President’s Message – January 1992
Happy New Year
Congratulations to Betsy and Michael Wagoner for the
birth of their fourth child, Sarah. She weighed in on Friday the 13th
of December at 6 Ibs. and 12 ounces. Rumor has it that they want enough
children to fill the house. Ten more ought to do it. Good luck, Betsy!
Congratulations also to our
men and women’s teams, which swept the competition in the Scott Bailey
Race. See Tom Abbott’s report for details.
On Tuesday, December 10, Wayne
Buckley, Joe Koziol, and myself met with Bob Pulater, Director of the
South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) at their headquarters in
Framingham
. He expressed gratitude for past fund raising efforts by Club members
and said they would again welcome volunteers willing to raise pledge
money by running the Boston Marathon. They would like to use the
club’s name in their fund raising letters, and possibly on their
T-shirts. This proposal will be discussed and voted on at the January
meeting. Because of a longstanding commitment I have in
Illinois
,
Wayne
will preside over that meeting.
This is the second request for
club involvement in fund raising for charitable causes, using the
Boston Marathon as the focus. At our November meeting, Dotty Campbell
made a very compelling case for assisting the Dana-Farber Marathon
Challenge. She left descriptive materials and applications,
which can be obtained by contacting me.
It is natural that an active,
highly visible organization such as ours is asked to participate in
efforts that benefit the community. We view ourselves as “good
neighbors”, and through efforts such as the Jingle Bell Run and Summer
Track meets, we contribute to making the community a better
place. As always, members
are encouraged to get involved in those activities that most appeal to
them.
Speaking of the Jingle Bell
Run, it was a rousing success, thanks largely to the efforts of Paula
Giles. She rehearsed us, led us, and, along with Ray Murphy, provided
musical accompaniment. While a kinder, gentler society would protect its
senior citizens from such acoustical assault as we inflicted, the
nursing home residents seemed to enjoy it, and we had great fun. Karen
Lawrence was such a hit with one gentleman, that we had to pry her free
upon exiting. Wayne Buckley was also the object of serious amorous
advances, which he deftly deflected.
The dinner at Sampan
afterwards was evidence that most of us eat out about as often as we
rehearse Christmas carols. Efforts to place dinner orders were a case
study in the emerging science of chaotic phenomena. Usually Unflappable
Wayne, who had been salivating for food since the first chorus of
“Deck the Halls”, was Not Pleased. After his third attempt to get a
Pu Pu Platter was lost in the confusion, our Vice President’s
legendary patience reached its limit. The grim set of his jaw, and the
blank look in his eyes, confirmed his regret at having left his Postal
Service Stand Issue 9 mm Baretta at home.
The literature of natural
disasters is filled with accounts of the eerie silence preceding
cataclysmic volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. One sensed this was such
a moment, but there was not clear path of escape.
The situation was saved by the
timely arrival of drinks. We watched in fascination as
Wayne
was served the Chinese variation of Love Potion # 9. This concoction,
adorned with enough fruit to open a farm stand, came in a tall, garishly
painted ceramic tumbler, the chief feature of which was a relief of a
scantily clad woman on a surfboard. Even from ten feet away it was clear
this figurine was “anatomically correct.” As he drank deeply of this
ambrosia, the color returned to
Wayne
’s face and the twinkle to his eyes.
Whether it was the drink or
the vessel that calmed our VP remains a mystery. But this small band of
carolers, at the back of this dimly lit Chinese restaurant, were
reminded again of the value of Peace on Earth.
Happy New Year.
Art
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