May 21, 2010 Meeting

Pledge – 4 Way Test – Song

President Bill Buck led us in both the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test and this was followed by a rousing version of “Oh What a Beautiful Morning”…we actually sounded pretty good!

Guests & Visitors

Cindy Stern – definitely Rick’s better half, Karen McSweeney – Jack’s 2nd daughter and a graduate of Quinnipiac University. Jack and his wife Kathy have two beautiful college graduates and both have great jobs! Congrats both on their success and no more tuition payments!! Richard Hart Harrington, the Lawrence Rotarian legend Rich Brenner and Liam Roberge of the Manchester New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Announcements

President Buck announced that he was reserving a table at both the June 3rd Andover Chamber of Commerce breakfast honoring Claudia Bach at the Indian Ridge Country Club and the Yankee Clipper Boy Scouts Citizenship Award honoring our own Dee Dee O’Brien and Al DeLuca . Signup sheets were passed around.

Guest Speaker

Al Getler (who once he gets over his “shyness” has a real future as a speaker) introduced Rick Brenner the Vice President of Marketing for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Rick, originally an executive with the Trenton Thunder has won numerous awards for his creative marketing techniques in promoting minor league baseball as a fun, affordable family oriented experience. The Fisher Cats are a Double A franchise of the Toronto Blue Jays and Rick had an interesting analogy. He compared the minor leagues to a school system in preparing the individual for employment.

Single A – early school years
Double A – high school
Triple A – college
Major Leagues – full time job

Some of the successful promotions run include community outing fund raising programs, first pitch opportunity, birthday parties, Kid’s Club Baseball Buddies, Walk of Champions, Learn from the Pro’s Clinics for kids and a women’s only clinic and many many other events. Excellent presentation, several questions (always a sign of a good speech) and except for the fact that he is a Flyer’s fan Rick Brenner is a very impressive guy and the Blue Jay’s organization is lucky to have him.

Raffle

Approximately 10 years or close to 500 weeks of not even getting a chance to go for a raffle win – Jim Greeley’s number was picked by Rick – the Flyer’s fan and lo and behold Jim picked the joker. There is a certain symmetry to that and became a $180 richer!

Fines and Happy Dollars

Sgt. at Arms Howard Perkins, because it was such a beautiful day and such a great meeting went right to Happy Dollars. Jim Greeley was very happy and threw in $20 for his win, the great speech and promised Rick that he would root for the Flyers against the Canadians. John Colbert was happy for two sons graduating from college, Duke and Emerson. He will be even happier when they both get jobs. Paula Evans is happy to be going on her sixth Rotoplast Mission, this time to Venezuela. God bless you Paula! Helene and Alan for their daughter graduating from Daniel Webster (she also is looking for a job), the Rotary Prayer Breakfast in Boston and the district conference this weekend at the Samoset Resort in Maine. Matt Gold on the latest advertures of his kids Josh and Sarah and many folks on the great presentation. Al Getler ended the donations by saying he had a tear in his eye he was so moved by Jim Greeley’s raffle win. I’m not sure Al was totally serious!

Rotarians only 20 days (and by the time you read this only 7 days) until the Citizens Who Care and Educator of the Year Awards dinner at the Wyndham. Great event. Need participation by all Rotarians who will be in the state on Thursday, June 10th.