May 13, 2009

Rotary Newsletter May 13^th, 2009: Robert Schipul speaks on "the history of Russian Village, Churaevka, in Southbury, CT"

ROTARY NEWSLETTER MAY 13, 2009

A picture perfect May evening to gather together in Rotary fellowship. SANDRA led the Pledge and BEN invoked God's grace to be with us. PRESIDENT BOB introduced WALTER'S sister, Edith Heller, who is visiting from Czechoslovakia. We also welcomed BERNIE from his trip to the Netherlands. It was nice to have VERONICA and DONNA in our fellowship, too!

JOE and KAREN invited us to join with them to celebrate the First  Anniversary of the dedication of Tactical Training Base Kelley on Cape Cod: Saturday, June 6, beginning at 11:30 am. It is an honor to be invited to the largest Base east of the Mississippi where our service men are trained for the most dangerous first 100 days of their deployment. We will be able to witness the wreath laying ceremony performed by the MA National Honor Guard.

JANET was full of good news regarding the Phone Book. It has been proofed and we give extra Rotary Credit to DIANE, CANDACE, MICHAEL, Karen, Dietrich, Sandi and Bob. ARTHUR generously offered to pick up extra copies to store, after the Post Office distributes them in June!  Hornstra Farms Dairy has picked up sponsorship of our inside front cover, freeing the tensions of collecting payment from the "former sponsor"-Janet's nemesis. (Can you guess who that might be!!!)

From here we all digressed into waves of chattiness. It didn't escape the watchful eye of  our Sergeant-at Arms, WILLIAM, who just returned from Brazil, and passed the Fine Stein around to all culprits of interruption!!!! Guess we are going to have to mind our P's and Q's and put on our 'LISTENING EARS".

However it didn't deter the abundance of HAPPY BUCKS and CONNIE conferred with all, over the glorious spring weather. LEW will be joining his club in Middlebury, VT. for a reunion of Manila Rotarians. BOB PRICE is celebrating his 36^th Wedding Anniversary and has a brand new email: Bobpr@verizon.net. BEN was able to celebrate an Eagle Scout Ceremony with his grandson this weekend. BART and Janet will be attending the District Convention this coming weekend at West PointAcademy in New York. Bernie presented our Club with a flag from the Rotary Club of Zoom Noord, in the Netherlands. Much good news and lots to talk about, just not all at once!!!

The balance of the evening was turned over to President Bob (perhaps in deference to his last month in office) to present the unique history of RussianVillage, Churaevka, in Southbury, CT. It was founded in a small, mountainous perch near our hometowns in Connecticut in the year 1920. It looks just like a village out of Dr. Zhivago with the tall snow covered pines and craggy rock formations. White Russians, fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution built their humble homes and salvaged their lives in a new country. Illya Tolstoy's son was one of the founders. It was a huge tribute to perseverance and dedication to values of hard work that these émigrés made a positive mark on their new country!! We all can relate to the trials of a changing world and society and know that each of us can make a difference, one small step at a time.

Next week, our meeting incorporates SOUTH SHORE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S NIGHT DINNER at Lantana's in Randolph. We have made reservations for 16 members.

On Wed. May 27, we meet at 5 o'clock sharp back at the Country Club for a CLUB VISIONING SESSION with Past District Governor, Terri Fitch. It is not to miss, so make plans to come early.

Dennis Snyder has invited all duffers to register for MMFC CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT on Monday, June 22 at the Marshfield Country Club. Let me know who is interested.