07/17/15 BITS & PIECES

Posted by Bill Blount 
on Jul 20, 2015
 
 
                                            
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
President Bowen conducted his first formal meeting of our almost-100-year-old club at the Holiday Inn By-the-Bay with 49 Rotarians, 1 visiting Rotarian and 5 guests in attendance. Russ Burleigh presented the invocation, Peggy "Queenie" Westcott led us in the Pledge, then Russ played as we sang our patriotic song “God Bless America.” President Bowen wished us a happy repast as we enjoyed our meal and fellowship.
 
 
President Bowen reconvened announcing our guests, with a banner exchange from visiting Rotarian, Bob Donahue, of the Cayman Islands.
(Photo: President Bowen and visiting Rotarian Bob Donahue)
 
 
Our musical tradition as a singing club continues as President Bowen called on Bill Blount to lead us in song as Russ Burleigh accompanied on the keyboard. Since fellowship is such an integral component of our Rotary experience, we sang “The More we Get Together.” And the happier were we.
 
Perhaps Peggy "Queenie" Westcott would have been a tad happier IF she had pulled the Queen of Hearts, as she was called to draw the raffle card by Jim Willey. Instead, Peggy drew the 5 of Clubs. 
(Photo: Peggy "Queenie" Wescott and Jim Willey)
 

 
 
 
President Bowen next resurrected a piece some of you may recall Past President John Tewhey doing, "Rotarians in the News." Newsworthy is Ben Lowry, whose Derek Jeter-like celebratory last season of baseball included a fundraiser at Hadlock Field for cancer patient Hailey DesJardins on Saturday night, July 18th. 
(Photo: Ben Lowry)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rusty Atwood was called to give us the first of many insightful offerings of our club's history that we will hear over the course of the coming year.
(Photo: Rusty Atwood)
 
 
President Bowen read a letter from the Long Creek Youth Center thanking us for our Club’s donation towards their music education program. The funds will be used to help restore donated musical instruments.
 
 
For better or worse, President Bowen said in humility as he introduced the program, it was his combination of a General Assembly, state-of-the-club report and his vision for our upcoming Centennial year - stay tuned and invite a friend to our meetings and events this year.