Rotary Spoke
March 18,2013
March 18th was a crisp cold day. There was filtered sunlight emanating from a pale blue sky blanketed with wispy cirrus clouds, only hinting at the storm on the horizon. 29 Rotarians gathered for a luncheon of Caesar salad (the only thing left when I arrived) and something else that I am sure was delicious at Waxy O’Connor’s. The pledge of allegiance was lead by Antonios G, one verse of America by Sal S and the ever eager to sing Charlie V and the Invocation by PDG Jack M. The welcome song was also led by Charlie V.
PP Spencer B had happy dollars for yet another business junket (with family), this time to Arizona and more happy dollars for shaking Mitt Romney’s hand and offering him campaign advice. Secretary Susan C had happy dollars for her daughter being accepted to a summer program and Brown. Bob C had happy dollars in anticipation of a brisk week of shovel and snow blower sales. PP Bob S was fined for receiving a phone call (from former Rotarian Bob Burbidge’s company who should have known better) and PP Murry A was fined by PP Dan O for changing tables, presumably to avoid a fine.
Raffle donations were made by Ace Hardware, Arlex Oil, Edward Jones Investments and Vail’s Studio.
Our speaker was Jack Borden, formerly of Channel 5 news. He was a Lexington resident for 20 years before moving to his current home in Athol. At age 49, he took a hike, napped in a field and when he awoke he was looking at the sky and for the first time in his life he truly appreciated the beauty of the skies. As a result, he formed a nonprofit organization called “For Spacious Skies” to stimulate people’s interest in and appreciation for the beauty of the sky. He
received a grant to use the media to awaken the public to the beauty of the sky and ran full-page ads in USA today and the NY Times and appeared on numerous talk shows to advance the cause. Over the years he has interviewed over 16,700 people regarding their sky watching behavior. Only 5.8% actually took time to watch the sky on a regular basis. What he found in that the people who do take the time to watch the sky are more aware of the environment and more respectful of nature, they are more appreciative of art and photography that includes the sky and they are mellower than non-sky watchers. He challenged each of us to look at the sky daily for 21 days and is convinced that if we do, we will be hooked on sky watching. For more information on the organization and amazing photographs of the sky, go to www.forspaciousskies.com. Ed note: This was the second time Jack appeared before our club. He made a presentation on “For Spacious Skies” about 20 years ago and has not lost his sense of humor. PP Don M still has the chart (without lamination) that he brought to the club at the time.
The 50:50 raffle was for $80 and won by Antonios G.
There will be no meeting on April 1. We will be meeting with the Concord club on April 4th at the Colonial Inn.
FS