Two guests joined us today: Steve Wilcos, a former Ogunquit Rotarian, and Raney Tromblee, Melanie’s husband.
Oh my gosh, it was a day for swapping! Gift swapping and cookie swapping – what fun! I’m tempted to get carried away with this theme, but I’ll leave that to the Jimmy Kimmels and Stephen Colberts of the world. 😉
Susan spoke interestingly of having successfully applied the 4 Way Test to a sensitive interpersonal situation.
Melanie and Heath welcomed Eric Nixon as a new member of our club (photo below.) Eric is a mortgage officer at Bangor Bank and competitive tennis player. Eric and his wife live in Wells. Their 24-year-old daughter is a nurse.
Alice presented the slate of officers for Rotary year 2023-24: President Alice Pearce, President-elect Matt Buttrick, Treasurer Erin Haye, Secretary Ed Seppa. Dr. Joe moved to approve the slate and Kerry seconded. All in attendance voted yes.
As we will meet at the Dunaway for the months January through March, Heath circulated a list for folks to sign up to arrange for lunch and to cover various meeting responsibilities.
Rick Barber offered a thoughtful message of gratitude,
“The community is a blessing,
Our friends are a blessing,
Loved ones are a blessing,
Our homes are a blessing,
This organization is a blessing,
You are a blessing.”
Rick continued, “In the words of the song in one of my favorite Christmas movies, White Christmas … if you’re worried and cannot sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep. And you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.
And in the words of AA Milne, ‘a little piglet noticed that, even though he had a very small heart, you could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.’
May all your hearts be filled with gratitude”
Happy dollars flowed. Ed Smith’s wife’s health is improving. They are planning another Christmas cruise next year. Melanie is happy about life. Brenda felt graced by the presence of those around her. Today is Larry’s adult daughter’s birthday. Tracy appreciated Steve Wilcos being with us. Also, she enjoyed the Christmas by the Sea parade. Richard expressed kudos to Ed Smith for his long service as the club’s sergeant at arms. Dr. Joe is going into the 47th year of his membership in Rotary! Elizabeth Cutler is happy that neither Susan nor her husband was injured when “their house was in a car crash!” Rick was thankful for Christmas by the Sea and he wished Ed Smith a happy birthday. In response to the Clynk account hitting $334, Pete reported,
“We’re up ten dollars since last time,
And moving right along,
That’s the kind of progress we like to hear,
Let’s celebrate and all sing the new CLYNK song!
(C-L-YNK… that’s the new CLYNK Song…)
Brenda held the ticket! She drew the 4 of diamonds and the ace of spades as $120 eluded her grasp!
At the December 1 meeting, Ed Smith asked to be relieved of the sergeant at arms responsibility he has performed so well over the years. Today, Heath presented Ed a certificate of appreciation and a gift card to a local business. Then Heath announced that Matt Buttrick will take the job over and presented Matt with a pin designating his new position (photos below.)
For the Polio fund, Rick auctioned off two desk calendars donated by “a local photographer.” Melanie and Matt each bid $40.
See you at the Dunaway for the January 5 meeting.
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