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The pig stole the show. And Dick Green made her squeal when he kissed her.
The dress code for today’s festivities included raffle tickets draped around the neck and the beer and champagne promised to loosen wallets and purses as Club 33 rallied to raise a bunch of dough for the Diana Venable Scholarship Fund. Thanks go to the Silent and Live Auction Checkout Team of Chris Elliott, Paul Byrne, Ed Ecker, Jen Martino, Kobe Bogaert, Steve Bond and Dave Oates who helped us all settle our tabs after meeting ended so we could leave quickly with our booty. A very special thank you goes to the Club 33 Auction Committee led by Co-chairs Jo Dee Jacob and Marc Tarasuck and members Mario Bourdon, Ellen Casey, Joe Craver, Ed Ecker, Chris Elliott, Deborah Giaquinta, Paul Hartley III, Ann Hill, Steve Hubbard, Jim Hughes, Carolyn McCormick, Tony Palmeri, Nancy Scott, Linda Stirling, John Van Deusen and special liaison from the Girl Scouts, CJ McAuliffe.
The opportunity drawing run by Jim Hughes produced $5,288 including $1,500 from Peter Duncan, $500 from Chuck Pretto and $200 from Wayne Goodermote. Jim and wife Carmen matched that total with their gift for a grand total of $10,576 from the opportunity drawing. We’ll have figures from Kiss the Pig and the silent and live auctions next week. Thanks to all for your generosity for this worthy cause.
President Dick Troncone rang the bell to bring our festive members to order. Roy Lange, with 38 years of perfect attendance under his belt, brought some knowing nods with his piece on “Growing Old Gracefully.” Jack Anthony and Joe Zakowski got us singing, and Bert Wahlen gave us the latest Club 33 History Minute and news about Obama’s Nobel, more Tiger tales, and appropriately, an item on swine flu.
Peter Duncan introduced two Venable Scholarship candidates and President Dick put his fining hat on. He nailed Dave Oates for professionally representing 4 winners of the 2009 CEO of the Year awards, as well as Red Cross CEO Joe Craver, who won CEO of the Year in the non-profit category. Other Club 33 CEO winners were Mel Katz and Reid Carr.
Jo Dee Jacob took over the podium as Chair of the Day and greeted our farthest visitor from Turkey with, what else, Girl Scout cookies! She introduced Gail McGovern, CEO of the American Red Cross, who spoke briefly about her first 18 months on the job. Saying that her faith in the human race has never been greater, she cited a recent survey in which 4 of 5 people indicated they would give to charities at the same level or higher during this year, despite a worsening economy and jobs outlook. She was particularly effusive in her praise of our local Red Cross chapter, and Craver’s smile was never wider.
Mike Hogan, after a stellar job earlier in the silent auction, returned to conduct the live auction. Fifteen minutes later he had raised nearly $12,000 on eight items generously donated by our members. It was time to “Kiss the Pig.”
Nancy Scott and Dick Green had been battling for weeks for the chance to hang a lip lock on a live pig (the idea was the brain child of Ellen Casey), with the contest being decided by who raised more dollars. Rotarians voted with their wallets and overwhelmingly decided that Dr. Dick deserved the date. The porcine puckered up and Dick didn’t disappoint. Don’t think he’ll be eating ham anytime soon…
Editor of the Day: Fred Baranowski
Photography by Paul Nestor
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