It was a summer pool party (heavy on the summer, light on the pool) at this week's Rotary shindig, as the congregants gathered at the McKinley Village clubhouse to mingle and celebrate Bobby Reed's ascendancy to the club presidency in unique and entertaining style (think Past President Todd's demotion soiree, but move it to lunch) – courtesy of the admirable work of the Installation Committee members Bryan Murray, Past Prez Diane Woodruff, and Justino (I used to be a member of) Santana.

 

Rick Osen and Josh Pelz were our greeters, as was her honor, Judge Kim Mueller, who was forgiving parking tickets for every third Rotarian who arrived (or maybe this reporter just hallucinated that while in the throes of heat stroke).

 

Hydration was provided by wine sponsors Dan (Past Prez) McVeigh, and Virginia Wade (who beat Billie Jean King 6-4, 6-2, to win the 1968 U.S. Open [or maybe I clicked on the wrong Wikipedia bio]), and we met this year's Sergeant at Arms, the delightful Jamie Furlong, who did a fine rendition of Lady Liberty during our makeshift pledge to the flag.

 

After the food was served, the gathered throng was treated to another mini-concert by the Rotary Roadies (it's amazing how they just happen to be swinging through town on their World Tour every time we need them), whose song list had been prepared specifically for the occasion, including the Platinum hits "Software Man" (an ode to President Bobby, set to the tune of the Beatles "Nowhere Man"), "Goodbye, Bobby's Tuesday" (replacing the Stones' Ruby, and a clever description of what Bobby's life is going to be like for the next year), and then, introducing the newest member of the Roadies, new club member Rachel Minyard, who channeled Janice Joplin (no -  seriously - I think Janice Joplin entered her body) and melted faces with "Me and Bobby McReed" (set to Joplin's Me and Bobby McGee).

 

Well done, Rachel, and the entire Roadies band, featuring PP Kevin Smith-Fagan on rhythm guitar and vocals, Tom Bacon shredding on lead guitar, Mark "Magic Fingers" Luhdorff on keyboards, the ever-solid Jeff (I used to play with Sly and the Family) Stone on bass, the enchanting backup singers Shirlee Tully and President-Elect Kerry Wood (who plays flute and recorder, and could probably be the whole brass section if she wanted to) – and that veteran of the sticks, Dennis Smith, on drums.

After the Roadies were done signing autographs, we moved on to Rotary Bingo, a game that involved more mingling among the members, a lot of observed cheating, and Kathy Herrfeldt winning it all and having 100 polio vaccines donated in her name (all of them to be administered to Bobby Reed at a future meeting, so stay tuned).

 

Light on content, but heavy on fun, it was a most enjoyable Installation Meeting, and don't even think about trying to get a reduced sentence from Kim Mueller if you missed it.

Next week will be President Bobby's first meeting at the podium, so come on out and enjoy having our guest speaker, Dr. W.E. Chatog, freak us out about UFO sightings.

 

Photos courtesy of John Swentowsky of Swentowsky Photography.