December 21, 2007 Meeting

Pledge Song Invocation

President Helene Michel led us in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a special treat, five members of the wonderfully talented Young Opera Company of New England, sang Frosty the Snowman; and Peter Caruso, gave a warm and eloquent invocation on the spirit of Christmas.

Guests

Yes we had guests!! Apologies if I missed anyone and probably spelling errors but voila:

• Christine Cloonan – Ambassadorial Scholar
• Courtney Paquette – Soon to be Pulitzer and/or “No Bell” prize winning author from the Tribune.
• Patrick Johnson – Joan Johnson’s pride and joy grandson
• Catherine Leland – the beautiful six year old daughter of Colin
• The legendary Buck female trio…Dawn, Kathleen and Caroline
• The infamous Spencer twins Jason and Cole; Daddy Mark seems to be promoting a “Royal Rotary wedding” (2 decades from now) between the Buck girls and the Spencer boys
• The Troiano Tribe – Gretchen, Elizabeth, Perrin and the best R.Y.E. student in America, Felipe.
• And sadly for the last time for awhile, Nancy Broekoff

Announcements

President Helene thanked the following folks for their efforts on recent events.

• Marie Stulz for hosting the Rotary Holiday Party on Friday, December 14, 2007.
• The 11 Rotarians and families who sang Christmas carols at Wingate Nursing Home on Monday, December 17, 2007. This was an unbelievable event…we literally had 4 ladies in wheelchairs and 2 gals with walkers following us and singing with us. Hey what other Rotary has “Geriatric Groupies”?!
• The 15 Rotarians A.K.A. “Bell Noise Felons” (including “Media Darlings” Cotch, Dauphin and Druth…front page of the Tribune…radio interviews on 96.9FM) raising money for the Salvation Army.
• Remarkably on cue, Bob Troiano played the soon to be Christmas song tradition “Silent Bells…Christmastime in Andover”…tape from 96.9 WTKK. The room was now in high spirits and as Bill Buck said people passing the bin, seemed to be giving more in protest of the “no bell” sanction. Bob gave the tape to Jim Sutton for him to bring to the Town Manager’s Holiday Breakfast.
• Helene then read a letter from Rev. Cal Mutti in which he mentioned how Friday mornings are not the same without the Andover Rotary. Helene then mentioned how thrilled he was to be chosen as an Honorary Rotarian for Life as a member of the Andover Rotary.
• Helene then presented a plaque to Henry Broekoff in recognition of and appreciation for his efforts in so many endeavors of the Andover Rotary. Happy retirement Henry and Nancy. A New Mexico based rotary will be lucky to have you both as members.

Speaking Programs

• Christine Cloonan, the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar gave a wonderful recap of her past international experiences (i.e. Study Abroad Program in Spain and travels to Chile and Argentina, etc.) and her goals to expand the traditional roles of and views on women in business. Christine is a superb selection as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and an individual who will have a highly successful and accomplished career in whatever specific vocation she pursues.

• Henry Broekoff before his last turn as Sgt.-at-Arms states that when he immigrated from the Netherlands three decades ago he found that America encouraged entrepreneurism and a positive sense of “lets do it.” Henry in his highly successful professional career and his outstanding Community Service activities truly lives this attitude of lets not complain and more, lets accomplish something!!! God Bless you Henry…you will be missed by everyone you came in contact with these last 30 years in the Merrimack Valley.

Fines and Happy Dollars

Everyone was in a generous holiday mood and the Happy Bucks reflected that with Rotarians saluting Henry and Nancy and the many community non-profit programs the Andover Rotary contributed to with generosity of cash, labor and love!!

One final note for all of you who have read this far…the raffle had a winner…talk about a Christmas present…our favorite General Phil Mason got the token and went home $325 richer.