Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Make Rotary Matter in 2007 & Make Rotary Matter in 2007

Make Rotary Matter in 2007

Rotary is many things. It is a place to meet friends. It is a place to do business. It is a place to help others. Most, if not all of us, could easily live without belonging to Rotary. That said we all belong because it serves to make the lives of others better. As an example the Wall Street Journal recently cited Rotary International as the primary driver behind the elimination of polio in our world. Rotary, while a great place to come every Wednesday morning, is above all meaningful to others.

Because the lot of us are not Nobel Prize winners, nor do many of us live in poverty in order to help others Rotary is the place where we get to exemplify altruism. It is the place we collectively band together to make things happen in the lives of those in need. Whether those in need live in the Northland or in Africa Harbortown Rotarians quietly go about being Rotarians.

2007 will be gone before we know it. Rotary can make it meaningful for everyone.

Overheard at Rotary today:

Upon learning Duluth had a neighborhood called Observation Hill Steve Licari said, “Gee, it must have a great view…” Yes, Steve it does have a great view.

Upon learning that the International Committee will meet at Sir Ben’s Pub Bob Hansen said, “The international committee is meeting at an international pub, interesting. Wait, that is British…” Just because people in the UK speak our language it is still another country.

When asked about New Year’s traditions Dwayne Holm responded, “It has something to do with a goat…” What a night he must have had.

When asked to respond to a question Scott Soderberg responded, “I’m getting old. I can’t keep it up long anymore…” Next time just say you are getting long in the tooth.

Friday, December 15, 2006

The man boobs of opportunity

Thoughts of man boobs do not excite me. However, it was the character Kramer on the TV sitcom Seinfeld that made me realize that slightly overweight middle aged men often sport a pair of breasts in need of an A, B, or even a C cup. That said I want the entire club to know I never look at members of my fellow gender to see if they are shapely, and I can honestly and unequivocally state that I have never been attracted to a large set of man boobs.

Yet for the first time in my forty-eight years of life I have to admit that man boobs may now be of some attraction. Mark Erickson, a Harbortown member in good standing, has brazenly bared a nice set of man boobs in hopes of raising funds for of all things: breast cancer research. Mark can be seen on the new Dragon Boat Festival Calendar wearing little else than a single water ski. His man boobs are not only visible; they are prominently displayed for an entire month for anyone who happens to see the calendar. When my small grandchildren come around I’ll have to remember to shield their eyes.

Seriously, Mark is to be commended. While in the process of developing a set man boobs myself, I have no intention of letting anyone but my wife see them. It is a brave man who publicly bares a set of these babies. Before Mark is branded as the manzier man, I want to be the first one to commend him for taking it off in an effort to help others. Mark is brave and altruistic man.

To help Mark raise money for breast cancer research, each and every member can and should sell a few man boob calendars – it’s for a good cause. See Goldy today for your supply of man boob calendars.