High Gear Archives – 07022003 - 12312003

HIGH GEAR for December 31, 2003

The December 31, 2003, meeting was called to order by President Neal Cunningham. Although the calendar said it was New Year’s Eve, the weather was more like spring.

Dave Amberg led a rather small crowd in prayer. Lunch was a delicious open-faced turkey sandwich, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, pound cake and sherbet. All was preceded by a wine and cheese reception.

Guests were Charlotte Bradbury and Jay Stewart, who where welcomed by Pat Porteus’ enthusiastic rendition of the welcome song.

John Mozzicato was welcomed back with cheers. He expressed heartfelt thanks for all the support during his illness. He shared that people at the hospital thought he was some politician with all the cards he received!

Sergeant-at-Arms Marcia LeClerc was gentle today but did fine John Mozzicato for returning to Rotary. Dan Larson will soon be a grandpa for the first time, Larry Churchill was in the New York Times and George Agnelli thought he might have been seen at the UConn game.

Roy Spiller thanked the 46 Rotarians who signed up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. The amount raised was down this year because of a Saturday snowstorm. Some was made up with ringing on two Fridays. $2935 was raised this year, down $735 from last year. The 55 hours of ringing averaged $53.36 per hour. Ringers also included 12 non-Rotarians. Jack Sayre signed up to ring five times! The 15-year-total is $36,274 and 904 hours. Next year, we will ring at the east entrance to Stop and Shop and at the Silver Lane Shop Rite.

Last Calls

  • There are three rooms still available for the February 9-11 ski trip. Call Roy Spiller if you are interested.
  • The published club roster will now include email addresses. If you do not want your email address included please contact Sue Klock.*

Mark Your Calendar

The Paul Harris Dinner is scheduled for March 10, 2004 at the Marco Polo. More details will follow.

Special thanks to Sue and Helen from Krause Catering. A check was presented to both.

Jack Ghagan won the raffle.

Please Note

The January 7, 2004 meeting will be a Club Assembly.

High Gear Editor (Dec.'03) Margaret LaCroix

HIGH GEAR for December 17, 2003

The December 17, 2003 meeting was called to order by President Neal Cunningham. Dan Firestone gave his annual holiday prayer. Lunch was a lovely buffet complete with ham, turkey and lasagna. Holiday roll was the dessert.

The welcome song was led by Walt Kupchunos, as we welcomed Stephanie Mauri, Tom Blackwood, Bob Dugger (Glastonbury Rotary) Jan Sayre and Todd Andrews.

Sergeant-At-Arms Report

Marcia LeClerc reported a number of anniversaries, including Jack Sayre’s 23 years, Don Cramer’s 25 years, Jim Fallon and Dee Blackwood each at 11 years and Jim Shay at 10 years. Birthdays were celebrated by Dan Larson and Walt Kupchunos.

Dan Firestone (president elect) announced that Bill Secord is the Sergeant-At-Arms representative for the 2004-05 Board of Directors.

President’s Report

President Neal announced that e-mail addresses would now be published with the address/telephone number list. For those who wish to opt out of having their e-mail address included, please see Sue Klock.*

The Concession Stand raised $5268.83. Thanks to all who helped.

$137 was raised for the Rotary International Rose Parade float which will feature our own Frank and Ceil Collins. Thanks to all who contributed.

The raffle was won by Roger Nicholson.

Make-Ups: Herb Tischofer (2) Naples, Florida

Carol Krantz reported that about $1900 was raised in the fruit sale. About 50 percent of the club participated and sold 450 cases. The highest seller was George Agnelli with 46 cases. Thanks to all who sold and loaded fruit.

Jim Fallon introduced the East Hartford High School students from the Chamber Orchestra and Next Edition who provided a heartwarming performance. Always a special treat.

No meeting next week (Christmas Eve).

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2004!

Margaret LaCroix

HIGH GEAR for December 10, 2003

The December 10, 2003 meeting was called to order by President Neal. Gil Wishart provided a thoughtful prayer and we were treated to lunch of Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, carrots and bread pudding for dessert. Thanks to the talents of Don Hallquist, Christmas carols permeated the room.
Sergeant-At-Arms Report
Marcia LeClerc reported that Larry Frazier paid for having a new granddaughter and John Shemo was on the Brad Davis Show. Carol Krantz, Bill Saunders and Jackie Danise celebrated birthdays.
Medical Report
John Mozzicato is home!
Steve Jacoby reported that the Holiday Fest activities were postponed by the snowstorm and will be rescheduled, including the police identification program on April 3, 2004.
The East Hartford YMCA invites Rotarians to a holiday luncheon on December 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at South Congregational Church. Please bring non-perishable food items if you attend.
George Stewart won the raffle.
Carol Krantz reported that fruit sales were disappointing. Pick up is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. behind the old Dunkin Donuts (Nathan's) in the Putnam Plaza.
Make-Ups: Herb Tischoffer- Naples Bay; Don Cramer-eClub; Frank and Ceil Collins- Troy and Rochester, NY; Lugano. Switzerland; Houston, TX; and Cairo, Egypt.
Bill Saunders asked flu hotline volunteers to consider volunteering in December in light of the current Flu Frenzy.
From Bill and Bev Saunders
Our thanks to the Club for the cards, phone calls and expressions of sympathy in the loss of my mother.
The annual meeting of the Rotary Club of East Hartford followed. The following slate was adopted for next year: (Complete minutes of the annual meeting will be filed separately)
Dan Firestone President
Carol Krantz President-elect
Dan Larson Secretary
Bill Saunders Treasurer
Sue Klock Director
Margaret LaCroix Director
George Schoen Director
Don't miss the holiday program next week.
Margaret LaCroix

