Our June 12, 2019 meeting was our Past Presidents’ day meeting which is always a fun meeting even with a minimalistic program as our host, Keith Jacques, called it. More on that later. We met outside under the awning which is always interesting because there are people eating all around you. I feel like I am an exhibit at the zoo. One of the other diners tried to feed Lucie so we had to put up a sign that said “Please do not feed the Past Presidents”.
President Joe did not even mention he only has two meetings left. Being outside must have thrown him off his game a little. He did introduce Mark Nahorney to lead us in the 4 way test. Several of the diners on the perimeter appeared to join us and quite frankly did a better job than Mark who seemed to be sporting a new hairdo or perhaps a comb touched his hair for the first time in several years. In any event, Mark clearly forgot most of his lines (there was not 4 Way Test banner out on the patio) so he had to fall back on his improv training and his first grade counting skills both of which seemed a bit rusty.
Joe Bassett led our invocation and he appeared to ask God to bless the Past Presidents which seemed to be a significant request given the past transgressions of some of us.
President Joe did introduce visiting Rotarians and guests other than our past presidents and their spouses. Our visitors were Andy and Justine Grief visiting us from the southwest. It was great to see them. Andy has not changed a bit and has come out of retirement to again work with kids, this time helping kids dealing with tragedies. You have to keep doing what you love for as long as you can. Andy said his Rotary Club in the southwest had no Sergeant at Arms (huh, maybe Simmons is a member of that club too) and no Tack so he has to live vicariously through ours.
President Joe announced that it was the birthday of the Run of the Mill hostess, Bee, Bea or B or some derivation of “B” so we violated copyright law and sang happy birthday to her. Not sure what “B” stands for (any guesses?).
President Joe welcomed the past presidents and their spouses (Ken Farley did not bring a date this year probably because he brought a date last year and because of that she never wanted to see him again). Joe thanked Keith for chairing Past President’s day (he forgot Mark Tuller’s tireless work on Keith’s committee, they met at least zero times). He then had a moment of silence for Joe Grondin who passed away a while ago. Joe was the President of our Club in 1964-65 and a club member since 1959.
President Joe then recounted his year and told of all of the things that happened under his leadership (as Joe is fond of saying). The highlights included:
- Me recruiting Joe at the last minute to fill in as President (clearly a weak moment for me).
- Emphasis more on community service and less on attendance (mission accomplished at least on the attendance part).
- Supplied 1,600 back packs to the United Way.
- Sent Roland Gagne to eastern Europe. Of course, give it a few years and we will probably be able to overcome the various diplomatic firestorms set off by Roland over there.
- We packaged over 13,000 meals with the Kiwanis Club.
- We distributed birthday bags to the local foodbanks.
- We supported about 100 people at Christmas.
- We contributed $25,000.00 to Thornton’s athletic complex to fund a Rotary/Red Ribbon room.
- We have another COT house going and one in the works.
- We attracted some new members.
Joe failed to mention a number of other things that occurred under his leadership.
- RI (Rotary International and not Rhodes Island) has almost eradicated polio from the face of the earth while measles made a comeback.
- Kanye and Kim are having another baby, who regardless of the sex will be named “Wild Wild”.
- Unemployment fell to a 60 year low.
- The GDP rose in 2018 in the US
- The Red Sox won the World Series and the Patriots won the Super Bowl.
- Trump is still president.
Good work Joe.
Carl Goodwin won the 50/50 drawing and donated the money to the Past President’s fund which now exceeds $204,000.00.
Joe then introduced Past President chair Keith Jacques to no applause. I clapped in my mind and it is the thought that counts. Keith did fail to thank his committee members for all of their hard work but the oversight was justified. Keith then mentioned that we would have a minimalistic program. “Minimalistic” in the dictionary of Keith is defined as: microscopic; non-existence; much smaller than a bread box; we didn’t want to bother, etc.
Keith indicated that the club kind of runs itself and that is because of the all of the good work that the past presidents have done to build up and nurture the Club over the last 99 years which of course attracted those begged for cheap applause that we all like to get when we are at the podium. Keith then introduced the past presidents at the meeting starting with the earliest presidency present and working up until today. They included:
Al Carigan and his wife Jackie. Al was president in 1973-74 and has been in Rotary for more than 50 years. Al is a Rotary fossil and a strong impetus for spinning off the Saco Bay Club.
Ron Drouin, Past District Governor and our president in 1983-84.
Jim Pastorelli, 1986-87. Jim was president when I joined the club and I still had brown hair. Jim is freaking 99 years old and drove to the meeting and parked in the lower parking lot. Take note Fausto! Jim looked great and it was nice having a chance to sit with a guy who was born in 1920, the year women got the right to vote. Jim was too young at the time to stop that.
Steve Fennell, 1990-91 and his wife Kathy. Steve was president when Saco Bay was formed.
Dick “Captain Ahab” Legarde, 1999-2000 and his wife Janette. During Dick’s year a delegation from our club visited our sister club in Bideford, England. I think they spell it correctly.
Mark Tuller, 2000-2001. It was amazing to see Mark at a meeting without the Charter Oak guys. Mark pooled money with other presidents and we helped fund the Truslow Adult Daycare Center which was located at the Kimball Health Center but has since been moved.
Keith Jacques, 2001-2002, at the time of 9/11, though 9/11 happened under Joe’s leadership. Bideford, England came over to visit us that year despite it being a very scary time to be traveling because Bideford recognized that they needed to support us the most.
Paul Deschambault, 2004-05, the year we recited the 3 Way Test, dropping the “Is it the truth” line. Keith pointed out we had 127% attendance in Paul’s year. During that year if you thought about Rotary in the car it counted as a makeup.
Rollie Eon, 2005-06.
Denis Elie, 2007-08. Denis’ deficient spending record was finally broken by Joe, but Joe didn’t have the auction funds so Denis may still have the overall spending record.
Frank Gooding, 2008-09. I went an entire year not understanding one word Frank said.
Steve Morin, 2009-10.
Julie Villemaire, 2010-11.
Karen Chasse, 2012-13. She made money her year because Carl sold two houses and we were encouraged to sell vital organs and contribute the money to the club.
Ken Farley, 2014-15.
Bill Kany, 2015-16 (and 2016-17, Lucie’s year).
Lucie Kay, 2016-17. We did the offsite Rotary house that year.
Jackson Brown, 2017-18.
Of course, many of our past presidents could not make it or have passed on (which means they could not make it), but we all owe each and every one of our past presidents our thanks. Keith and Joe have suggested that the club runs itself. In reality our past presidents have built a wonderful car but week in and week out someone has to drive the car and those drivers are our presidents. It is not good enough to just sit in the driver’s seat looking good in the parking lot. The car needs to be driven and the engine occasionally needs to be pushed to the proverbial red line. It is our presidents who take us where we need to go. I, for one, thank them all for the ride.
Two weeks of Tack writing left but who’s still counting?
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