safe and through that area before things turned bad. By the time their trip ends, they will have covered much of Southeast Asia as well including, China, Vietnam and other locations. Dick Swett shared the happy news that daughter Chante was married on July 4 with a large crowd in attendance at their home. He has also been enjoying time spent on an island off the coast of Maine that has been in his family for 100 years. He invited others to visit especially if camping, kayaking, etc. were of interest. Jon Hanson had a joyous moment recently when his 10-month old grandson saw him and eagerly made his way to him for the first time on his own. Nate Sanel offered up what might be a club first…”Dumbass Dollars” … for completely “spacing” on last week’s club meeting. He had thought last Friday morning was actually Thursday morning and he had decided to sleep in. He credited his son with making him aware of his error. Dean Cascadden and his wife are pleased to be in their new home. Boxes are all unpacked, but the installation of Japanese toilet paper holders has been vexing. Paul Mercier thanked David Stack for lining up last week’s speaker as he and his wife were at their farm in Virginia. Several relatives came by for a gathering including his mother’s sister and his grand niece who have been visiting family along their own journey. Happiness also abounds on the farm because they now have running water. They are otherwise living off the grid at that location.
Betsy Patten was the raffle winner.
Gail excused scooters.
23rd Annual Skit
Laughter was in order when all were treated to a swashbuckling time when Chris Parkinson wrote, cast, directed and produced his 23rd club skit. Via convincing props, character-appropriate costumes (and let’s not forget the well-cast actors), the audience was transported by the narrator and sign-wielding grip to the island of “Bowhama” where a tribe of “Rotabos” lead by Skipper Mike G. set sail by order of Queen Gale to seek treasure (the Golden Wheel) rumored to exist in a place called “Everyland”. The map they were given included four “steps” which if followed would take the group to the treasure they sought. Naturally, they encounter a curious band of pirates (complete with noisy parrot, a one-armed captain wielding a kitchen spatula, a pirate punster and other scalawags). After a few close scraps with the motley group, Skipper Mike and crew were successful in conscripting them in the search for the Golden Wheel while at the same time extolling the virtues of the wheel and how all have the potential to become a member of the Rotobos. With the Golden Wheel on board, all sailed for Bowhama where Queen Gale was presented with the Golden Wheel and all were reminded that if we work together we can do anything.
The skit ended to great applause and a special acknowledgement to Chris for his creativity, musical talent and skill for having written 23 annual kits thus far.
Respectively Submitted,
Matt Gatzke