HIGH GEAR for December 3, 2003

December 3, 2003 was frosty outside but friendship and good will warmed the holiday party. 98 Rotarians and significant others joined in the festivities which included shrimp, chicken and prime rib dinners topped off with ice cream roll. The music was somewhat of a topic, as Don Hallquist's battery was not charged for his keyboard. Nonetheless, we thank him for always sharing his time and talent to make our meetings and parties more festive!
Rev. Roger Nicholson led us in prayer. Marcia LeClerc noted there would not be a sergeant-at-arms report in the spirit of the holiday.
John Mozzicato was missed at the event, but not to worry, he is expected to be home next week although he still has some recovering to do.
Roy Spiller announced the 2003-04 Paul Harris Award Winners:
Neal Cunningham
Dan Larson
Loretta Dienst
Congratulations to all!
Spiller also asked for volunteers for ringing the bell for the Salvation Army for December 20 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.
There are rooms available for the annual ski trip on February 9 to 11, 2004. Call Roy Spiller for details.
President Neal thanked all Rotarians and their family and friends who worked the concession stand this past football season.
A Jeep-load of necessary items was collected at the party for donation to the East Hartford Homeless Shelter. Thanks to all!
Special Note:
Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the Rotary Club of East Hartford will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 at 12:15 pm. at the Veteran's Memorial Clubhouse for the purpose of electing officers and directors and for such other business as may legally come before the meeting.
Health Alert
The flu has hit Connecticut. It is not too late to protect yourself from what may be a very bad strain of flu. Call the American Lung Association of CT flu hotline at 1-888-NO TO FLU to find a clinic near you. Also, if you are a flu hotline volunteer, please consider signing up for time slots in December. The hotline is very busy. Thanks!

HIGH GEAR for November 26, 2003
A wonderful Fall day -weather, fellowship, and seasonal Thankfulness- greeted us as we entered the Ridge for our annual Thanksgiving meeting. Dean Rowland and Kathy McCabe presented us with a bountiful table of wine, cheeses, crackers, fruit, and pepperoni. What more could you ask for!!!!!! Don Hallquist highlighted our entrance to the main dining room with the great seasonal hymn "We gather together to ask the Lord's Blessing". How appropriate for our great club. Thanks. Don! Pres. Neal called us to order, and the Rev. Bill Flynn gave us a thoughtful invocation in which he thanked our Lord for all our gifts, and asked that we show gratitude through the services we can provide. A tasty meal of Chicken Cordon Bleu, sweet potatoes and apple, green beans, and chocolate mousse, was promptly served.
Upon reconvening the meeting, Pres. Neal asked for the introduction of guests. Several guests were introduced with most notable being former member Rich O'Brien, and Dan Larson's daughter, Debby, a junior at the University of Connecticut's School of Education. Dan referred to Debby as the family athlete as she was South Windsor's female athlete of the year in her senior year in high school. The Welcome Song was aptly led by Nick Cecere with Don at the keyboard. Sgt at Arms fill in, Dan Larson reported only two fines, both Rotary anniversaries - George Schoen and Bob Richmond.
The following were the announcements for the day!!
1. Dan Larson asked for help on the 13th for the fruit distribution. Call him if you can help. Also, next Wednesday will be the last day for fruit orders. Send them to or call Carol Krantz.
2. Frank Collins got off the Phone with our Rotary International President at 12:10 PM. He wished our club a Happy Thanksgiving.
3. Dick McCarthy announced that Bill Saunder's Mom passed away in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania, on Monday. Services will be held this weekend in Pa., and Bill will be with us next Wednesday.
4. Jack Ghagan reported on John Mozzicato's well being. He is progressing and hopes to be out of The Glastonbury Health Center sometime next week. His room # is 200, and his phone # is 652-4956.
5. Pres. Neal reported that he had received two thank-you notes for Rotary gifts, one from the American Lung Association for a gift of $500, and the other from Riverfront Recapture for $250. He also announced that we received about $5000 for our efforts at the football concession stand.
6. Just a reminder that our Holiday party in next Wednesday evening at Adams Mill. Our charity of choice is gifts for the residents the homeless shelter in East Hartford.
7. And finally - the raffle was won by Larry Churchill - who else has a chance??
Jim Fallon introduced our Thanksgiving Speaker, The Reverend Ted Mosebach. Jim introduced Ted as someone who truly cares about East Hartford. Ted started his talk on a very light vein with several stories from the far distant past!!! He then quoted the 100th Psalm "Make a Joyful noise unto the Lord! Give thanks to him for the Lord is good and his steadfast love lasts forever." He talked about the opposite of "Thanksgiving" which would probably be "complaining". There might be a lot to complain about, but when put in its proper perspective, we should be thankful for all we have. We might pay high taxes, but these enable us to live in the greatest country in the world. We should all be thankful for what we have - family. friends, our home, our community, and all else we enjoy in this time and place!
Happy Thanksgiving -Enjoy, and count your blessings.
Bob Wood - filling in for Bill Secord

