What a great group we had tonight at the Redwood!

Twenty-six Naples Rotarians were joined by our speaker, Canandaigua Rotarian Ken Poole, Vero Beach Rotarian Chip and four guests. It was a very enjoyable evening!

 

President Jack led the Pledge followed by the second verse of America The Beautiful. His inspiring words were about "On this road called life..."

Frank introduced our guests starting with his sweetheart Kathleen, Chip's wife Stuart, and Denise and Kevin Johnson, who came to our Meet and Greet last week.

 

Announcements: If you pay dues or meals using Zeffy be sure to scroll down and cancel the tip option if you don't want to pay it. * Volunteers will be needed for the District Golf Tourney here in September. Sign up to come soon. * Craig and Kristin volunteered for the Camp O Carnival on 8/17. Set up is on 8/9. * See Frank or Cindy if you'd like to visit Camp O for lunch. * Yesterday was Ken's birthday so we sang to him!

 

Ken became a Neapolitan in 1975 when he was the director of the Mill School of Art on Academy St. He lives in Canandaigua since 2005 and is active in the Rotary and several musical groups there. He joined the Naples Historical Society Board a year or so ago and is now the Naples Town Historian. He started searching local cemeteries for Sutton family members, which has morphed into a passion for cemetery restoration. He and other volunteers are working on Fairview cemetery on Wednesday mornings this summer. When he lived on Reed Street, his neighbor was Jane Loomis Gould. Over time, he got to know her a bit, although she was 20 years older and quite reserved. Jane grew up in Naples on Sprague Street, adopted by Bertha and Glenn Loomis. By High School she was becoming known for her paintings, including a mural depicting many landmarks of Naples that has been displayed in the high school for years. After graduating from Syracuse University in 1949, she returned to Naples. Unhappy with teaching art in elementary school, she continued to paint in oils, doing local landscapes and commissions of homes and portraits. Ken describes her landscape style as very detailed with a wonderful perspective that draws the eye into the painting. She often included local residents in her scenes. She married a Naples art teacher, George Gould and they adopted 2 children. The marriage ended and she was estranged from her children. She donated to charities that helped children in need. Jane died in 2000 due to complications of Parkinson's. Many of her paintings are still owned by local people. Ken obtained photos of many beautiful local landscapes, which are included in a book he wrote of Jane's life, which is available from the Naples Historical Society. See Cindy to order it.

Ken will be doing a presentation and exhibit of another local artist, Ira Randall, at the South Bristol Grange in September, a collaboration of the Bristol Hills Historical Society and Naples Historical Society.

 

The Ace of Hearts was up to $47. Patrice had ticket #8943 but she picked the King of Hearts. So close!

 

Happy Bills were given for Ken's great presentation  (Frank stayed awake!), a great crowd, Denise and Kevin joining us tonight, a great Pride Day on Saturday, and remembering Justin's heavenly 39th birthday.

 

Rotary Moments: Paulina from Germany, who is visiting Sharon and Jack's family this summer, is on a train trip to NYC with Olivia this week.

Carrie, Charlie and Grady have visited Raul in Spain and are touring additional European locales before returning home this week.

 

Jack rang the bell and adjourned us at 7:15 pm.

Have a great week!