HIGH GEAR for November 19, 2003

Outside, the drizzle and chill of mid-fall; inside, sweetness and light. The fellowship of Rotary easily overcame the pre-winter gloom as Roger Nicholson gave thanks for the opportunities Rotary provides us for service above self. A hardy lunch of stuffed chicken breast, creamed cauliflower, and mashed potatoes culminated with bowls of rice pudding. Chuck Clarke introduced guest Pat Danehy, while George Agnelli withstood withering skepticism of his crooning ability to lead a rousing rendition of the Welcome Song. Sergeant-at-Arms Dan Dienst recited a litany of fines for the day: Dan Russell paid for yet another new car. We sang the birthday song for what might have been Staci Brazalovich’s 21st birthday. Glenn Peterson paid for nine years of wedded bliss. Steve Bates paid for a surprising Giant’s touchdown. Scotty Howat contributed $1.00 a year for all 84 of his youth. Dave Amber paid for his picture in The Habitat News. And Jim Fallon secretly slipped Dan a dollar for a similar transgression (he tries to keep out of the newspapers).

Jack Ghagan provided the club with an update on John Mozzicato. John has had something of a setback and is undergoing surgery again today; but he greatly appreciates the outpouring of friendship he has received from members of the club. After today he can be visited at the Glastonbury Health Care Center, 1175 Hebron Avenue, Room 273b, phone 860-659-6262.

Many make-ups: Dee Blackwood at Enfield; Don Cramer at Fort Myers Beach; Skip Guillemette at some anonymous club with a forged signature; and Jim Sheehan, Neal Cunningham, and Steve Jacoby at the Rotary Foundation dinner. President Neal won the raffle—which prize he magnanimously turned over to Michael Knepp for the Salvation Army. Steve Jacoby reminded everyone of the need for volunteers to help run the upcoming children identification booth—more details coming. Next week is our traditional Thanksgiving Rotary meeting—wine and cheese provided beforehand.

Margaret LaCroix again reminded us of the Rotary Holiday Party—Wednesday, December 3, at Adam’s Mill. Cocktails at 6 pm; dinner at 7 pm. Everyone must pay Margaret in advance—no payment at the door. She will not be present at next week’s regular meeting, so checks should be sent to: Margaret LaCroix at 115 Hawthorne Mead Drive, Glastonbury, CT 06033. Please make checks out to the East Hartford Rotary Club. Dinner choices are chicken stuffed with broccoli and cheddar cheese, baked stuffed shrimp, or prime rib. The cost is $37.50—which includes wine at the tables. The charity supported by the holiday party this year is the East Hartford homeless shelter. We should consider taking gifts of the following type for our donations: toiletries; bath robes; slippers; gift certificates in small denominations for such establishments as CVS, Target, McDonald’s, or Big Y; disposable diapers; school supplies; sanitary napkins/tampons; pajamas; or the traditional toys.

Program: Jim Fallon did NOT introduce our speaker, Dr. Tom Galvin. It remains unclear if that irregularity had been secretly manipulated by Past President Tom or not. Dr. Tom brought the club up to speed on “progress” in dental medicine over the past ten years. His theme—“It’s a different world.” Some of the latest research has linked gum disease to heart disease, a promising discovery that might lead to more effective treatment of heart disease and arteriosclerosis. As medications proliferate throughout an older population, it has become more difficult to keep track of possible medical interactions and the need for precautions during office treatments. New amalgams for fillings have reduced the use of mercury, but as a result fillings have become less durable. Dr. Tom offered his own mental stability as proof that mercury had probably not been that dangerous (except in waste water—don’t ask). Dental cosmetics such as bleaching and veneers have become popular, although insurance still does not pay for such treatments.

UConn’s dental school stands #1 academically and is comparatively reasonably priced ($25,000 a year for four years compared to $60,000 a year for a school like Tufts). But the number of dentists coming out of dental school is falling, partly due to the closing of schools such as Georgetown, Marquette, and Loyola (what do the Jesuits have against pretty teeth?). Also, dentists are bailing out of primary care and are going into specialties. There has been an exceptional increase in the number of women going into dentistry (35-45% at UConn), and that phenomenon might exasperate a shortage in dental care as some women choose to practice part time while they raise families. The startup costs for a dental practice can be prohibitive—$400,000 to set up, while at the same time carrying $250,000 in student loans. Insurance is not as much of a problem in dentistry as it is in general medicine. But “HIPAA” fines can be very steep. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act sets up strict regulations around the handling of medical records. This regulation increases the difficulty of maintaining proper paperwork.